Kamalesh Sharma was born on 30 September 1941 and is an Indian diplomat.
14 Facts About Kamalesh Sharma
2.
Kamalesh Sharma was the fifth Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations from 2008 to 2016, having previously served as the High Commissioner for India in London.
3.
Kamalesh Sharma has served as the Chancellor Emeritus of Queen's University Belfast.
4.
Kamalesh Sharma is an alumnus of the Modern School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi, St Stephen's College in Delhi and King's College, Cambridge.
5.
Kamalesh Sharma served as India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, from Aug 1997 to May 2002, before his retirement from the Indian Foreign Service.
6.
Kamalesh Sharma was appointed as the High Commissioner of India to Britain in 2004.
7.
Kamalesh Sharma is a Vice-President of the Royal Commonwealth Society.
8.
Kamalesh Sharma has been the Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast since July 2009.
9.
Kamalesh Sharma was elected to the position of secretary-general over Michael Frendo, foreign minister of Malta, during the biennial Commonwealth summit in Kampala, Uganda held from 22 to 24 November 2007.
10.
Kamalesh Sharma took over from Sir Don McKinnon of New Zealand on 1 April 2008.
11.
Kamalesh Sharma was re-elected on 30 October 2011 at the 2011 CHOGM.
12.
Kamalesh Sharma was unopposed, having been proposed by India and seconded by Pakistan.
13.
Kamalesh Sharma was described by Arif Zaman, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Businesswomen's Network as "someone who has been a passionate, active and dedicated champion for women, combining advocacy with practical steps".
14.
On 9 July 2009, Sharma was appointed Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast after the retirement of Senator George J Mitchell.