His Excellency Mr José Jairo Hernandez Milian

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Republic of Costa Rica

Biography

Ambassador Hernandez is a Costa Rican citizen, with experience in the public sector, in the private sector, the international arena and in the academia. He is currently Ambassador to Australia.

He was Ambassador to Singapore from 2012 to 2017, and served as the Dean of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps (2016-17). Prior to that, he was the Director-General of Foreign Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica, from 2010 to 2012, in which capacity he travelled extensively with his country’s President and Foreign Minister. From 2009 to 2010, he was the Deputy Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations, period in which Costa Rica was a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Ambassador Hernandez has extensive international experience. He Holds a Certificate of Specialization in Latin American Studies (University of Brasilia), a Licenciatura Degree in Law and Political Science (University of Costa Rica) and a Masters of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University, The Fletcher School of Law. He represented Latin America and the Caribbean as Member of the Executive Council (1984-87) and as Vice President (1991-1995) of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations.