IHG DIPLOMAT OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2023

Ambassadors and High Commissioners from over 60 countries (and diplomats from over 80 countries) attended the DIPLOMAT magazine 2023 annual Awards Ceremony at the Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL) in St James’s on Monday 24 April. DIPLOMAT presented 10 awards to some of the most influential diplomats based in the UK. The 150-plus guests were treated to a reception and canapés prepared by ROSL’s chefs.

In its thirteenth 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.

BBC Diplomatic Correspondent James Landale compèred the awards ceremony

BBC Diplomatic Correspondent James Landale compèred the awards ceremony

Lead sponsor for the second year was International Hospitals Group (IHG), a fourth generation, private family business founded in the UK. With over 50 years in the business, IHG has become a truly international company, successfully completing over 480 healthcare projects in 55 countries. The world's largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions VFS Global also sponsored the evening, which is the trusted partner of 67 client governments operating in 145 countries. Other sponsors included long-time supporter of the Diplomat Awards International Diplomatic Supplies who provided the champagne and wine, and the venue for the evening, the ROSL. Launched in 1910, ROSL is dedicated to championing international friendship and understanding throughout the Commonwealth and beyond. Royal warrant holders’ Cleave & Co. produced the unique awards for the winners.

High Commissioner for Barbados Milton Innis, High Commissioner for Namibia Linda Scott and High Commissioner for Belize Therese Rath

Latimer King (IHG), IHG CEO Chester King and Kash Siddiqi (Football for Peace)

Stephen Connolly and Peter Scott (Cleave & Co)

Mrs Mirian Nassser-Romero (Honduras), Mrs Désirée Prinzessin von Preussen (Peru) and Ambassador of Cuba Mrs Bárbara Elena Montalvo Alvarez

Christopher Goodwin (Ambassador Partnership) and Ambassador of Thailand Thani Thongphakdi

Director General of ROSL Dr Annette Prandzioch, Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps Alistair Harrison CMG CVO, Dr Michael Leary (Christian Embassy)and High Commissioner for Mauritius Girish Nunkoo

Editor of Diplomat magazine, Venetia van Kuffeler

Gabriela Kucharska, Sara Carriles and Tom Lee (Cleave & Co)

Deputy Head of Mission Chantal Moser (Switzerland), Deputy Head of Mission Gerrit Van Rossum (France) and FCDO Head of Protocol and Vice-Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps Victoria Busby

Director General of ROSL Dr Annette Prandzioch

Champagne and wine provided by International Diplomatic Supplies

Gervase Milbourn (Diplomat magazine), Hugh Milbourn (BBC News) and BBC News presenter Jo Coburn

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.”

Awards made by Cleave & Co.

Awards made by Cleave & Co.

Elizabeth Samuel (VFS Global) and Yummi Talwar (VFS Global)

High Commissioner for Antigua and Barbuda Ms Karen-Mae Hill OBE

Venetia van Kuffeler greets Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Ambassador of Honduras Ivan Romero-Martinez and Mrs Mirian Nassser-Romero

Ms Laura Stresina (Romania) with Chief Operating Officer at the Royal Commonwealth Society Elizabeth van der Valk

Mohammad AlDubayan (Saudi Arabia) and Corathon Ismaile (Cleveland Clinic)

Ambassador of Guatemala Jose Alberto Briz Gutierrez and Ambassador of Haiti Euvrard Saint Amand

BBC Diplomatic Correspondent James Landale and ROSL Director General Dr Annette Prandzioch

Evgeniya Shevchenko and Andrew Robertson (Moorfields Private Eye Hospital)

Rasim Mammadov, Polad Mammadov and Mrs Vusala Mammadova (Azerbaijan)

Managing Director of GK Strategy Scott Dodsworth, Joshua Stanley (FCDO) and Mayang Biem(South Sudan)

Karim Mostafa (The Peninsula London), Director General of ROSL Dr Annette Prandzioch and Mrs Bibi Qamarara Nunkoo (Mauritius)

Chairman of the Canary Wharf Group Sir George Iacobescu CBE, Ms Octavia Popescu and Ambassador of Romania Laura Popescu

2023 DIPLOMAT OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS:

2023 Diplomat of the Year from the
Middle East & North Africa

His Excellency Mr Hakim Hajoui
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco

2023 Diplomat of the Year from Europe

Her Excellency Mrs Laura Popescu
Ambassador of Romania

2023 Diplomat of the Year from Asia & Oceania

Her Excellency Mrs Saroja Sirisena
High Commissioner for Sri Lanka

2023 Diplomat of the Year from Africa

Her Excellency Ms Agnes Oswaha
Ambassador of the Republic of South Sudan

2023 Diplomat of the Year from Eurasia
& the Western Balkans

Her Excellency Ms Sophie Katsarava MBE
Ambassador of Georgia

2023 Diplomat of the Year from North America & the Caribbean

Her Excellency Ms Karen-Mae Hill OBE
High Commissioner for Antigua and Barbuda

2023 Diplomat of the Year from Central
& South America

His Excellency Mr Juan Carlos Gamarra Skeels
Ambassador of Peru

2023 Deputy Head of Mission of the Year

Mr Polad Mammadov
Deputy Head of Mission & Counsellor
(Political Affairs)
Embassy of Azerbaijan

2023 Young Diplomat of the Year

Ms Rawan Al-Faqir
First Secretary, Embassy of Jordan
& YDL President

2023 Outstanding Contribution to Diplomacy in London

His Excellency Mr Vadym Prystaiko
Ambassador of Ukraine

PHOTOGRAPHER: DAVID BEAN

2023 Diplomat of the Year from the Middle East and North Africa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco Hakim Hajoui with Director General of the Royal Over-Seas League Dr Annette Prandzioch

Diplomat of the Year from Europe, Ambassador of Romania Mrs Laura Popescu with Chief Operating Officer for Europe and CIS region at VFS Global Yummi Talwar

Diplomat of the Year from Asia & Oceania, High Commissioner for Sri Lanka Saroja Sirisena and BBC’s James Landale

Diplomat of the Year from Africa, Ambassador of the Republic of South Sudan Agnes Oswaha with CEO of International Hospitals Group, Chester King

Diplomat of the Year from Central & South America, Ambassador of Peru, Juan Carlos Gamarra Skeels with Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps Alistair Harrison CMG, CVO

Diplomat of the Year from Eurasia & the Western Balkans, Ambassador of Georgia Sophie Katsarava MBE with co-founder of Football for Peace Kash Siddiqi

Diplomat of the Year from North America & the Caribbean, High Commissioner for Antigua and Barbuda Ms Karen-Mae Hill OBE with Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Ambassador of Honduras Ivan Romero-Martinez

2023 Young Diplomat of the Year, First Secretary, Embassy of Jordan & YDL President Rawan Al-Faqir

Winner of the 2023 Outstanding Contribution to Diplomacy in London Award, Ambassador of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko

Graham Irani from International Diplomatic Supplies

Deputy Head of Mission Mohamed Khelifi (Algeria)

José Miguel Gamarra (Peru), Ambassador of Peru Juan Carlos Gamarra Skeels and Group Capt Jim Spurrell (Rtd) (Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill)

Former British career diplomat, Sir Peter Heap KCMG

Samrawit Gebremeskel Woldemedhin (Ethiopia), Deputy Head of Mission Elsa G. Wilkin-Armbrister (St Kitts & Nevis) and Dagnachew Worku Debele (Ethiopia)

Co-founder of Football for Peace Kash Siddiqi

Attendees including Ambassador of Laos Douangmany Gnotsyoudom, Ambassador of Thailand Thani Thongphakdi, Ambassador of Georgia Sophie Katsarava MBE, Ambassador of Romania Laura Popescu and Viet Nguyen (Vietnam)

Brent Scotland (Antigua & Barbuda), High Commissioner for Antigua and Barbuda Karen Mae Hill OBE and Carlon Knight (Antigua & Barbuda)

Pawel Kornacki (Oxford Insights), Ross Bradford (FCDO) & Ana Nozadze (Georgia) and Lia Melikishvili (Georgia)

Ambassador of Kuwait Bader Mohammed Al Awadi

Deputy Head of Mission for Morocco Mr Mouaad Ibriz and Marouan Abousif (Morocco)

Ambassador of Georgia Sophie Katsarava MBE goes to collect the Diplomat of the Year from Eurasia & the Western Balkans Award

For enquiries or introductions to our sponsors, please contact
Diplomat magazine Editor, Venetia van Kuffeler on

E: vvk@diplomatmagazine.com

www.diplomatmagazine.com