Biographical Note
The Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations, Raymond Osbourne Wolfe, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 13 June, 2006.
Prior to his appointment, since 2003, Mr. Wolfe was Under-Secretary for Multilateral Affairs at his country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. From 1998 to 2003, he was Jamaica’s High Commissioner to Canada, and for several years before that he held consecutive senior positions in the Foreign Ministry, including as Director of the European Affairs Department and Director of the Africa, Asia and Pacific Affairs Department.
Mr. Wolfe joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in July 1973. In is early diplomatic career, he was posted in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1977-1981), at United Nations Headquarters in New York (1984-1990), in Nigeria (1990-1992) and in Japan (1992-1994).
In 1973, Mr. Wolfe graduated from the University of the West Indies with a Bachelor of Science in international relations with a focus on comparative politics, international politics, international economic relations, government and politics of the West Indies. He also holds a diploma in international relations from the Foreign Service Officers’ Training Course in Canberra, Australia, and has completed a Commonwealth Executive Programme in public management at the Executive Education Centre of the Schulich School of Business at York University, Toronto, Canada.
Born 4 May 1941, Mr. Wolfe is married, with two children.
PERSONAL DATA
Date of Birth: 4th May 1951
Marital Status: Married with two (2) children
Date of Entry into the
Foreign Service: July 9, 1973
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
1970 – 1973: University of the West Indies – B.Sc. International Relations with passes in Comparative Politics, International Politics, International Economic Relations, Government and Politics of the West Indies, Caribbean Economic Problems.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
June – September 1975 Pursued fellowship for Foreign Service Officers’ Training Course – Canberra, Australia – Awarded Diploma in International Relations.
May – June 2005 Completed Commonwealth Executive Programme in Public Management, Executive Education Centre, Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
FOREIGN SERVICE EXPERIENCE
May 2006 – Present: Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations, New York – Ambassador/Permanent Representative.
February 2003 – April 2006: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade – Under-Secretary, Multilateral Affairs Division.
July 1998 – February 2003: Jamaican High Commission, Ottawa, Canada – High Commissioner.
December 1997 – June 1998: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade – Acting Principal Director, European Affairs Department, Foreign Trade Department and Multilateral Organizations Department.
June 1995 – December 1997: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade – Director, European Affairs Department.
February 1995 – June 1995: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade – Director, Africa, Asia and Pacific Department.
April 1992 – November 1994: Embassy of Jamaica, Japan - Minister/Counsellor
July 1990 – March 1992: Jamaican High Commission, Nigeria – Deputy High Commissioner.
August 1984 – July 1990: Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations, New York – Minister/Counsellor with responsibility for the General Assembly (Plenary and Fourth Committee issues) and Non-Aligned Coordinating Bureau.
May 1981 – July 1984: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade – Political Division, United Nations and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Desk Officer.
December 1977 – May 1981: Embassy of Jamaica, USSR - First Secretary, Political and Protocol Affairs, Student Affairs, and also Olympic Attaché (1980 Olympics).
November 1975 – October 1977: Embassy of Jamaica, Dominican Republic – Second Secretary and subsequently Chargé d’Affaires.
July 9, 1973: Joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (cadet-level) and appointed Administrative Officer May 16, 1974.