Ambassador Alliance
Member Nations of the Ambassador Alliance
Representing The Commonwealth of Australia:
His Excellency Kim C. Beazly
Kim Beazley became Ambassador of Australia to the United States in September 2009.
Beazley previously served as Australia’s deputy prime minister (1995-96) and leader of the Australian Labor Party (1996-2001) and leader of the opposition (2005-06). He was elected to the Federal Parliament in 1980 and has represented the electorates of Swan (1980-96) and Brand (1996-2007). In addition, he was a minister in the Hawke and Keating Labor governments (1983-96) holding, at various times, the portfolios of defense, finance, transport and communications, employment education and training, aviation, and special minister of state.
After his retirement from politics in 2007, Beazley was appointed Winthrop professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Western Australia. In July 2008, he was appointed chancellor of the Australian National University, a position he held until December 2009. In 2009, Beazley was also awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia for service to the Parliament of Australia for his contributions to the development of government policies in defense and international relations, and as an advocate for indigenous people.
Born in Perth, Beazley obtained a bachelor’s of arts and master’s of arts degree at the University of Western Australia. He was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship for Western Australia in 1973 and completed a master of philosophy at Oxford University. He is married with three daughters.
Representing The Federative Republic of Brazil:
His Excellency Mauro L.I. Vieira
Mauro Luiz Iecker Vieira became ambassador of Brazil to the United States on Feb. 24, 2010, having previously served as Brazil’s ambassador to Argentina since 2004.
Ambassador Vieira also served in Washington before, from 1978 to 1982 as second secretary at the Brazilian Embassy, later holding diplomatic posts in Mexico, Uruguay and France. In 1989, he was an advisor to center-left candidate Ulysses Guimarães in an unsuccessful presidential bid. During the government of Jose Sarney, Ambassador Vieira was an assistant to Science and Technology Minister Renato Archer along with Celso Amorim, Brazil’s current foreign minister. Ambassador Vieira went on to serve under Amorim at the Ministry of Social Security and as Amorim’s cabinet chief at Itamaraty, Brazil’s Ministry of External Relations.
Born Feb. 15, 1951, Ambassador Vieira obtained a bachelor’s degree in law from the Universidade Federal Fluminense in 1973. He also studied at the Instituto Rio Branco, the diplomatic academy of Brazil’s Foreign Ministry, before entering the diplomatic corps in 1974. In addition, Ambassador Vieira earned certificates in English language study at the University of Michigan and Cambridge University, and studied French at the Université de Nancy in France.
Representing Canada:
His Excellency Gary Doer
Gary Doer assumed his responsibilities as ambassador of Canada the United States in October 2009.
Ambassador Doer previously served as premier of Manitoba for 10 years, during which time he worked extensively with U.S. governors to enhance Canada - U.S. cooperation on trade, agriculture, water protection, climate change and renewable energy. Ambassador Doer won three consecutive elections as premier of Manitoba with successive increased majorities. In 2005, he was named by Business Week magazine as one of the top 20 international leaders on climate change. His government introduced balanced budgets during each of his 10 years in office while reducing many taxes, including a plan to eliminate small business taxes. As premier, he also led strategic investments in health care, education, training and infrastructure.
Representing The Republic of Colombia:
Her Excellency Carolina Barco
Former Ambassador of Colombia to the United States, from August 2006 to July 2010.
Ambassador Barco, who most recently served as the Colombian minister of foreign affairs (2002-06), has a long career in the public sector, including postings as director of the City Planning Department in Bogotá and adviser to the ministries of Development, Culture and Environment, as well as to the National Planning Department and the Office of the Mayor of Bogotá. Ambassador Barco also worked as an international cooperation adviser to the U.N. Development Program, as a researcher at Universidad de los Andes, and as a member of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy’s Board of Directors.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in social and economic sciences and a master’s degree in business administration and urban and regional planning.
Representing the French Republic:
His Excellency Pierre Vimont
Former Ambassador of France to the United States, from August 2007 to October 2010.
Pierre Vimont is currently the Executive Secretary General of the European External Action Service.
Ambassador Vimont previously served chief of staff to the French minister of foreign affairs (2002-07) and as ambassador and permanent representative of France to the European Union 1999-2002). Ambassador Vimont joined the Foreign Service in 1977 and was first posted to London as first secretary from 1978 to 1981. He then spent the next four years with the Press and Information Office at the Quai d’Orsay. Returning to Europe, he served as second counselor with the Permanent Representation of France to the European Communities in Brussels (1986-1990), and was subsequently chief of staff to the minister delegate for European affairs from 1990 to 1993. Ambassador Vimont went on to serve as director for development and scientific, technical and educational cooperation, and then for cultural, scientific and technical relations. He was deputy director-general of the entire Cultural, Scientific and Technical Relations Department from 1996 to 1997 and then director of European Cooperation from 1997 to 1999.
Ambassador Vimont holds a law degree and is a graduate of the Institute of Political Studies and the National School of Administration (ENA).
Representing Georgia:
His Excellency Batu Kutelia
Ambassador Kutelia recieved a Master's Degree in Engineering Physical Faculty of Georgian Technical University in 1995. in 2000, he obtained a PhD from the same University. Before being named Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America, Canada and Mexico from Georgia in 2008, Mr. Kutelia served as First Deputy Minister of Defense of Georgia.
Mr Kutelia has also held numerous other positions within the Georgian government, such as Deputy Minister of Defense of Georgia (2007), Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia (2006), Head of Foreign Intelligence Special Service of Georgia (2005-2006), Deputy Minsiter of State Security of Georgia (2004), Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (2003-2004), Deputy Director of the Military-Political Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia (2000-2003), and Head of Military Cooperation Division, Military-Political Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia (1998-2000).
Representing The Federal Republic of Germany:
His Excellency Klaus Scharioth
Klaus Scharioth became ambassador of Germany to the United States on March 13, 2006.
Ambassador Scharioth, who joined the Foreign Service in 1976, previously served as state secretary of the Federal Foreign Office (2002-06), political director and head of the Political Directorate-General (1999-2002), head of the International Security and North America Directorate (1998-99), head of the Office of the Foreign Minister (1998), head of the Defense and Security Policy Division at the Federal Foreign Office (1996-97), and chef de cabinet to the NATO secretary-general in Brussels (1993-96). In addition, he worked in the International Law Division of the Federal Foreign Office (1990-93), the German Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York (1986-90), the Policy Planning Staff of the Federal Foreign Office (1982-86), the German Embassy in Ecuador (1979-82), and the Asia Division, Press Division and State Secretary’s Office at the Federal Foreign Office (1977-79). Ambassador Scharioth holds a master’s of arts degree, a law degree and a doctorate from the Fletcher School of Diplomacy.
Representing Greece:
His Excellency Vassilis Kaskarelis
Vassilis Kaskarelis was appointed ambassador of Greece to the United States on June 24, 2009 having previously served as Greece’s permanent representative to the European Union in Brussels since 2004.
Prior to that, he was the Greek permanent representative to NATO in Brussels (2000-04), while also serving as negotiator for the confidence-building measures between Greece and Turkey (2000-03), as well as deputy permanent representative of Greece to the United Nations in New York (1995-2000). Between 1976 and 1993, Ambassador Kaskarelis served in Ankara (Turkey), in Nicosia (Republic of Cyprus), in Venice (Italy) as consul, in Berlin (Germany) as head of the Greek Military Mission and after the collapse of the Berlin Wall as consul general, and in Athens at the Turkish Desk of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1993 to 1995, he was also head of the cabinet of the secretary-general at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador Kaskarelis graduated from the Universities of Thessaloniki and Athens, where he studied economics, politics and law.
Representing The Republic of India:
Her Excellency Meera Shankar
Meera Shankar arrived in Washington on April 26, 2009, to become the ambassador of India to the United States.
Ambassador Shankar, who joined the Foreign Service in 1973, most recently served as India’s ambassador to Germany (2005-09). After promotion to the rank of additional secretary in 2002, she held the responsibility for the United Nations and International Security. In addition, she has served as director in the Prime Minister’s Office (1985-91), minister (commerce) at the Indian Embassy in Washington (1991-95), and head of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations in New Delhi overseeing India’s cultural diplomacy. She also headed two important divisions in the Ministry of External Affairs dealing with the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and relations with Nepal and Bhutan.
Representing the Italian Republic:
Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata assumed his responsibilities as Ambassador of Italy to the United States on Oct. 1, 2009.
Terzi’s most recent overseas posting was as ambassador of Italy to Israel (2002-04). He also previously served as Italy’s permanent representative to the United Nations, where he also headed the Italian Delegation to the Security Council, which Italy had joined as nonpermanent member for the 2007-08 term. Security Council reform, Afghanistan, humanitarian intervention and protection of civilians in armed conflicts were among the major issues that Ambassador Terzi focused on during his presence on the council. He had served in New York on a prior occasion, from 1993 to 1998, as first counselor for political affairs and later as minister and deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.
Prior to his latest New York assignment, Terzi served in the Foreign Ministry in Rome as deputy secretary-general, director-general for multilateral political affairs and human rights, and political director. During those four years, his responsibilities included major international security and political issues, especially in the framework of the U.N. Security Council, the U.N. General Assembly, and the U.N. Council on Human Rights, as well as the Council of the European Union, NATO, the G-8, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He also advised the foreign minister on international security, focusing on the Western Balkans, the Middle East, Afghanistan, East Africa, nuclear proliferation, terrorism and human rights. During his initial two years at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ambassador Terzi served as a protocol officer.
Then in 1975, he was posted as first secretary for political affairs at the Italian Embassy in Paris. After returning to Rome in 1978 as special assistant to the secretary-general, he went to Canada to serve as economic and commercial counselor for almost five years, a period of sharp growth in economic and high-tech cooperation between Italy and Canada. In 1987, he returned to Rome to serve first at the Department for Economic Affaires, focusing on high technology exchange, and later as head of one of the Offices of the Department of Personnel and Human Resources.
His next foreign assignment was to NATO in Brussels, where he was political adviser to the Italian Mission to the North Atlantic Council in the immediate aftermath of the Cold War, German reunification, and the first Gulf War. Ambassador Terzi holds a law degree at the University of Milan, specializing in international law.
Representing Japan:
His Excellency Ichiro Fujisaki
Ichiro Fujisaki became ambassador of Japan to the United States on June 4, 2008.
Ambassador Fujisaki previously served as ambassador and permanent representative to the International Organizations in Geneva (2005-08) and as Japan’s deputy minister for foreign affairs, during which time he was also the prime minister's personal representative (Sherpa) to the G8 Summit and Japan's chief negotiator for free trade agreements (2002-05). Prior to that, from 1999 to 2002, Ambassador Fujisaki served as the director-general of the North American Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which he joined in 1969.
Representing Mexico:
His Excellency Arturo Sarukhan Casamitjana
Arturo Sarukhan Casamitjana became ambassador of Mexico to the United States on Feb. 27, 2007.
Ambassador Sarukhan previously served as the top foreign policy advisor and international spokesman to current Mexican President Felipe Calderón during the presidential campaign and in the transition team. A career diplomat, he also served as consul general of Mexico in New York and as chief of staff to the secretary of foreign relations.
For his posting in Washington, Ambassador Sarukhan will work to implement President Calderon’s priorities on the different issues of the Mexico-U.S. bilateral agenda.
His Excellency Claude Heller
Ambassador Claude Heller is Mexico’s Permanent Representative to the UN where he is the Chair of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict. Mr Claude Heller was born in Mexico City on May 2, 1949. He was awarded an International Relations Degree at El Colegio de México (1968-1972).
Mr Heller is a member of the Mexican Diplomatic service since 1980, Ambassador of Mexico to France, Permanent Representative to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States and other countries in Europe. He is the author of several books and articles related to foreign policy and has been lecturer in Universities, Research Centers and other foreign institutions.
Representing The Kingdom of Morocco:
His Excellency Aziz Mekouar
Aziz Mekouar became ambassador of Morocco to the United States on June 19, 2002.
Before his current assignment, Ambassador Mekouar served as ambassador to Italy (1999-2002). He was elected Independent Chairman of the Council of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in November 2001 and re-elected in 2003. He had previously been appointed ambassador to Portugal (1993-1999) and to Angola (1986-1993). Ambassador Mekouar has also served as minister plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in Morocco (1985-1986), permanent representative of Morocco to the International Bureau for Information Technology (1978-1985), and first counselor and deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of Morocco in Rome (1977-1985). He attended the French High School Charles Lepierre in Lisbon, Portugal, and obtained a graduate degree from the Higher School of Commerce (HEC) in Paris, France, in 1974.
Representing The Kingdom of the Netherlands:
His Excellency Herman Schaper
From 2001 until the summer of 2005, Herman Schaper was Deputy Director-General for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague. As of 1 September 2005 he will be the Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to NATO.
His previous positions at the Ministry Foreign Affairs and abroad include Director of the European Affairs Department, Director of the Security Policy Department, Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN and Deputy Permanent Representative to NATO.
From 1981-1982 he represented the Democrats '66 party in the Dutch Parliament. He had previously worked as a researcher at the Netherlands Society for International Affairs. He has published a dozen articles on Dutch foreign policy, European security and transatlantic relations.
Herman Schaper has a degree in modern history from the University of Leiden and a master's in international relations from the University of Virginia (USA).
Representing The State of Qatar:
His Excellency Ali Fahad Al-Shawany Al-Hajri
Ali Bin Fahad Al-Hajri became ambassador of Qatar to the United States on April 7, 2008.
Ambassador Al-Hajri previously served as director of the European and American Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2006-08) and Qatari ambassador to Italy with non-residency ambassador status to Greece, Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia and San Marino (2000-05). During that same time, he was also the Qatari representative to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the U.N. World Food Program.
In addition, Ambassador Al-Hajri was a member of the Qatari Permanent Delegation to the United Nations in New York (1997-2000), a diplomat at the Qatari Embassy in Morocco (1995-97), a diplomat at the Qatari General Consulate in Dubai (1985-93), and a third secretary in the Foreign Affairs Ministry (1983).
Ambassador Al-Hajri holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Southern Colorado, and he has been awarded the Grand Knight of the Cross by the Republic of Italy.
Representing The Republic of Serbia:
His Excellency Vladimir Petrovic
Until spring 2002 Mr. Petrovic worked for Pope, McGlamry, Kilpatrick & Morrison LLP, CARE – USA, and Gray, Rust, St. Amand, Moffett & Brieske in Atlanta Georgia. In 2002 Mr. Petrovic concluded Democratic Campaign Management Program. Mr. Petrovic partook in the Joseph Moore for Alderman Campaign in Chicago, Illinois, as well as being the Field Director of the David Fink for Congress Campaign from June to November 2002. Mr Petrovic was also a member of the coordinated campaign, which included Jennifer Granholm for Governor and Carl Levin for Senate Campaign. From January to June 2003 Mr. Petrovic partook in the Joseph Mario Moreno for Cicero Town President as a Campaign Manager for the Mayoral Race. In July 2003 Mr. Petrovic joined State of Illinois as a Director of Personnel in the Capital Development Board, until July 2004 when he became the Deputy Director of Illinois Trade Office. He was involved in fundraising efforts for different democratic candidates, and numerous campaigns in the US.
Mr. Petrovic returned to Serbia 2007 to be a part of the newly elected government as a Minister Counselor in the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia. On August 20th 2007 he became the Minister Counselor and the Deputy Chief of Mission in the Embassy of the Serbia in Washington. From February to October 2008 he served as the Charge d’Affairs a.i. In February of 2009 he was appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the United States of America.
Representing The Republic of Singapore:
Her Excellency Chan Heng Chee
Chan Heng Chee took up her appointment as Singapore’s ambassador to the United States in July 1996.
Educated at the University of Singapore and Cornell University, she began her career in 1989 when she served as Singapore’s permanent representative to the United Nations and was concurrently high commissioner to Canada, and ambassador to Mexico. Before her appointment, she was the executive director of the Singapore International Foundation and director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. She was the founder director of the Institute of Policy Studies and is on secondment from her post as professor in the Department of Political Science, National University of Singapore.
Chee has received a number of awards including, the National Book Award for "The Dynamics of One Party Dominance: The PAP at the Grassroots" (1978), the National Book Award in 1986 for "A Sensation of Independence: A Political Biography of David Marshall," and Singapore’s first "Woman of the Year, 1991" award. She has also received honorary degrees of doctor of letters in 1994 from the University of Newcastle, Australia and from the University of Buckingham in 1998. She received the Inaugural International Woman of the Year Award 1998 by the Organization of Chinese American Women.
Representing The Slovak Republic:
His Excellency Peter Burian
Ambassador Peter Burian is the current Slovak Ambassador to the United States of America.
Born in Hlohovec, Peter Burian graduated in Oriental Studies at St. Petersburg University in the USSR and entered the service of the Czechoslovakian foreign ministry in 1983. Following the breakup of Czechoslovakia on 1 January 1993, he was appointed chargé d'affaires at the newly independent Slovakia's embassy in Washington D.C. and, shortly after, deputy chief of mission. He was also Slovakia's permanent representative to the UN from 22 December 2004 to November 2008. He became the Slovak Ambassador to the US in December 2008.
Representing The Kingdom of Sweden:
His Excellency Jonas Hafstrom
Jonas Hafström became ambassador of Sweden to the United States on Aug. 29, 2007.
Ambassador Hafström previously served as Sweden’s ambassador to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Burma/Myanmar (2004-07), prior to which he was a member of the Swedish Defense Committee (1998-99), as well as deputy director-general and head of the Department for Consular Affairs and Civil Law in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2000-04). In addition, he has served various postings under former Prime Minister and Chairman of the Moderate Party Carl Bildt, including: foreign policy advisor (1987-2000), head of the party’s International Bureau (1994-2000), assistant undersecretary (1991-94), and press secretary (1987-91). Ambassador Hafström, a noncommissioned reserve captain in the Swedish Army, also held numerous other public sector postings throughout the 1980s, including head of section in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, first secretary to the Swedish Embassy in Washington and in Tehran, and press secretary to the minister of justice.
Representing The Kingdom of Great Britain:
His Excellency Nigel Scheinwald
Nigel Sheinwald became the British ambassador to the United States on Oct. 10, 2007.
For the previous four years, Ambassador Sheinwald served as foreign policy and defense adviser to the prime minister as well as head of the Cabinet Office of Defense and Overseas Secretariat.
Ambassador Sheinwald, who joined the Diplomatic Service in 1976, has also served as the British ambassador and permanent representative to the European Union in Brussels from 2000 to 2003, as Europe director at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) from 1998-2000, and FCO press secretary and head of the News Department from 1995 1998.
In addition, he was head of the UK Representations Political and Institutional Section in Brussels (1993-95), deputy head of the FCO European Union (Internal) Department (1989-92), and deputy head of the FCO Policy Planning Staff (1987-89). Other posting abroad include Washington (1983-87), Japan (1976-77), Moscow (1978-79), and Zimbabwe (1979-81), including the Lancaster House Conference.