Ambassador Riffat Masood is a seasoned Pakistani diplomat with extensive experience in foreign relations. As a trailblazer in a male-dominated field, she has stood up for women’s empowerment and gender equality within the diplomatic corps. Ambassador Masood also made history as Pakistan’s first female envoy to the Islamic Republic of Iran. As an experienced diplomat and dedicated officer of the Foreign Service of Pakistan, she has served in several countries, including the UK, USA, France, Turkey, India and Norway.

During her tenure in Paris (1998-2001) Ambassador Masood gained experience in multilateral diplomacy as Pakistan’s deputy permanent delegate to UNESCO where she actively promoted and protected Pakistan’s interests in the fields of education, science and culture, particularly its cultural heritage. As Consul General in Los Angeles and Ambassador in Oslo, Riffat Masood focused on uniting the diverse Pakistani diaspora on social and welfare issues while instilling a sense of community identity among them. While posted at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs she served in the Europe, USA, South Asia, Policy Planning and Administrative divisions.