Tommy Koh

Tommy Koh, (Tommy Thong-Bee Koh or Tommy Koh Thong Bee) was born in Singapore on 12 November, 1937. He is an international lawyer, professor and Ambassador-At-Large for the Government of Singapore. He is Professor of Law at the National University of Singapore and Chairman of the Singapore Institute of Policy Studies.

He was President of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, 1980-1982 and Chairman of the Main Committee of the UN Conference on Environment and Development, 1990-1992, where he presided over the negotiations on Agenda 21. He has also served as Singapore's ambassador to the United Nations and the United States.

Koh was the first Executive Director of the Asia-Europe Foundation, established in Singapore in 1997 by the countries of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

Koh received a Ll. B. (First Class Honours) degree from the University of Malaya in Singapore (now National University of Singapore), has a Ll. M from Harvard University and a post-graduate Diploma in Criminology from Cambridge University. He was conferred a full professorship in 1977. Prof Koh was awarded an honorary degrees of Ll. D. from Yale University and Ll. D. from Monash University. He has also received awards from Columbia University, Stanford University, Georgetown University, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and Curtin University.

On August 9 2008, Koh was conferred with the The Order of Nila Utama (First Class) by the Singapore Government, for his outstanding contributions in the Singapore legislative team representing Singapore, in the Pedra Branca dispute case with the Malaysian Government.cite news|title=NDP awards|publisher=Straits Times|date=2008-09-08]

elected writings

* Tommy Koh, "Five Years After Rio:Some Personal Reflections", UN Chronicle 1997, accessed at [http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle-arch/1997/essay44p.htm] August 29, 2006
* Tommy T.B. Koh and Amitav Acharya (ed.), "The Quest for World Order: Perspectives of a Pragmatic Idealist", Times Academic Press, Singapore, 1997 ISBN 981-210-108-X

Awards

* 1961 : Adrian Clarke Memorial Medal, University of Malaya (Singapore)
* 1961 : Leow Chia Heng Prize, University of Malaya (Singapore)
* 1971 : Public Service Star (Bintang Bakti Masyarakat), Singapore
* 1979 : Meritorious Service Medal (Pingat Jasa Gemilang), Singapore
* 1984 : Wolfgang Friedman Award, Columbia University Law School, New York
* 1984 : Honorary "Doctor of Laws" (LL.D), Yale University, Connecticut
* 1985 : Jackson H. Ralston Prize, Stanford Law School, California
* 1985 : Annual Award of the Asia Society, New York
* 1987 : International Service Award, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, USA
* 1987 : Jit Trainor Award for Distinction in Diplomacy, Georgetown University, USA
* 1990 : Distinguished Service Order Award (Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang), Singapore
* 1993 : Commander, Order of the Golden Ark, The Netherlands
* 1996 : Elizabeth Haub Prize for Environmental Law, University of Brussels
* 1997 : Grand Cross of the Order of Bernardo O'Higgins, Chile
* 1998 : Fok Ying Tung Southeast Asia Prize, Fok Ying Tung Foundation, Hong Kong (29 May)
* 2000 : Commander, First Class, of the Order of the Lion of Finland
* 2000 : John Curtin Medal, Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia
* 2000 : Grand Officer, Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
* 2000 : Distinguished Service to Arts Education, LASALLE-SIA College Award
* 2001 : Officer in the Order of the Legion of Honour, President of the French Republic
* 2003 : Peace and Commerce Award for efforts at building trade links with the United States
* 2004 : Outstanding Service Award, National University of Singapore on 12 May
* 2004 : Encomienda of Isabel la Catolica, from His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain on 24 May
* 2006 : Champions of the Earth, United Nations Environment Programme
* 2007 : Tatler Leadership Award for Lifetime Achievement, Singapore Tatler magazine

References

External links

* [http://www.ips.org.sg/staff/tommykoh/index.htm Bio details at Institute of Policy Studies, Singapore]