H.E. Laurent Parenté is the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Vanuatu to the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) as well to the International Oil Pollution Fund (IOPC Funds) and the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO). He is the current Chair of the IMO Technical Cooperation Committee and a Board Member of the Board of Governors of the World Maritime University (WMU).

H.E. Laurent Parenté has a strong experience with IMO as an active participant to the work of this Organization leading the Delegation of Vanuatu before all IMO Organs and Diplomatic Conferences since he first joined the Vanuatu IMO Mission in 2005. He enjoys a strong knowledge of IMO rules and procedures with the drafting and co-drafting of numerous submissions on safety, security and the protection of the marine environment from ships.