Dr. Raden Mohammad Marty Muliana Natalegawa took his oath-of-office as the country’s 17th serving Minister today (22/10) following an announcement of Cabinet by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday (21/10). Dr. Natalegawa was preceded by Dr. N. Hassan Wirajuda who served the office for eight consecutive years since 2001.

Being a career diplomat, Dr. Natalegawa started his line of duty with the Ministry in 1986. His diplomatic service included positions as the Indonesian Permanent Representative to the UN in New York from 2007 to 2009 and Indonesian Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland from 2005 to 2007.

A series of high-profile positions at home that he was assigned to from 2002 to 2005 comprise among others the positions of the Ministry’s Spokesman (2002-2003) and the Director General for ASEAN Cooperation (2003-2005).

Dr. Natalegawa was born in Bandung, on March 22, 1963. He is married with Sranya Bamrungphong and has three children.

Dr. Natalegawa earned his PhD from the Australian National University in 1993, a Master of Philosophy from Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge in 1985, and a BSc (Hons) from London School of Economics and Political Science in 1984.

Sources:
[i] Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Indonesia - 22 October 2009
[ii] Presidential Palace