The Government has appointed Mr Bernard William Baker, 52, as Singapore's next High Commissioner to the Republic of Botswana, resident in Pretoria. Mr Baker is currently Singapore's High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa, with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Zimbabwe. He will present his credentials to President Seretse Khama Ian Khama of Botswana on 15 June 2009.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
14 JUNE 2009
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BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY
Mr Bernard William Baker is currently Singapore's High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa, with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Zimbabwe.
Mr Baker was born on 17 April 1957. Mr Baker graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science (Political Science) Honours Degree from the National University of Singapore in 1982. He was with the Singapore Foreign Service from 1982 to 1989 during which he served on the Eastern European Desk, and Japan, Hongkong, Taiwan and Korea Desks (Political Division) before being posted to the Singapore High Commission in Wellington (1985 to 1989).
Mr Baker was appointed Assistant Director/International Organisations/PPA Directorate IV in December 1991. He has served in the Singapore High Commission in New Delhi (1992 to 1995). Mr Baker was Deputy Director/Technical Co-operation (1995 to 1996) and subsequently Deputy Director/International Economics (1996 to 1997). He was Acting High Commissioner in the Singapore High Commission in Pretoria (1997 to 2002). He later served as Deputy Director/PPA Directorate IV (February 2002 to April 2002) before he assumed post as Consul-General in Vancouver (2002 to 2004).
From September 2004 to October 2005, Mr Baker served as Deputy Director/Special Projects/Public Affairs. In November 2005, he was appointed Acting Director/Public Affairs. He last served as Director/Public Affairs from April 2006 to early-February 2009.
Mr Baker was awarded the Long Service Award (15 years) in 2005.
Mr Baker is married to Madam Susan Ong. They have a son and a daughter.
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Jun 09