IHG DIPLOMAT OF
THE YEAR AWARDS

Monday 25^th April 2022

Ambassadors and High Commissioners from over 80 countries (and diplomats from over 100 countries) attended the IHG DIPLOMAT magazine 2022 Awards Ceremony in the Ballroom of The Biltmore, Mayfair on Monday 25 April. DIPLOMAT presented 10 awards to some of the most influential diplomats based in the UK. The 200-plus guests were treated to a reception and canapés prepared by the hotel chefs.

Heads of Mission from over 80 countries and diplomats from over 100 countries were in attendance

In its twelfth year, the awards ceremony recognises the outstanding work and achievements of London’s diplomatic community who are trying to better their nations’ well-being. DIPLOMAT magazine identified 10 categories that recognise different levels of diplomacy, and winners were nominated by their peers. The evening welcomed the massed ranks of London’s diplomatic corps, at what has become a key date in the capital’s diplomatic calendar. BBC Diplomatic Correspondent James Landale was the Master of Ceremonies, who performed with immense slickness and wit.

Compère for the evening, BBC News Diplomatic Correspondent James Landale

Compère for the evening, BBC News Diplomatic Correspondent James Landale

Ambassador of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko, the 2022 Diplomat of the Year from Eurasia and the Western Balkans

Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps Alistair Harrison CMG, CVO, Director General of the Royal Over-Seas League Annette Prandzioch, High Commissioner for Namibia Linda Scott and her son Dan Pandeni Idhenga

Anthony Rath (Belize), Belize High Commissioner Therese Rath, Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire Sarah Affoue Amani and Botswana High Commissioner Dr John Gosiamemang Ndebele Seakgosing

Diplomatic guest with Evgeniya Shevchenko (Moorfields Private Eye Hospital)

Ambassador of North Macedonia Aleksandra Miovska and High Commissioner for the Maldives Dr Farah Faizal

Rachya Stepanyan (Armenia) and Deputy Head of Mission for Morocco Mr Mouaad Ibriz

CEO of International Hospitals Group Chester King with 2022 Diplomat of the Year from the Middle East and North Africa Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates Mansoor Abulhoul

Sylvana Lesca (Uruguay) and Cosette Campos (Peru)

Editor of DIPLOMAT magazine, Venetia van Kuffeler

Guests from Cleave & Co who created the awards for the evening: Lilla Kormany, Gabriela Kurcharska and Stephen Connelly

Max Austin (Public Policy Projects), Namibia High Commissioner Linda Scott, Ambassador of South Sudan Ms Agnes Oswaha and Mr Isaac Dau (South Sudan)

Hotel Manager of The Biltmore Mayfair, Amit Jaitly

Lead sponsor for the evening was International Hospitals Group (IHG), a fourth generation, private family business founded in the UK. With 50 years in the business, IHG has become a truly international company, successfully completing over 480 healthcare projects in 55 countries. Other sponsors included International Diplomatic Supplies who provided the champagne and wine, The Biltmore, Mayfair who co-hosted the evening, and Smythson who produced monogrammed notebooks for each of our winners. Royal warrant holders’ Cleave & Co. produced the unique awards for the winners.

Champagne and wine supplied by International Diplomatic Supplies www.i-d-s.com

Champagne and wine supplied by International Diplomatic Supplies www.i-d-s.com

With over 180 diplomatic missions, a posting in London remains one of the highlights of any diplomat’s career. DIPLOMAT’s Editor, Venetia de Blocq van Kuffeler, said: “As the global centre for diplomacy, London has become more important than ever. This is an award ceremony for diplomats, with winners chosen by diplomats. This evening is about hard work and technique. It’s about people and professionalism.”

President of Young Diplomats in London Ali Al Khairalla (Iraq) and Ammar Hakmat Farhan (Iraq)

Guests from UDSS: Sir Richard Barrons, KCB CBE and Air Marshal (Ret’d) Phil Osborn CBE

Dean of the Latin American Corps Ambassador of Honduras Ivan Romero-Martinez and Ambassador of Uruguay Dr César Rodríguez-Zavalla

Ms Klanghtai Suntrajarn, Mrs Prangtip Isaac, Ms Tassawan Sundravorakul and High Commissioner of Papua New Guinea Ms Winnie Kiap, with High Commissioner of St Kitts and Nevis (in the background)

High Commissioner for the Maldives and her spouse Mr Mohammed Didi

Dr Michael Leary (Christian Embassy), Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps Alistair Harrison CMG, CVO, Professor Beravale and Ambassador of Honduras Ivan Romero-Martinez

Mike Guy (IMO) and Chargé d’Affaires at the Dominica High Commission Janet Charles

Chargé d’Affaires from the Embassy of Equatorial Guinea Maria Jesús Diallo Besari, Mrs Prangtip Isaac, High Commissioner for St Kitts and Nevis Dr Kevin Isaac and High Commissioner of Sierra Leone Dr Morie Komba Manyeh

Winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Diplomacy in London award Ambassador of Honduras Ivan Romero-Martinez

High Commissioner of the Maldives Dr Farah Faizal, Janet Charles (Dominica) and High Commissioner of Namibia Linda Scott

Guests from Football for Peace: Martin Corpus Director of Sutton United FC, former premier league player Michael Chopra, former Barnet FC player Shane Cojocarel and former Pakistan international player and co-founder of Football for Peace Kash Siddiqi

Outstanding Contribution to Diplomacy in London award winner Ambassador of Honduras Ivan Romero-Martinez with his wife Mirian

2022 DIPLOMAT OF THE YEAR
AWARD WINNERS

2022 Diplomat of the Year from Africa
Her Excellency Ms Linda Scott
High Commissioner of Namibia

2022 Diplomat of the Year from Europe
His Excellency Mr João Vale de Almeida
Ambassador of the European Union to the UK

2022 Diplomat of the Year from the Middle East & North Africa
His Excellency Mr Mansoor Abulhoul
Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates

2022 Diplomat of the Year from Central & South America
Her Excellency Ms Guisell Morales-Echaverry
Ambassador of Nicaragua

2022 Diplomat of the Year from Asia & Oceania
Her Excellency Dr Farah Faizal
High Commissioner of the Maldives

2022 Diplomat of the Year from Eurasia & the Western Balkans
His Excellency Mr Vadym Prystaiko
Ambassador of Ukraine

2022 Diplomat of the Year from North America & the Caribbean
His Excellency Dr Kevin Isaac
High Commissioner for St Kitts & Nevis

2022 Young Diplomat of the Year
Ms Rasha Haddad
First Secretary, Embassy of Lebanon

2022 Outstanding Contribution to Climate Diplomacy
Her Excellency Ms Saida Muna Tasneem
High Commissioner for Bangladesh

2022 Outstanding Contribution to Diplomacy in London
His Excellency Mr Ivan Romero-Martinez
Ambassador of Honduras

Young Diplomat of the Year Rashad Haddad (Lebanon)

Rashad Haddad (Lebanon), High Commissioner of the Maldives, High Commissioner of Bangladesh and High Commissioner of Namibia

Mrs Prangtip Isaac and High Commissioner of St Kitts and Nevis Dr Kevin Isaac

Diplomat magazine editor Venetia van Kuffeler greets guests including the Ambassador of Hungary and the Ambassador of Romania

Winner of the 2022 Outstanding Contribution to Climate Diplomacy award, High Commissioner for Bangladesh Her Excellency Saida Muna Tasneem

Team from the Bangladesh High Commission, along with Gerardo Andriaccio, Director of Sales at The Biltmore Mayfair (far right)

Lebanese Embassy’s Deputy Head of Mission Marwan Francis and Rashad Haddad (Lebanon)

For enquiries contact Diplomat magazine Editor, Venetia van Kuffeler on

vvk@diplomatmagazine.com www.diplomatmagazine.com

For The Spectator’s coverage, click here: https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/ukraine-triumphs-on-russia-s-turf

2022 DIPLOMAT OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

vvk@diplomatmagazine.com www.diplomatmagazine.com

2022 DIPLOMAT OF THE YEAR
AWARD WINNERS