Barbados
Angela Kinch assumed the position of first secretary on May 1, having previously served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in Barbados.
Brazil
Luiz Alberto Figueiredo became ambassador of Brazil to the United States on May 18, 2015. He previously served as minister of external relations of Brazil (2013-14) and acted as executive secretary of the Rio+20 National Commission. At the Ministry of External Relations, he also served as undersecretary for environment, energy, science and technology (2011-13) and acted as director of the Department for Environment and Special Affairs (2005-11), as well as head of the Division on Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development (2002-04) and of the Division on Sea, Antarctic and Outer Space Affairs (1995-96). In addition, Ambassador Machado — who served as permanent representative to the United Nations in New York in 2013 — was posted to the Brazilian Mission to the United Nations (1986-89); the Brazilian Embassy in Santiago (1989-92); the embassy in Washington, D.C. (1996-99); the embassy in Ottawa (1999-2002); and the Brazilian Mission to UNESCO (2003-05). He participated, and in many times headed, Brazilian delegations in several multilateral meetings since 1981 in the areas of environment and sustainable development, disarmament and international security, law of the sea, Antarctica, outer space, health and labor. Born in July 1955, Ambassador Machado holds a law degree from the University of the State of Rio de Janeiro.
Ecuador
Francisco José Borja Cevallos became ambassador of Ecuador to the United States on May 18, 2015, having previously served as Ecuador’s minister of culture and heritage (2014-15) and ambassador to Chile (2007-14). Prior to that, Ambassador Cevallos had a long career as a journalist, serving as national director of the news channel Teleamazonas in Quito (2006-07); director of the daily newspaper Metro Hoy (2002-06); manager, general director, presenter and editorial director of the show La Televisión, Teleamazonas, and Ecuavisa in Quito (1996-2000); and political editor and editorial writer for the newspaper Hoy (1992-96; 1982-87). He was also advisor to Ecuadorian President Rodrigo Borja Cevallos (1988-92) and reporter, presenter, assistant director and then director of the news program Contacto Directo of Canal 8 (1978-82). Ambassador Cevallos attended the American School of Quito and studied law at the Catholic University of Quito (PUCE). He has also participated in dozens of workshops, seminars and courses in political science, journalism, senior management, international relations, etc. (FLACSO, Complutense University of Madrid, Gabriel García Marquez Institute for New Iberoamerican Journalism, the South American Commission for Peace, Carlos Matus Institute for Strategic Situational Planning and the George Washington University). Born June 22, 1949, he speaks Spanish and English.
India
Arun K. Singh became ambassador of India to the United States on May 18, 2015, having most recently served as ambassador to France (2013-15). He was in Washington on an earlier posting from 2008 to 2013 as deputy chief of mission of the Indian Embassy in D.C. In addition, he was India’s ambassador to Israel (2005-08). Ambassador Singh also served as joint secretary in Delhi dealing first with U.N. policy and then Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Iran Divisions at the Ministry of External Affairs (2000-05); counselor/minister at the Indian Embassy in Russia (1997-2000); and counselor at India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, handling multilateral social and economic negotiations (1993-97). Ambassador Singh’s first assignment abroad was at the Embassy of India in Moscow (1981-82), later being posted to Addis Ababa as second secretary (1982-85) and Tokyo as first secretary (1985-88). On returning to Delhi to the headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs, he served as deputy secretary/director dealing with East Asia and Pakistan Divisions (1988-91). From 1991 to 1993, he headed the Offices of the Foreign Secretary and the External Affairs Minister of India. Ambassador Singh joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1979 after completing his master’s degree in economics from Delhi University and teaching at the university for two years. He speaks Russian and Japanese and has some knowledge of French and Hebrew. Ambassador Singh is married to Dr. Maina Chawla Singh and they have one daughter.
Malawi
Necton Darlington Mhura became ambassador of Malawi to the United States on May 18, 2015. Ambassador Mhura, a lawyer by profession, previously served as a lecturer at the University of Malawi Chancellor College teaching law and as a board member of the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi Ltd.
