Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin
Encyclopedia
Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin (born November 11, 1958) is a professional foreign service officer for Denmark and has been Ambassador
of Denmark
to Japan
and Afghanistan
. He is currently serving in Copenhagen.
Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin has been a professional foreign service officer for Denmark since 1985. His term of appointment as Ambassador
of Denmark
to Japan
began September 1, 2008 and ended September 1, 2011. He presented his credentials to the Emperor of Japan
, Akihito
on November 4, 2008. Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin was Denmark's first Ambassador to Afghanistan
from 2007 to 2008. He previously served abroad in Germany
, Brazil
and China
. Before being appointed to Ambassador to Afghanistan, he was Head of the Business Department (South Group) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark from 2005 to 2007. In Copenhagen
he has also served as Deputy Head of Department at the Policy and Planning Department as well as the Southern Africa Department. Throughout his career Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin has written political articles and speeches for different Danish Cabinet Ministers including the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, the Minister for Development Cooperation and the Minister of Finance.
In 2008 Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin was admitted into Kraks Blå Bog
(Denmark's Who's Who
) and in 2009 he received Japan's Cool Biz campaign
award for his efforts to publicly promote energy savings and CO2 reductions. He has also received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun 2011, Order of the Dannebrog
(R 1999; R1 2006) and the German Honour Cross in Red 1990.
After graduating as lawyer from the University of Copenhagen
in 1983 he first worked at a law firm and later at the Ministry of Taxation (Finance) before joining the Danish Foreign Service in 1985. Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin taught human rights and constitutional law for several years at the University of Copenhagen. He has also worked as a consultant on writing and communication.
In 2011 he published the book "Nu gælder Det Danmark!" together with his wife, Eva Fischer Mellbin. The book analyses and comments the Danish Prime Ministers New Year's Speaches since 1940 and was well received by critics.
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. He is currently serving in Copenhagen.
Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin has been a professional foreign service officer for Denmark since 1985. His term of appointment as Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
began September 1, 2008 and ended September 1, 2011. He presented his credentials to the Emperor of Japan
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
, Akihito
Akihito
is the current , the 125th emperor of his line according to Japan's traditional order of succession. He acceded to the throne in 1989.-Name:In Japan, the emperor is never referred to by his given name, but rather is referred to as "His Imperial Majesty the Emperor" which may be shortened to . In...
on November 4, 2008. Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin was Denmark's first Ambassador to Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
from 2007 to 2008. He previously served abroad in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Before being appointed to Ambassador to Afghanistan, he was Head of the Business Department (South Group) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark from 2005 to 2007. In Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
he has also served as Deputy Head of Department at the Policy and Planning Department as well as the Southern Africa Department. Throughout his career Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin has written political articles and speeches for different Danish Cabinet Ministers including the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, the Minister for Development Cooperation and the Minister of Finance.
In 2008 Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin was admitted into Kraks Blå Bog
Kraks Blå Bog
Kraks Blå Bog is the Who's Who of Denmark. The first edition was published in 1910 by Ove Krak and included 3,000 "life stories", while the 2009/2010 centennial edition contains life stories of 8127 living Danish, Faroe Island and Greenland women and men...
(Denmark's Who's Who
Who's Who
Who's Who is the title of a number of reference publications, generally containing concise biographical information on a particular group of people...
) and in 2009 he received Japan's Cool Biz campaign
Cool Biz campaign
The Japanese Ministry of the Environment began advocating the Cool Biz campaign in summer 2005 as a means to help reduce electric consumption by limiting use of air conditioning...
award for his efforts to publicly promote energy savings and CO2 reductions. He has also received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun 2011, Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
(R 1999; R1 2006) and the German Honour Cross in Red 1990.
After graduating as lawyer from the University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
in 1983 he first worked at a law firm and later at the Ministry of Taxation (Finance) before joining the Danish Foreign Service in 1985. Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin taught human rights and constitutional law for several years at the University of Copenhagen. He has also worked as a consultant on writing and communication.
In 2011 he published the book "Nu gælder Det Danmark!" together with his wife, Eva Fischer Mellbin. The book analyses and comments the Danish Prime Ministers New Year's Speaches since 1940 and was well received by critics.