Vanessa Frazier (born 24 May 1969) is a Maltese diplomat currently serving as Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations.[1]

Education

Frazier obtained a Bachelor’s degree in business management and French from Luther College in the United States and a Master’s degree in diplomatic studies, majoring in international law, from the University of Malta.[1][2][3] She holds an honorary doctorate in recognition of her career achievements.

Career

She began her diplomatic career as a student diplomat in 1992 and was appointed to the post of First Secretary in 1994. She served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a Desk Officer for the United States and the Americas and was later redeployed to the Mediterranean Department.[4] She was posted to London and Washington, D.C., before being appointed Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and NATO before becoming Ambassador to Italy in 2013, where she was also accredited to San Marino and the Rome-based United Nations bodies.[1][2][5]

In 2020 she was appointed Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations in New York,[2] and the following year also became the Permanent Representative of Malta to the International Seabed Authority.[6]

At the United Nations, she was elected Chair of the Second Committee for the 76th session of the General Assembly in 2021.[7][8] She is the first woman to lead all women members Second Committee and the first woman to hold the position of Malta Permanent Representative to the UN.

References

  1. ^ a b c Permanent Mission of Malta to the United Nations, H.E. Vanessa Frazier, Ambassador of Malta. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Luther College, "Luther College alumna Vanessa Frazier serves as United Nations Security Council president", 15 February 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  3. ^ "MEDAC alumna H.E. Vanessa Frazier appointed Chair of the UN's Second Committee". University of Malta. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  4. ^ "Ambassador Vanessa Franzier awarded the French Medal of Honour". foreignandeu.gov.mt. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  5. ^ informatici, Segretariato generale della Presidenza della Repubblica - Servizio sistemi. "Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana". www.quirinale.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  6. ^ "New Permanent Representative of Malta H.E. Ms. Vanessa Frazier presents her credentials to ISA Secretary-General | International Seabed Authority". www.isa.org.jm. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
  7. ^ United Nations, Economic and Financial Committee (Second Committee), Chairperson of the 76th Session. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  8. ^ "The Permanent Representative". foreignandeu.gov.mt. Retrieved 2021-09-25.