H.E. Ambassador Mr. Norachit Sinhaseni, a career diplomat, took up his position as Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations in August 2009. Prior to that, he was Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2007. From 2003 to 2007 he was Ambassador to New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga. From 2001 to 2003 he was the Director General of the Department of Information and Foreign Ministry Spokesman. He also served as Director General, Department of East Asian Affairs. From 1999 to 2001, Amb. Sinhaseni was Chief of Staff to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan. Amb. Sinhaseni was Thailand’s Sherpa at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC in April 2010 and continues in that role. In the 1990’s, Amb. Sinhaseni led the Thai delegation which negotiated the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty or commonly known as the Bangkok Treaty.