Ambassador Kanwal Sibal joined the Indian Foreign Service in July 1966, eventually serving as the Foreign Secretary of India. He has served as Ambassador of India to Turkey, Egypt, France and Russia, besides having served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington D.C., with ambassadorial rank. He is currently a member of the Executive Council of the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) and is on the Board of the New York-based East West Institute. He writes prolifically on international affairs and is a Padma Shree awardee for 2017.