Laili Roesad

Laili Roesad (19 September 1916 – 2003) was the first female diplomat in Indonesia.

Early life
Laili Roesad was born on 19 September 1916 in Padang, West Sumatra to Rusad Datuk Perpatih Baringek and Hasnah. Her father was a prominent Minangnese figure and her mother was the first Minang woman who studied at MULO, albeit she did not finish it. She finished high school at HIS Adabiah. Roesad continued her higher education at Rechtshoogeschool te Batavia and graduated in 1941, making her the first West Sumatran women law graduate.

Career
Roesad began her career as an employee of the Council of Justice in Padang. However, women were unable to become judges at the time, prompting her to switch careers to diplomacy by joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1949. While working at the Ministry, she took an international law class in London in 1950. As a diplomat, she represented Indonesia in several UN meetings. In 1955, she ran as the PNI's Constitutional Assembly candidate representing Central Sumatra in the 1955 Constitutional Assembly election and lost.

Roesad was appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs UN Directorate in 1956. Three years later, she became the Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg replacing Wiwoho until 1964. She then returned to Indonesia and served as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Head of the Legal Directorate until April 1967. Afterwards, she became Ambassador to Austria (1967-1970). While serving as the Ambassador of Austria, She also became a member on the Board of Governors at the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Roesad decided to retire from diplomat career in 1970. In 1995, the government awarded her 1st class Star of Service.

Award

 * Bintang Jasa Utama rib.svg, 1st class Star of Service - 1995.