Ambassador (ret.) Niermala Badrising has held a number of high-ranking positions in the government of the Republic of Suriname over a period of nearly 30 years.  Her distinguished career includes roles such as Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Affairs Advisor to consecutive Presidents, and Ambassador to both the United States and the Organization of American States.

Since her retirement from government service in 2021, and in light of Suriname’s status as a rising player in global energy and gas production, Ambassador Badrising has assisted private sector firms in the U.S. and globally.  Her focus is strategic advisory, geopolitical risk analysis, and the promotion of foreign investment and trade.

Niermala Badrising holds a MA Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a MA Degree in International Development Studies from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, The Netherlands. She also received a Licentiate Degree in Law of the University of Suriname. Ambassador Badrising has furthered her expertise with post-graduate diplomas in Governance, Democratization and Public Policy, and International Law and Organizations for Development from the Institute of Social Studies. Her academic achievements are complemented by additional post-graduate diplomas in International Relations and International Security from the Diplomatic Academy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands, Institute Clingendael.

Ambassador Badrising has extensive experience in international business and foreign relations, bilateral and multilateral negotiations, conflict analysis and conflict resolution, public policyformulation and management, human rights, democracy and good governance initiatives, international developmental politics, sustainable development and climate, as well as the practice of diplomacy of small states.  

Ambassador Badrising was born in Paramaribo, Republic of Suriname. She is multilingual, with fluency in English, Dutch and Hindi, and proficient in Spanish.