Yvonne Mewengkang
Yvonne Mewengkang | |
|---|---|
| Chief of Staff to the Foreign Minister | |
| Assumed office 9 September 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Roy Soemirat |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 June 1982 |
| Education | Sam Ratulangi University American University |
Yvonne Elizabeth Mewengkang (born 22 June 1982) is an Indonesian diplomat who is currently serving as the chief of staff to the foreign minister since 9 September 2025. She previously served as the deputy chief of staff.
Early life and education
Mewengkang was born in Palu on 22 June 1982 as the daughter of a soldier. Due to her father's career, she moved frequently during her childhood, living in different cities such as Makassar and Bandung for elementary school, and later in Denpasar for both middle and high school. After completing high school, she returned to her hometown to study communication sciences at the Sam Ratulangi University in Manado. Her studies sparked her interest in diplomacy.[1] During her foreign service, she received a Edward E. Masters fellowship from the United States–Indonesia Society to study at the American University School of International Studies. She graduated with a master's degree in international politics[2] in the summer of 2012.[3]
Career
Mewengkang began her foreign service career when she was awarded the prestigious Lambertus Palar Award, a scholarship specifically for Sam Ratulangi University students provided by the foreign ministry. In 2006, she passed the foreign civil service selection as a representative for North Sulawesi and starting her career in Jakarta. After completing her diplomatic training, she received her first assignment as a junior diplomat at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations in New York, where she was involved in various important missions from 2013 to 2016.[1]
Yvonne returned to Jakarta to undertook her mid-level diplomatic course, during which she visited Bengkulu to discuss efforts to promote the province's tourism and resource potentials.[4] She was then assigned to handle peacekeeping issues at the Directorate of International Security and Disarmament before being named as deputy director (chief of subdirectorate) for Asia-Pacific and African intra and inter-regional cooperation.[5]
She returned to New York from 2018 to 2022 as part of the Indonesian UN Security Council Task Force.[1] During Indonesia's chairmanship of the United Nations Security Council in May 2019, Yvonne was involved in organizing meetings to handle international security matters. Yvonne stated that her workload would intensify dramatically during the prelude to the Syrian civil war which saw the escalation of violence in the country.[6]
Upon serving in the permanent mission, she was recalled to Jakarta to serve as the personal secretary to foreign minister Retno Marsudi, equivalent to her deputy chief of staff.[1] Under foreign minister Sugiono, on 9 September 2025 Mewengkang became the chief of strategic support bureau, a position equivalent to the foreign minister's chief of staff.[7] Shortly upon her appointment, she was designated as the foreign ministry's first spokesperson, alongside with second spokesperson Vahd Mulachela.[8] The two were introduced to the media as spokesperson on 17 September.[9]
Personal life
Yvonne is married and has two children.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e Rais, Ayurahmi (31 October 2024). "Sosok Yvonne Mewengkang, Diplomat Berdarah Kawanua yang Kini Menjabat Kepala Sekretariat Menlu RI" [Yvonne Mewengkang: A Kawanua-Blooded Diplomat Now Serving as Head of Secretariat to the Foreign Minister]. Manado Post (in Indonesian). Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ USINDO, The United States-Indonesia Society (15 September 2025). "Past Fellows - USINDO". USINDO. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ Merrill, David (November 2015). "President's Report" (PDF). USINDO. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ Sipayung, Helti Marini (6 April 2017). "Kemlu Siap Bantu Promosikan Pariwisata Bengkulu". Antara News Bengkulu (in Indonesian). Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ Friends of Governance for Sustainable Development (15 September 2025). "Coordinators – Friends of Governance for Sustainable Development". friendsofgovernance.org. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ Ramadhan, Adhitya; Bin Saju, Pascal S (19 August 2020). "Indonesia Dihormati karena Konsisten Tegakkan Prinsip" [Indonesia Respected for Consistently Upholding Principles]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 15 September 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ "Menteri Luar Negeri RI Lantik Kepala Perwakilan RI, Wakil Kepala Perwakilan RI, dan Jabatan Pimpinan Tinggi Pratama Baru di Lingkungan Kementerian Luar Negeri dan Perwakilan RI" [Indonesian Foreign Minister Appoints Heads of Missions, Deputy Heads of Missions, and New Senior Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Indonesian Missions]. Kemlu.go.id (in Indonesian). 9 September 2025. Archived from the original on 15 September 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ Ihsan, Nabil (17 September 2025). "Kemlu tegaskan Presiden Prabowo akan bahas isu Palestina di PBB" [Foreign Ministry affirms President Prabowo will address Palestine issue at UN]. ANTARA News (in Indonesian). Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ^ Putra, Dimas Agung; Juned, Rizqi (17 September 2025). "Kenalan Dengan Juru Bicara Baru Kemlu, Berikut Profil Yvonne Mewengkang Dan Vahd Nabyl Mulachela" [Meet the New Foreign Ministry Spokespersons: Profiles of Yvonne Mewengkang and Vahd Nabyl Mulachela]. GPriority (in Indonesian). Retrieved 21 September 2025.