Kenneth Luis

Datuk Kenneth Luis was appointed the Executive Secretary of the United Nation Association Malaysia (UNAM) in February 2015. He retired from the Malaysian Administrative and Diplomatic Service in July 2010, having contributed 34 years as a civil servant in the public sector. His last posting was as the Malaysian Ambassador to UNESCO, in Paris, France, where he served for three years and a half, until his retirement in July 2010.

The last 20 years of his career in the public service were in the field of International Relations. He was the Undersecretary of the International Relations Division in the Ministry of Education of Malaysia, as well as the Secretary-General of the Malaysian National Commission to UNESCO.

During that period of time, he was actively involved in enhancing bilateral as well as multilateral relations in the Commomwealth, UNESCO, SEMEO, OIC, Apec and Asean; organising conferences, seminars and workshops; and participating in Executive Board and General Conference of UNESCO, and Semeo annual conferences.

As the current Executive Secretary of UNAM, he is very much engaged with the UNAM youth. Their main activities are implementing outreach programmes on the UN agenda for peace and development and the Model UN. The objective is to provide youth with opportunities to develop their leadership capabilities and responsibilities to become future leaders in UNAM.

His areas of focus are strengthening regional cooperation, collaborating and networking among the current UNAs in the Asean region on the implementation of WFUNA’s programs.

As a recognition of his services to the Nation, he was bestowed the honorific title of Datuk by the Governor of the State of Malacca, Malaysia in 2008. He was also awarded the Diploma of Honour by the Permanent Delegates’ Club of UNESCO in June 2010, for having actively contributed to the development of international understanding during his term of office in UNESCO.