Satya Nandan
Satya N. Nandan, CF, CBE (July 10, 1936 – February 25, 2020), was a diplomat and lawyer from Fiji specializing in ocean affairs, was Chairman of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, where he served a two-year term commencing 1 January 2009. Previously, he was the first Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, a position he held for three consecutive four-year terms from March 1996 until December 2008. Ambassador Nandan was a Fiji Indian who held a law degree from the University of London and was a Barrister-at-Law of Lincoln’s Inn, England . He was also a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Fiji. He was a representative of Fiji at the United Nations (1970–76 and 1993–95) and was Fiji’s Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands (1976-1980). He served as Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Fiji. Accomplishments. Ambassador Nandan has had an extensive career in international relations, both as representative of his country and head of several intergovernmental bodies. Some of his numerous positions include: Awards. Ambassador Nandan was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) by Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia , Canada (2012), an honorary Doctorate by the University of the South Pacific (1996) and an honorary Doctor of Laws by the Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada (1995). He was accorded the rank of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1978 and was awarded Fiji’s highest honour, Companion of the Order of Fiji (CF), in 1997. He was honoured with the award of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by the President of Germany (1996). He was married and has one son.