Professor Tommy Koh Receives the Great Negotiator Award 2014

NUS Law congratulates Professor Tommy Koh ’61 for receiving the 2014 Great Negotiator Award given by the Program on Negotiation – a special research project at Harvard Law School jointly led by Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tufts University, and the Future Diplomacy Project at Harvard Kennedy School. Awarded to distinguished individuals in the area of negotiation and dispute resolution, the title recognises Prof Koh’s significant contributions to the United Nation Convention on Law of the Sea, the Rio Earth Summit, the ASEAN Charter and the Singapore-US Free Trade Agreement. As the Ambassador-At-Large at Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Rector of Tembusu College at NUS, Prof Koh follows a line of past winners that include former U.S. Secretary of State James A. Baker, Nobel Peace Prize Winner and former President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari, former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata, former United States Ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke, and United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy to Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi.

In addition, Prof Koh holds other positions at NUS as Chairman of the Centre for International Law and Special Adviser of the Institute of Policy Studies. He is also Chairman of the National Heritage Board.

In paying tribute to Prof Koh, NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan said: “Professor Tommy Koh is an outstanding lawyer, professor and diplomat who played a pivotal role in shaping Singapore’s foreign policy. The Great Negotiator Award is indeed a strong and timely recognition of Prof Koh’s distinguished career as well as his contributions towards international affairs and diplomacy. The NUS community takes pride in Prof Koh’s achievements and our faculty, staff and students are privileged to benefit from his deep insights and vast experience through his active involvement in various academic activities of the university.”