Human rights speaker Jose Ramos-Horta won the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize. He won the prize for working “towards a just and peaceful solution to the conflict in East Timor”. He became President of East Timor from 20 May 2007 to 20 May 2012. Previously, he was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2002 to 2006 and Prime Minister from 2006 to 2007.

As a founder and former member of Fretilin, Ramos-Horta served as the exiled spokesman for the East Timorese resistance during the years of the Indonesian occupation of East Timor (1975–1999). While he continued to work with Fretilin, Ramos-Horta resigned from the party in 1988, becoming an independent politician.

Ramos-Horta became the country’s first foreign minister after East Timor achieved independence in 2002. He served in this position until his resignation on 2006. On 26 June, Ramos-Horta became acting Prime Minister. Afterwards, he became President in 2007. On 11 February 2008, Ramos-Horta was shot during an assassination attempt.

In 2012, the United Nations selected Ramos-Horta as its Special Representative. Also as Head of the United Nations Integrated Peace-building Office in Guinea-Bassau, in 2013.

Nowadays, Jose Ramos-Horta is a sought after keynote speaker and author of the book Words of Hope in Troubled Times.