Consular Corps of Colorado announces new officers for 2020-2021

By Donald Peterson

The Consular Corps of Colorado is pleased to announce the election of new Officers to its Board for the 2020-2021 term. Honorary Swedish Consul, Sir Donald Peterson was elected as Dean, Honorary Consul for Italy, Giovanna Carriero-Contreras - Vice Dean, Consul of United Kingdom, Erin Kuhn – Secretary, Honorary Consul of Belgium, Vera Braeckman-Kennedy – Treasurer. Mr. Peterson previously served as Treasurer of the Consular Corps of Colorado for 10 years, as well as Secretary and Vice Dean.

Sir Donald Peterson was appointed in February 1984 as Honorary Vice-Consul of Sweden for the States of Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico. In August 2001 he was promoted to Honorary Consul for Sweden, covering the same district States.

Based on his continuous years of consular service, Mr. Peterson was knighted by the King of Sweden in 1994 and is the recipient of The Royal Order of the Polar Star Medal.

In 1989, Mr. Peterson was a founding Director and helped establish the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce of Colorado, where he is a permanent, honorary member of its Board of Directors.

Mr. Peterson was admitted to the practice of law in 1976 before all Colorado Courts of record, as well as the United States District Court for the District of Colorado and the United States Court of Veterans Appeals. Mr. Peterson has a general civil trial and appellate practice, emphasizing elder law, estate planning and personal injury.

Mr. Peterson has been a well-received columnist for The Villager since early 2019, regarding his column, “About The Law”, concerning legal affairs in the Senior Choices section of the newspaper.

Mr. Peterson graduated from the University of Denver, College of Arts and Sciences, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (cum laude) in 1973. He also received a degree from the University of Uppsala in Sweden regarding international law. Mr. Peterson received his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Denver, College of Law in June 1976. Mr. Peterson is a member of the Denver, Colorado and American Bar Associations, as well as the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association and the Elder Law Section of the Colorado Bar Association.

The Consular Corps of Colorado is over 60 years old as an organization. The Corps currently consists of 36 countries. The number of countries which choose to have official representation in Colorado has grown significantly over the years, as Colorado has become more linked to international business and global activities. Presently, Canada, El Salvador, Guatemala, Japan, Mexico, Peru, and the United Kingdom have full-time consulates in the state.

The Consular Corps of Colorado is the official organization representing foreign governments in the State of Colorado, including regular Foreign Service career posts and honorary appointments. All Corps’ diplomats are recognized and credentialed by the United States Department of State.

Consuls and Honorary Consuls General perform important duties behalf of their representative country, including ensuring that foreign nationals from their sending country are properly represented; advising on business and educational matters; dealing with issues pertaining to visas and passports, and special cases as may arise, including under the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The Consular Corps of Colorado strives to increase cooperation and communication among its members; to increase awareness of foreign and international issues in Colorado and to provide information to Colorado residents about visas, laws, regulations, passport issues and other diplomatic matters pertaining to each host country.