4th Annual DIPLOMAT Awards Ceremony recognises Outstanding Contributions to Diplomacy

On the 24th of April 2012, Ambassadors and diplomats from over 100 countries gathered in London for the 4th Annual Diplomat Magazine Awards Ceremony. Hosted in the Langham Hotel’s Grand Ballroom, the beautiful room paid perfect homage to the centuries-old traditions of diplomacy.  

The Awards Ceremony, hosted by publisher of Diplomat Magazine Hugo de Blocq van Kuffeler, recognised different levels of diplomacy from consular services to ambassadorships of seven different regions. His opening remarks underlined the crucial importance of the work carried out by diplomats on behalf of the international community and the everlasting necessity for countries to maintain and build positive bilateral and multilateral relations.

As guests networked over champagne canapé, 12 Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Mission representatives were rewarded for their outstanding achievements and contributions to diplomacy.

Amongst the winners, the Diplomatic Academy of London - where Grassroot Diplomat Director Talyn Rahman-Figueroa received her diplomatic training - was awarded for ‘Distinguished Contribution to Diplomacy in London’. First Secretary at the Royal Thai Embassy Natthapol Na Songkhla was honoured as ‘Young Diplomat of the Year’, while the Ambassador of Macedonia Her Excellency Mrs Marija Efremova was recognised for her ‘Outstanding Contribution to Women in Diplomacy’.

Newly appointed High Commissioner of Sri Lanka Dr. Chris Nonis, was “deeply humbled” by his award for Diplomat of the Year from Asia, and transcended identity politics in his acceptance speech, “I am not Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, or Burgher, I am Sri Lankan, and I am proud to be Sri Lankan.”

With media attention often focusing on international conflict and diplomatic failure, this DIPLOMAT Awards provided a key reminder of the endless successes of diplomacy in London.

The event can be described as a huge success, and it was a real pleasure for Grassroot Diplomat, which places huge value on work done by diplomats on behalf of communities, to see their important efforts being recognised.

Grassroot Diplomat looks forward partnering with Diplomat Magazine in November this year to deliver Grassroot Diplomat Initiative Award. The Grassroot Diplomat Initiative Awards will give recognition to politicians and diplomats who have made exceptional achievements benefitting communities.

DIPLOMAT Award Winners and Categories:

Young Diplomat of the Year:

Mr Natthapol Na Songkhla – First Secretary from the Embassy of Thailand

Outstanding Contribution to the Press Corps:

Ms Cristina-Nacisa Nita – Press Attaché from Embassy of Romania

Outstanding Contribution to the Consular Corps:

Ms Zeina Hamad Al Khalifa – Embassy of Bahrain

Diplomat of the Year from the Americas:

His Excellency Mr Eduardo Medina Mora – Ambassador of Mexico

Diplomat of the Year from Europe:

His Excellency Dr Ion Jinga – Ambassador of Romania

Diplomat of the Year from Eurasia:

His Excellency Mr Fakhraddin Gurbanov – Ambassador of Azerbaijan

Diplomat of the Year from Africa:

His Excellency Mr Ernest Rwamucyo – High Commissioner for Rwanda

Diplomat of the Year from Asia:

His Excellency Dr Chris Nonis – High Commissioner for Sri Lanka

Diplomat of the Year from South America:

His Excellency Mr Mauricio Rodríguez-Múnera – Ambassador of Colombia

Outstanding Contribution to Women in Diplomacy:

Her Excellency Mrs Marija Efremova – Ambassador of Macedonia

The Distinguished Contribution to Diplomacy in London:

The Diplomatic Academy of London (Collected by Director, Professor Nabil Ayad)

Building Bridges: The Unlimited Rewards of BAME communities and charities working together

The Faith Regen Foundation and Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) came together on 19th April 2012 to host an event to champion the unlimited rewards achieved when organisations from different walks of life come together.

Focusing on the importance of working with Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) communities the event showed the “relationship of opportunities” to be had from cooperation. Held at the London Muslim Centre, where the Faith Regen Foundation is based, the Centre, which has been dedicated to bringing forth community cohesion and social welfare for over 100 years, could not have been a more appropriate setting to advocate the cause of the BAME community.

The Faith Regen Foundation is a national, multi-faith regeneration organisation that promotes tolerance in order to achieve cohesive and sustainable communities. Founded in response to the widespread stereotyping of Muslims that took place following the 9/11 attacks, the ethos of Faith Regen centres on cooperation and understanding between different communities. It’s most recent partnership with RNLI is a perfect manifestation of what can be achieved when two seemingly different organisations come together.

The work of the RNLI focuses on coastal and river rescue around the British Isles, and more recently internationally as well. However, with many UK coastal areas being inhabited by people of white, middle-class backgrounds, BAME communities were not being involved in their valuable work. In commitment to “working with the community for the community”, partnership with Faith Regen will enable the RNLI to promote its services and volunteering opportunities to BAME communities. Mutual benefit is found in the increased capacity to save lives as well as the promotion of tolerance amongst people of different backgrounds in new ways.

This ethos of reaching out to other communities, organisations and institutions lies at the heart of Grassroot Diplomat. We believe in the endless mutual gains that are to be had by creating dialogue between different groups. By reaching out to grassroots projects and building relationships with varied individuals, organisations, and governments we hope we can contribute to the ‘building of bridges’ that is so crucial to a healthy, unified society. It was a pleasure to attend the Faith Regen event, and an inspiration to see groups of different backgrounds helping each other in new ways.