IHG DIPLOMAT OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2024

Photographs by Roland Kemp

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Winners of the 2024 Diplomat of the Year Awards

Winners of the 2024 Diplomat of the Year Awards

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Presenter of the BBC’s podcast Newscast, Adam Fleming, was compere for the evening

Presenter of the BBC’s podcast Newscast, Adam Fleming, was compere for the evening

Diplomatic guests

Diplomatic guests

CEO of the major sponsor for the evening, International Hospitals Group, Chester King

CEO of the major sponsor for the evening, International Hospitals Group, Chester King

Ambassadors and High Commissioners from over 70 countries (and diplomats from over 90 countries) attended the 2024 IHG DIPLOMAT of the Year Awards ceremony at The Peninsula London on Hyde Park Corner on Monday 22 April. At its annual event, DIPLOMAT magazine presented 10 awards to some of the most influential diplomats based in the UK.

The ceremony took place in the hotel’s Ballroom and the 180-plus guests were treated to a reception and canapés prepared by The Peninsula’s chefs. The BBC’s Adam Fleming (Presenter of Newscast, the UK’s most listened to podcast), was the Master of Ceremonies, who performed with immense slickness and wit. An appearance from Speaker of the House Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle kept guests entertained as he moved around the room and spoke to almost every guest!

In its fourteenth 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.

 Diplomatic guests cheering on the winners

 Diplomatic guests cheering on the winners

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DIPLOMAT Editor, Venetia van Kuffeler

DIPLOMAT Editor, Venetia van Kuffeler

Team at the Mexican Embassy support their Ambassador

Team at the Mexican Embassy support their Ambassador

Managing Director of The Peninsula London, Rolf Buehlmann

Managing Director of The Peninsula London, Rolf Buehlmann

Diplomat’s Editor Venetia van Kuffeler greets Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Ambassador of Honduras Ivan Romero-Martinez

Diplomat’s Editor Venetia van Kuffeler greets Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Ambassador of Honduras Ivan Romero-Martinez

Wine and champagne were supplied by International Diplomatic Supplies (IDS)

Wine and champagne were supplied by International Diplomatic Supplies (IDS)

High Commissioner of Barbados Milton Inniss and Director General of the Royal Over-Seas League Dr Annette Prandzioch

High Commissioner of Barbados Milton Inniss and Director General of the Royal Over-Seas League Dr Annette Prandzioch

Ambassador of Panama Irma Natalia Royo Ruiz de Hagerman and Ambassador of the EU Pedro Serrano

Ambassador of Panama Irma Natalia Royo Ruiz de Hagerman and Ambassador of the EU Pedro Serrano

Ambassador of North Macedonia Katerina Stavreska, Ambassador of Georgia Sophie Katsarava MBE and Ambassador of Latvia Ivita Burmistre

Ambassador of North Macedonia Katerina Stavreska, Ambassador of Georgia Sophie Katsarava MBE and Ambassador of Latvia Ivita Burmistre

Sponsors for the evening were International Hospitals Group, VFS Global, Cleveland Clinic London, International Diplomatic Supplies and The Peninsula London. International Diplomatic Supplies provided the champagne and wine, and Royal warrant holders’ Cleave & Co. produced the unique awards for the winners.

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.”