Connecting Diplomats
Connecting nations and ideas, fostering peace and collaboration across borders.
Connecting Diplomats
Connecting nations and ideas, fostering peace and collaboration across borders.
About the Oxonian Chapter
Our Mission
Founded by three accomplished Oxford alumnae- Rawan Al-Faqir, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Jordan in London; Nadhirah Zanudin, Principal Assistant Secretary at the Human Rights and Humanitarian Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia; and Michelle Ong, former Deputy Chief Negotiator at Singapore’s Ministry of Trade; the Chapter reflects a shared vision of cultivating a community rooted in academic excellence, cross-cultural understanding, and principled diplomacy.
Oxonian Diplomatic Chapter - Our TEAM
Rawan Al-Faqir
Nadhirah Zanudin
Rawan Al-Faqir
Rawan is a senior diplomat and policy strategist with over 12 years of experience in multilateral diplomacy, negotiations, and international networking. She currently serves as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in London and as Alternate Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organis
Rawan is a senior diplomat and policy strategist with over 12 years of experience in multilateral diplomacy, negotiations, and international networking. She currently serves as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in London and as Alternate Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), where she delivers interventions, contributes to negotiations, and engages in international decision-making processes.
She has led initiatives in public diplomacy, protocol, and external relations, overseeing multiple teams and driving partnerships that bring together governments, international organisations, and academia.
From 2022 to 2025, Rawan served as President of the Young Diplomats in London, where she oversaw a series of high-profile events and successfully guided the network through a period of significant growth and expanded influence across the diplomatic community in London.
She is especially passionate about women’s empowerment in diplomacy and maritime affairs. At the IMO, she mentors future leaders through the Women on Board Initiative, promoting opportunities for women in global governance.
Rawan is also an active speaker and moderator. She has been invited to share her expertise on diplomacy, negotiations, and leadership at institutions including the London School of Economics (Grimshaw Club), King’s College London, and at official IMO events, where she has moderated and spoken on panels dedicated to diplomacy and women’s empowerment.
A Chevening Scholar and graduate of the University of Oxford, Rawan was recognised as Young Diplomat of the Year (2023) for her leadership in multilateral engagement and external relations.
Michelle Ong
Nadhirah Zanudin
Rawan Al-Faqir
Michelle has had more than 15 years of experience in diplomacy and international relations. She is currently a director at a strategic business advisory firm providing services in business risk and commercial due diligence, deal-sourcing, and strategic networking for multinational corporations, government-linked companies, funds, and priv
Michelle has had more than 15 years of experience in diplomacy and international relations. She is currently a director at a strategic business advisory firm providing services in business risk and commercial due diligence, deal-sourcing, and strategic networking for multinational corporations, government-linked companies, funds, and private enterprises.
Prior to joining the private sector, Michelle spent more than a decade in the Government service, managing Singapore’s bilateral economic accounts with trade partners in Latin America, Central Asia, and ASEAN. Notably, Michelle concurrently served as a trade negotiator for the Singapore government and was involved in numerous Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, which comprises ASEAN countries and their key trade partners. Michelle was also the ASEAN Chair for the Working Group on Services for the ASEAN-China FTA 2.0 upgrade and served as Singapore’s Deputy Chief Negotiator for the MERCOSUR-Singapore FTA negotiations.
Further, Michelle was involved in the government’s COVID response measures, and was, for her contributions, conferred the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) Award in 2023.
Michelle obtained a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Economics (BSc) with First Class Honours from the National University of Singapore. She also has a Master’s degree in Diplomatic Studies (Mst) from Oxford University.
Nadhirah Zanudin
Nadhirah Zanudin
Nadhirah Zanudin
Nadhirah is a seasoned career diplomat with over 15 years of experience in Malaysia’s Foreign Service, currently serving as Principal Assistant Secretary at the Human Rights and Humanitarian Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia. In this role, Nadhirah plays a substantive role in formulating, implementing, and coordinating Malays
Nadhirah is a seasoned career diplomat with over 15 years of experience in Malaysia’s Foreign Service, currently serving as Principal Assistant Secretary at the Human Rights and Humanitarian Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia. In this role, Nadhirah plays a substantive role in formulating, implementing, and coordinating Malaysia’s policies and positions on human rights and humanitarian issues at both national and international levels.
Her diplomatic career has spanned multiple geographies and portfolios, including prior postings in Washington, D.C., where she served as First Secretary of Politics and Congressional Affairs, and interfaced directly with U.S. institutions such as Capitol Hill, the Department of State, and the National Security Council. Subsequently, Nadhirah served as Political Counsellor at the Embassy of Malaysia in Manila, deepened Malaysia–Philippines relations and championed Malaysia’s positions on regional and international issues such as maritime security.
Throughout her tenure at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Putrajaya, Nadhirah has contributed significantly to Malaysia’s positions in bilateral, regional and multilateral settings, including her assignments at the East Asia Division, Multilateral Political Division and the ASEAN-Malaysia National Secretariat as well as a short term delegate to the 71st United Nations General Assembly in New York, and at the 60th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
She has negotiated a wide range of issues; human rights, regional security, socio-economic cooperation, and played key roles in crisis communication, including during the MH370 tragedy. She continues to serve Malaysia’s interests with professionalism and distinction in the evolving diplomatic landscape of Southeast Asia.