Kamalesh Sharma
Encyclopedia
H.E Kamalesh Sharma is the current Secretary General
of the Commonwealth of Nations
from 2008, having previously served as the High Commissioner
for India
in London.
Kamalesh Sharma is an alumnus of the Modern School
, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi, St. Stephen's College
in Delhi and King's College, Cambridge
. Sharma was an officer in the Indian Foreign Service
from 1965 to 2001. He served as India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations
before his retirement from IFS. From 2002 to 2004, he served as U.N. Secretary General's special representative to East Timor
. He was appointed as the High Commissioner of India to Britain in 2004. He is a Vice-President of the Royal Commonwealth Society
. He is also the Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast (from July 2009)
, foreign minister
of Malta
, during the biennial Commonwealth summit in Kampala
, Uganda
held from 22 November to 24 November 2007. He took over from Sir Don McKinnon
of New Zealand
on 1 April 2008.
Sharma was re-elected on 30 October 2011 at the 2011 CHOGM
. He was unopposed, having been proposed by India and seconded by Pakistan. His second term will begin on 1 April 2012.
of Queen's University Belfast after the retirement of Senator George J. Mitchell
.
Queen's says he was responsible for cementing relations between Northern Ireland and India which led to the country's investment in Northern Ireland businesses.
The position is a largely honorary title and Sharma said he was enormously proud to be given the job at Queen's.
Commonwealth Secretariat
The Commonwealth Secretariat is the main intergovernmental agency and central institution of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is responsible for facilitating cooperation between members; organising meetings, including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings ; assisting and advising on policy...
of the Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
from 2008, having previously served as the High Commissioner
High Commissioner (Commonwealth)
In the Commonwealth of Nations, a High Commissioner is the senior diplomat in charge of the diplomatic mission of one Commonwealth government to another.-History:...
for India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in London.
Kamalesh Sharma is an alumnus of the Modern School
Modern School (New Delhi)
Modern School, commonly known as Modern, is a co-educational private school in New Delhi, India. It was founded in 1920 by Lala Raghubir Singh and Sir Sobha Singh. Considered to be one of the elite schools, Modern is also referred to as the Eton of India. It is the first private school established...
, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi, St. Stephen's College
St. Stephen's College, Delhi
St. Stephen's College is a constituent college of the University of Delhi located in Delhi, India. The college admits both undergraduates and post-graduates, and awards degrees under the purview of the University. Famous for its rich history and many traditions, St...
in Delhi and King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
. Sharma was an officer in the Indian Foreign Service
Indian Foreign Service
The Indian Foreign Service is the foreign service of India. It is the body of career diplomats of India.The Indian Foreign Service is part of the Central Civil Services of the Government of India...
from 1965 to 2001. He served as India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
before his retirement from IFS. From 2002 to 2004, he served as U.N. Secretary General's special representative to East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
. He was appointed as the High Commissioner of India to Britain in 2004. He is a Vice-President of the Royal Commonwealth Society
Royal Commonwealth Society
The Royal Commonwealth Society is an international educational charity and a private members' club. Its mission is to support and promote the modern Commonwealth, its culture and core values...
. He is also the Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast (from July 2009)
Commonwealth Secretary-General
Sharma was elected to the position of secretary-general over Michael FrendoMichael Frendo
Michael Frendo is a Maltese politician who has been Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta since 2010. Previously he served in the government of Malta as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2004 to 2008.-Political life:...
, foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
of Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, during the biennial Commonwealth summit in Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
held from 22 November to 24 November 2007. He took over from Sir Don McKinnon
Don McKinnon
Sir Donald Charles "Don" McKinnon, ONZ, GCVO is a former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand. He was the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations from 2000 until 2008.-Early life:...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
on 1 April 2008.
Sharma was re-elected on 30 October 2011 at the 2011 CHOGM
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2011
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2011, commonly known as CHOGM 2011, was the twenty-second Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations...
. He was unopposed, having been proposed by India and seconded by Pakistan. His second term will begin on 1 April 2012.
Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast
On 9 July 2009 Sharma was appointed ChancellorChancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of Queen's University Belfast after the retirement of Senator George J. Mitchell
George J. Mitchell
George John Mitchell, Jr., is the former U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Peace under the Obama administration. A Democrat, Mitchell was a United States Senator who served as the Senate Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995...
.
Queen's says he was responsible for cementing relations between Northern Ireland and India which led to the country's investment in Northern Ireland businesses.
The position is a largely honorary title and Sharma said he was enormously proud to be given the job at Queen's.
External links
- Biography of Kamalesh Sharma, Commonwealth Secretariat
- Interview with Kamalesh Sharma - broadcast by Radio France InternationaleRadio France InternationaleRadio France Internationale was created in 1975 as part of Radio France by the Government of France, and replaced the Poste Colonial , Paris Mondial , Radio Paris , RTF Radio Paris and ORTF Radio Paris...
, October 5, 2011