Tommy Koh

Professor Tommy Koh is a distinguished academic and diplomat affiliated with the National University of Singapore (NUS). He served as Dean of the NUS Faculty of Law (1971–1974) and was conferred full professorship in 1977. His roles included Rector of Tembusu College (NUS), Ambassador-at-Large at Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Chairman of the Centre for International Law at NUS. He holds honorary degrees from Yale and Monash Universities and is a globally recognized figure in international law and environmental diplomacy.

Education:

• Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours), NUS
• Master of Laws, Harvard University
• Postgraduate Diploma in Criminology, Cambridge University

Research interests span international law, environmental governance, maritime disputes, and diplomacy. His work on the Law of the Sea and the UN Earth Summit (1992) earned global acclaim. He is also active in cultural preservation, having led the National Arts Council and authored Singapore: The Encyclopedia.

His publications explore themes like US-East Asia relations, ASEAN institutional development, and pragmatic idealism in global governance. Awards highlight his contributions to environmental diplomacy, legal scholarship, and national service, including the Order of Nila Utama (First Class, 2008).

He chairs NUS committees on law, Asia research, and environmental management, and has served on UN dispute panels and as Special Envoy to resolve regional conflicts. His legacy combines academic rigor with impactful diplomatic service.