Luther College alumna named permanent representative of Malta to the United Nations

Luther College alumna Vanessa (Grima Baldacchino) Frazier has been named the permanent representative of Malta to the United Nations. She is the first woman to assume this title. In this position, Frazier will lead Malta's bid for a seat at the United Nation (UN) Security Council in 2023. If this bid is successful, Frazier will have the seat representing the Western European and Others Group (WEOG).   

Frazier graduated from Luther in 1990 with degrees in French and business management and went on to receive her master's degree in diplomatic studies from the University of Malta.

Her career began as a student diplomat in 1992. Since then Frazier has risen through the ranks with appointments in Washington, Rome, London and Brussels. She has served as ambassador for immigration and a six-year term as director for defense matters and acting permanent secretary of the ministry for foreign affairs.

Among Frazier's many awards and accolades, she is most praised for her role in Malta's humanitarian response to the Libyan revolution in 2011. She worked to create the Humanitarian Hub in Malta which proved to be one of the most impactful Maltese efforts in resolving the Libyan crisis.

Frazier's most recent previous appointment was in 2013 when she was named her country's ambassador to Italy, with concurrent accreditation to San Marino and to the Rome-based United Nations agencies.

In 2013, Frazier was one of 12 women selected to appear in the "Women Inspiring Europe" calendar by the European Institute for Gender. She has also received decorations from the Republics of France, Italy and Brazil as well as an honorary degree from Luther College during the 2019 commencement ceremony.

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