Armenia

Varuzhan Nersesyan became ambassador of Armenia to the United States on Jan. 11, 2019, having previously served as assistant to the Armenian prime minister since April 2018. Ambassador Nersesyan also previously served in Washington, D.C., as deputy chief of mission from 2008 to 2012. In addition, he was assistant to the Armenian president responsible for international affairs and matters related to the National Security Council (2012-18); head of the External Relations Department for the Armenian National Assembly (2006-08); head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2005-06); and deputy head of mission for the Armenian Permanent Mission to the OSCE in Vienna (2000-03). Other postings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs include head of the Conventional Arms Control Division with the Arms Control and International Security Department (2003-05) and OSCE desk officer (1999-2000). Ambassador Nersesyan holds a master’s degree in international relations, diplomacy and international law from Yerevan State University in Armenia; a master’s in public administration from the Public Administration Academy in Yerevan; and a certificate from the Global Master of Arts Program at Boston’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He speaks Armenian, English, Russian and German, and is married with three children.

Barbados

Noel Anderson Lynch became ambassador of Barbados to the United States on Jan. 11, 2019. He also serves as the permanent representative of Barbados to the Organization of American States. Ambassador Lynch is a Barbadian statesman who began his political career as a senator from 1994 to 1999. He was elected to the House of Assembly for two consecutive terms from 2000 to 2008 and appointed to the Cabinet on both occasions to serve as minister of tourism and international transport. A marketing and communications professional by training and a former professional athlete, Ambassador Lynch most recently served as a lecturer at the University of the West Indies and CEO of the Barbados Cricket Association. He also served as president of the Amateur Athletic Association of Barbados; manager of the national track team to the 2000 Sydney Olympics; vice president of the North American and Central American Confederation of the International Association of Athletic Federations; and as manager of various track and field teams. He holds a bachelor’s of science degree in marketing and business administration and a bachelor’s of arts in English and Spanish, as well as a diploma in education training, from the University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez. He is married to Deborah Stoute-Lynch.

India

Harsh Vardhan Shringla became ambassador of India to the United States on Jan. 11, 2019. In the course of a diplomatic career spanning 35 years, Ambassador Shringla has held a variety of positions in New Delhi and abroad. He has served as high commissioner of India to Bangladesh and ambassador of India to Thailand. He has also served in France (UNESCO); the U.S. (United Nations in New York); Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City); Israel; and South Africa (Durban). In addition, Ambassador Shringla served in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi as joint secretary (director general) responsible for Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Maldives. He also headed the United Nations Political and SAARC Divisions in the ministry. Earlier, he was director of the Northern Division dealing with Nepal and Bhutan as well as deputy secretary of the Europe West Division. Ambassador Shringla graduated from St. Stephen’s College at Delhi University and worked in the corporate and public sectors in India prior to joining the Indian Foreign Service. He has pursued courses and published papers on conflict prevention, economic diplomacy, the Indian diaspora and India-Bangladesh relations.

Ambassador Shringla speaks French, Vietnamese and Nepalese apart from English and Indian languages. He is married to Hemal Shringla and has one son.