Vanu Gopala Menon
Encyclopedia
Vanu Gopala Menon became the Permanent Representative of Singapore
to the United Nations
on September 16, 2004, a position he still held as at July 2010. As an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Menon is the personal representative of the President of Singapore
.
Menon was educated at the National University of Singapore
, taking a Bachelor's degree
in Business Administration
in 1985. He then joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
, serving as First Secretary at Singapore's UN mission in New York (March 1988 – April 1991). Returning to study on a Raffles Scholarship at the London School of Economics
, he was awarded a Master of Science
in International Relations
in 1994. Menon then served in the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (November 1994 – November 1997). On his return to Singapore, he joined the Policy, Planning and Analysis Directorate of the Ministry, rising to become its Director (December 1998 – October 2001). He left that position for Geneva where he represented Singapore to the UN, whilst also serving as Singapore's Ambassador
to Turkey
(December 2001 – August 2004).
Menon has a wife and son.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
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...
on September 16, 2004, a position he still held as at July 2010. As an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Menon is the personal representative of the President of Singapore
President of Singapore
The President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
.
Menon was educated at the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
, taking a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Business Administration
Bachelor of Business Administration
The Bachelor of Business Administration is a bachelor's degree in Commerce and business administration. In most universities, the degree is conferred upon a student after four years of full-time study in one or more areas of business concentrations; see below...
in 1985. He then joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Singapore)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for conducting and managing diplomatic relations between Singapore and other countries. It is headed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the office currently held by K...
, serving as First Secretary at Singapore's UN mission in New York (March 1988 – April 1991). Returning to study on a Raffles Scholarship at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, he was awarded a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in International Relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
in 1994. Menon then served in the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (November 1994 – November 1997). On his return to Singapore, he joined the Policy, Planning and Analysis Directorate of the Ministry, rising to become its Director (December 1998 – October 2001). He left that position for Geneva where he represented Singapore to the UN, whilst also serving as Singapore's Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
(December 2001 – August 2004).
Menon has a wife and son.