Yosef Berty Fernandez

Yosef Berty Fernandez (born 20 March 1955) is an Indonesian retired career diplomat who was Indonesia's ambassador to Peru and Bolivia from 2010 to 2013. Prior to his ambassadorial position, he was the chief of Papua's border and cooperation agency, serving under governor Barnabas Suebu. His diplomatic career cented around Latin America, with him having been posted to the Holy See, Colombia, and Mexico.

Early life and education Born in Flores on 20 March 1955, Fernandez is the third of nine children of Lukas Bertijan Fernandez, a driver, and Katarina Nimat, a farmer. Fernandez's family heavily relied on their mother's harvest for livelihood. Raised in a village with strong Catholic tradition in Ruteng, Flores, Fernandez attended the Saint Michael elementary school in Ruteng. Like many of his relatives who became monks, Fernandez initially aspired to become a clergyman and continued his secondary education at the Pius XII seminary in Kisol, Flores. At the end of high school, he felt that being a clergyman was not the right choice for him, and instead of transitioning into preparation for ordination he decided to enroll for the governance sciences major at the Gadjah Mada University. and received the Order of St. Sylvester at the end of his service. He returned to Jakarta in 1990 to take office at the Europe directorate, where he was in charge of countries in South Erope.

Fernandez returned to the America directorate, working there in a middle level position from 2004 to 2006. He also took part in the repatriation of migrants to Papua New Guinea, stating that the repatriation process was voluntary and that the migrants returned in light of then-recent economic and security developments on the Indonesian side.

On 20 January 2010, Fernandez was sworn in as Indonesia's ambassador to Peru and Bolivia, resident in Lima. Shortly prior to his departure to Lima, in February 2010 Fernandez visited his hometown, where he was received with an official ceremony by officials from the local government, and his family organizing a thanksgiving mass to celebrate his appointment. As ambassador, Fernandez learned spoken Spanish and closely observed political and economic developments in Peru. and he returned home as a senior official at the foreign ministry's policy research and assessment agency. In his retirement, Fernandez became a member of the Manggarai Institute, a think tank focusing on the development of the Manggarai Regency.

Personal life Fernandez is married to Vivi Djanggur and has four children.