Natalie Yu-Lin Morris-Sharma, born in Singapore.LLB (Hons) Cambridge University (2005); LLM International Legal Studies, New York University (2006); Dip. Sing. National University of Singapore (2007). Called to the Bars of New York (2008) and Singapore (2013). Specialist Mediator with the Singapore International Mediation Centre (2024). Senior Director/Senior State Counsel, International Affairs Division, Singapore’s Attorney-General Chambers (from 2020); previously Director, International Legal Division, Singapore’s Ministry of Law (2017-2020); Counsellor (Legal), Permanent Mission of the Republic of Singapore to the United Nations, New York (2014-2017); Deputy Senior State Counsel/State Counsel, International Affairs Division, and State Prosecution and Criminal Justice Divisions, Singapore’s Attorney-General’s Chambers (2007-2014). Rapporteur of the United Nations Commission for International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) (from 2017); Vice-Chairperson of the 50th and 51st UNCITRAL Commissions (2017-2018; 2018-2019); Chairperson of the UNCITRAL Working Group II (Dispute Settlement) for its work on the enforcement of conciliated settlement agreements, which developed the Singapore Convention on Mediation (2015-2018); Representative of Singapore at the UNCITRAL Working Group II (Arbitration and Conciliation) for its work on the UNCITRAL Rules on Transparency (2010-2014). Coordinator of the annual General Assembly omnibus resolution on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (from 2018); Vice-Chairperson of the Sixth Committee Bureau at the 70th Session of the General Assembly (2015). Chief negotiator/Head of delegation for various international meetings and negotiations including for the Model Agreement with the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to enable the Tribunal to sit in Singapore (2019-2020); Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations and the Government of Singapore for collaboration to promote international dispute resolution (2019); Mutual legal assistance treaty in criminal matters between Singapore and France (2018-2019); The Hague Conference General Council meeting in The Hague (2018, 2020); Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Senior Law Officials’ Meeting in Vientiane (2018); Model ASEAN Extradition Treaty negotiations in Bangkok (2018). Head of the legal team for Singapore’s delegation to the International Negotiating Body at the World Health Organization for a new Pandemic Accord (2022-2025). Member of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration Panel of Experts to Develop a Paris Agreement Conciliation Annex (from 2023). Member of the International Mediation Institute’s Public Policy Mediation Committee (from 2025). Counsellor, American Society for International Law (from 2020). Visitorships at the Geneva Graduate Institute, Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, University of Oxford, Centre for International Law-National University of Singapore. Edward Kwakwa, born on 19 April 1961 in Accra, Ghana. Ghanaian and American citizenship. LLB University of Ghana, LLM Queen’s University in Canada and LLM & JSD, Yale Law School. Assistant Director General, Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland.Elected Titular Member (2011) and Associate Member (2017) of the Institut de Droit International.Admitted to the Connecticut and the District of Columbia bars, USA (1989 and 1991).Previously served as WIPO’s General Counsel from 2004 to 2016. His career spans senior roles across the multilateral system, including Senior Legal Adviser at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Legal Affairs Officer at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and International Legal Adviser to the Commission on Global Governance in Geneva. Earlier, he practiced law at O’Melveny & Myers in Washington, DC. Visiting Professor in International Intellectual Property Law at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland (since 2011); visiting Professor in International Intellectual Property Law at the World Trade Institute in Berne, Switzerland (2007-2009). Adjunct Professor, University of Lausanne (2008-2015). Adjunct Professor of Law, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Medford, Massachusetts (2000-2004). Extraordinary Professor in Law, University of Pretoria, South Africa (since 2005). Member, Privileges and Immunities Advisory Group, Global Fund, Geneva(since 2004). Member and Chair, Board of Editors, African Journal of International and Comparative Law (1995-2010). Member, Editorial Board, International Organizations Law Review (1995-2024). Vice President, African Foundation for International Law (2004-present). Vice President, American Society of International Law (2015-2017). Member, Committee on Accountability of International Organizations, International Law Association (2001-2004). Member, International Observer Delegation to First Ever South African Election (1994). Senior Editor, Yale Journal of International Law (1986-1989).
