Retno L. P. Marsudi was born in Semarang, 27 November 1962. Appointed on 27 October 2014, she is the first female Foreign Minister of Indonesia.
Minister Marsudi graduated in 1985 from Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, and majored in International Relations. She has also pursued several other studies, namely “European Union Law” at the Haagse Hogeschool in Den Haag, and “Human Rights Study” at the Oslo University.
Minister Marsudi is married to Mr. Agus Marsudi, an architect, a graduate of Delft University and Gadjah Mada University. They are blessed with two sons; Dyota Marsudi (b. 1989), an Executive Director at a Venture Capital Firm, Graduate of INSEAD Paris & University of Indonesia and Bagas Marsudi (b. 1993), a Medical Doctor, Graduate of Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia. Both sons are happily married.
Minister Marsudi and Mr Agus Marsudi are proud grandparents of a grandson born on 11 January 2020.
Minister Marsudi joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1986. She has served in various posts as follows: Minister for Foreign Affairs, October 2014 – present; Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, 2012 – 2014.; Director General for American and European Affairs, 2008 – 2012; Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Kingdom of Norway and the Republic of Iceland, 2005 – 2008; Director for West Europe Affairs, 2003-2005; Director for Intra and Inter Regional Cooperation for America and Europe, 2001-2003.She has also served at the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra (1990-1994) and in The Hague (1997-2001)
She has been the recipient of the following international awards; The Order of Merit (Grand Officer-the Second Highest Decoration), Norway, December 2011; The Ridder Grootkruis in de Orde van Oranje-Nassau, The Netherlands, 12 January 2015; The Agent of Change Award from the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), 21 September 2017; The “El Sol del Peru” (the “Sun of Peru”), Peru, 24 May 2018 and Malalai Medal of Honor from President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan, 1 March 2020. Moreover, At the national level, she has received The Migrant Worker Protection Award from the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (Serikat Buruh Migran Indonesia), 18 December 2017, Elle Style Awards 2018, for Outstanding Achievement category, October 2018, The Best Public Figure Award, from iNews Indonesia Awards 2018, 15 November 2018, “Anugerah Perhumas Indonesia Tahun 2018” (Public Relations Award for 2018), for Government Official category, 10 December 2018; The Special Award for Humanitarian Diplomacy Leaders from the PKPU Human Initiative, 19 December 2018.
Minister Marsudi has written numerous articles on issues related to Foreign Affairs.