She is one of India’s brightest and finest diplomats who joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1979 and retired in December 2015.

She served as Ambassador of India to Japan (2012-2015), Qatar (2009-2012) and Sweden (2005-2009). She was concurrently accredited as Ambassador to Latvia (from Stockholm), and Republic of the Marshall Islands (from Tokyo). She is the first Indian woman appointed as Ambassador to Qatar. During her career, she has also held other significant assignments in Geneva, Hong Kong, China, The Netherlands, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Ministry of External Affairs.

In the course of her career spanning over 36 years, she has handled a wide swathe of issues and subjects related to India’s relations with key countries such as Pakistan, China, and Japan; participated in international conferences and negotiations related to climate change, sustainable development, disarmament and human rights and was instrumental in the active promotion of India’s economic interests in areas of trade, technology, investments and energy security during postings in Europe, the GCC and Japan.

She had worked extensively on issues relating to human rights, disarmament and environment, and continues to have an abiding interest in these subjects.

A graduate from Madras University, she has an undergraduate degree in Chemistry and post graduate degree in English Literature. Hailing from the state of Kerala in India, but domiciled in Tamil Nadu, She speaks English, Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi. She also has conversational skills in Mandarin.

She is currently Chairperson of the India-Japan Friendship Forum, Member Governing Council of the Institute of Chinese Studies and is on the Governing Council of the Asian Confluence based in Shillong. She also serves as independent Director and advisor on a few Boards of companies.

Her husband is Mr. Anil Wadhwa, who has served as Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as Indian Ambassador to Italy, Poland, Oman, and Thailand, and both husband and wife have diplomatic backgrounds.