Ambassador Nadeem Riyaz is the current President of the Institute of Regional Studies. He is a former diplomat who worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan for nearly 35 years. Born in 1960, Ambassador Riyaz joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1985 retiring this year. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations from Columbia University, New York, USA with regional specialization in South Asia. He also holds a Master’s degree in political science from Government college, Lahore.

During the course of his long career with the Foreign office, he has held many key positions at headquarters including Director Europe, Director Administration, Director Foreign Service Academy and Additional Foreign Secretary for Europe.

His positing abroad include, Second Secretary High Commission of Pakistan, Pretoria, South Africa and Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Pakistan Paris, France. He has served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Italy from October 2015 to February 2020. He was concurrently accredited to Slovenia, Albania and San Marino. He has also served as Ambassador to Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Latvia from 2009 to 2013. Ambassador Riyaz was Permanent Delegate to FAO, WFP and IFAD. He was also served on the standing Committee of IDLO, Rome. He also represented Pakistan as Deputy Alternate Permanent delegate to UNESCO.

Ambassador Riyaz has been associated with teaching for over a decade. He was a regular guest speaker at American University, Rome, Loyola University, Rome, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Ca Foscari Venice and University of Ljubljana. He has also lectured at University of Uppsala, Sweden and a number of research institutions in Sweden, Finland, Italy and Slovenia.

He is the author of Handbook for Diplomats of Pakistan, VVIP Protocol and Cycling around Islamabad. Ambassador Riyaz is a cricketer, golfer and an avid cyclist. His hobbies include reading, restoring cars and hiking. He lives in Islamabad. He has one son.