The Washington Diplomat

Brunei
His Excellency Dato Paduka Haji Yusoff bin Haji Abdul Hamid

Dato Paduka Haji Yusoff bin Haji Abdul Hamid became ambassador of Brunei to the United States on Nov. 4, 2009, having previously served as the deputy minister of communications since May 2005.

He's also served as Brunei’s ambassador to Belgium, head of the Brunei Darussalam Mission to the European Communities, nonresident ambassador to the Netherlands, Hungary, Ireland and Japan, and Iand high commissioner to Australia.

He has also held various posts in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including deputy permanent secretary, director-general of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Department , and director of the Economics Department.

His economics background also led to his appointment to the National Committee on Reviving the Economic Situation in Brunei Darussalam and the Brunei Darussalam Economic Council as a member of its Secretariat. Prior to Brunei Darussalam’s resumption of full independence, Dato Yusoff was selected to join the newly established Diplomatic Services Department, serving as private and confidential secretary to Prince Mohamed Bolkiah from 1980 to1986.

A graduate in economics from the United Kingdom with a master’s degree from Tufts University in Massachusetts, the 60-year-old diplomat began his career in government at the Treasury Department in 1976 as an economics office, during which time he also earned a financial management certificate from the Royal Institute of Public Administration in London.

He is married to Datin Mahani binti Dato Abu Zar and has four children, three boys and one girl: Fadli, Tarmizi, Melati and Naif.

Embassy
of Brunei
3520 International Court, NW #300
Washington, DC 20008

Tel: (202) 237-1838
Fax: (202) 885-0560