Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa has been a distinguished career diplomat who joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1979 and retired in December 2015. A graduate from Madras University, she has an undergraduate degree in Chemistry and a post graduate degree in English Literature.

She has served as Ambassador of India to Japan (2012-2015), Qatar (2009-2012) and Sweden (2005-2009). She was concurrently accredited as Ambassador to Latvia (from Stockholm), and Republic of the Marshall Islands (from Tokyo). During her career, she has also held other significant assignments in Geneva, Hong Kong, China, The Netherlands, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Ministry of External Affairs.

In the course of her career spanning over 36 years, she has handled a wide swathe of issues and subjects related to India’s relations with key countries such as Pakistan, China, and Japan; participated in international conferences and negotiations related to climate change, sustainable development, disarmament and human rights and was instrumental in the active promotion of India’s economic interests in areas of trade, technology, investments and energy security during postings in Europe, the GCC and Japan.

Deepa Gopalan is Chairperson of the India-Japan Friendship Forum, Member Governing Council of the Institute of Chinese Studies and is on the Governing Council of the Asian Confluence based in Shillong. She currently serves as an Independent Director on the Boards of JK Cement ltd., Mukund Sumi Special Steel ltd., and Corporate Catalyst India Pvt. Ltd.