Ambassadors' Hour: Women Diplomats Network

“Women play a crucial role in developing human sensitivity, compassion, and non-violence which are often lacking in today’s world.” ⏤ Dalai Lama

With the rise of the 21st century, the world has witnessed the emergence of the pivotal role of women in social, economic, and political development. As the playing field becomes leveled, various champions have stood up to be an exponent of change; including women in diplomacy.

Last November 2022, the European External Action Service (EEAS) launched the WomEn DIplomats Network of the EU or WEDIN EU, a network that aims to provide a platform for dialogue among women diplomats in EEAS. With this progress in championing the importance of feminist diplomacy, we wonder if such advancement can be modeled in Asia and in its regional organizations; say, in the ASEAN or in SAARC?

In Ambassadors’ Hour: Women Diplomats Network, Asia Society Philippines sits down with women ambassadors from the newly launched WEDIN EU to discuss the journey and milestones of women diplomats; how new strides and movements such as WEDIN EU open more doors toward women empowerment; and how the same can be echoed in the region.

The program is set to be interactive with attendees having the opportunity to send their questions to the panel on March 16, 2023 (Thursday), at 3:00 PM at the Manila House, BGC. The panel discussion will be followed by socials with appetizers and drinks served.

ADDRESS ON THE BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso, Eminent Person to the HLTF on ASEAN Community's Post-2025 Vision

Ambassador ELIZABETH P. BUENSUCESO is the Philippines’ Eminent Person to the High Level Task Force on ASEAN Community's Post-2025 Vision. She has been with the Philippine Foreign Service for over 42 years. She was formerly Undersecretary (Vice Minister) for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs and Philippine SOM Leader. She was Ambassador/Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN for over six (6) years, and served as the Philippine Ambassador to the Lao PDR, and Norway, with concurrent accreditation to Denmark and Iceland. Her other previous postings include Brussels, Beijing, Singapore and Hong Kong. In 2017, she became the Chair of six ASEAN bodies, including the CPR. In the Home Office , she was Asst. Secretary for European Affairs, and held offices at the policy, economic and cultural sections of the DFA.

Ambassador Buensuceso has an AB degree major in English, Magna Cum Laude. She has a Master's degree in ASEAN Studies from the University of the Philippines. She is the recipient of several awards, including a Presidential Grand Cross, Gawad Kamanong, rank of Commander in 2017. She is the author of a book titled “ASEAN Centrality: An Autoethnographic Account by a Philippine Diplomat'', published by ISEAS-YII. She has given several lectures and talks on ASEAN and diplomacy and negotiations. She played a pivotal role in the creation of the ASEAN Women for Peace Registry (AWPR).

She prefers to be called an Ambassador of Christ.

KEYNOTE

Ambassador Delia Albert, Former Secretary Of Foreign Affairs, Philippines; Former Ambassador and Senior Adviser, Sycip Gorres Velayo & Co. (SGV & Co.); and Senior Advisor, Asia Society Philippines Foundation, Inc.

Ambassador Delia D. Albert is the first woman career diplomat to become Secretary of Foreign Affairs in Asia. She represented the Philippines in Switzerland, Romania, Hungary, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Commonwealth of Australia. She attended the University of the Philippines, the Institute of International Studies in Geneva, the Diplomatic Institute in Salzburg, Boston University Overseas in Bonn, the J.F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, among others.

For her meritorious and exceptional service to the country she was conferred the Presidential Order of Sikatuna rank of Datu. In 2004, she was given the title of “Bai-A-Rawatun sa Pilimpinas” for assisting Muslim women in their search for peace and development. She received the Knight’s Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit with Star (BundesVerdienstKreuz) from the Federal Republic of Germany and the single award to celebrate 70 years of Philippine-Australia relations from the Australian government. In 2019, she was conferred with the Order of the Rising Sun Gold and Silver Star by the Government of Japan.

Ambassador Albert is a member of the advisory board of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin; and the Global Summit of Women. She is the founding chair of Business and Professional Women Philippines (Makati Chapter) Diwata: Women in Resource Development, ASEAN Society-Philippines; adviser to the Filipina CEOs Circle; and the author of “Women in Diplomacy: The Remarkable Ambassadors in the Philippine Foreign Service”. She is also the Senior Advisor of Asia Society Philippines Foundation, Inc.

MODERATOR

Secretary Robert E.A. Borje, Vice Chairperson and Executive Director, Climate Change Commission, Philippines; Former Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs, Philippines

Secretary Borje was appointed Commissioner and Vice Chair of the Philippines’ Climate Change Commission on 08 March 2022 for a term of six (6) years.

A career diplomat in the Philippine Foreign Service, Mr. Borje brings to the Climate Change Commission nearly two (2) decades of experience in multilateral and bilateral diplomacy and negotiations in climate change and sustainable development and the nexus with disaster preparedness and resiliency, migration, and international security.

He was Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs and advised the Office of the President on key multilateral and bilateral issues. Mr. Borje was the Office of the President’s focal point in the development, articulation, coordination and implementation of the Philippines’ independent foreign policy for nearly six (6) years, with focus on Philippine strategic interests in climate change and sustainable development agenda, disaster risk reduction and resiliency, migrant workers’ right, and regional and international security.

Mr. Borje has a degree in Communications from the University of the Immaculate Conception. He attended the Netherlands Institute of Foreign Relations Clingendael at The Hague and was Fellow at the Rhodes Academy for Oceans Law and Policy in Greece, the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in Italy and the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in the United States.

PANEL

H.E. Jana Šedivå, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Republic of the Philippines

H.E. Jana Šedivå has been designated as Ambassador the Republic of the Philippines with concurrent jurisdiction to Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, and Palau since 2018. Prior to her assignment, she served as Deputy Director in the Asia and Pacific Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2008 to 2016, she was Head of Unit of South and South East Asia in the same department. Between 2004 to 2008, she was the Head of Czech National Member´s Cabinet in EU’s Judicial Cooperation Unit (Eurojust). From 2003 to 2004, she was a Deputy Director in the Czech Centre in The Hague, Netherlands. She has also worked in both embassies of the Czech Republic in the Hague, Netherlands and Jakarta, Indonesia, from 2001 to 2003 and 2001 respectively.

Before joining the foreign service in 2000, H.E. Jana Šedivå was affiliated with Sinological Centre in Charles University from 1998 to 2000. she has also earned a degree in Sinology from the Faculty of Political Science in Beijing University. Apart from her dedication to pursue innovative ways to enrich the relations of the Czech Republic and the Philippines, Ambassador Šedivá is also committed to working on advocacy areas related to gender equality and children’s rights. Aside from being a formidable career diplomat, Ambassador Šedivá is also a loving and devoted mother to her daughter.

H.E. Anke Reiffenstuel, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Republic of the Philippines

H.E. Anke Reiffenstuel has been assigned as Ambassador at the German Embassy in Manila since August 2019. In the same year, she was the Head of the Division of Humanitarian Assistance and Humanitarian Demining (Operations) at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. The Division is part of the Directorate General for Humanitarian Assistance, Crisis Prevention, Stabilization and Post-Conflict reconstruction. She has dealt with humanitarian assistance since 2012, when she became Deputy Head of this division (2012-2016).

Anke Reiffenstuel has worked in the diplomatic service since 1993; her postings included the German embassies in London, New Delhi, Cairo and Manila.

During her first two years as German Ambassador in the Philippines, she had the chance to get to know different places, where she met with Representatives and Officials to not only strengthen the bilateral relationship between both countries, but also to get to know better its people and their culture. Her journey lead her to Mindanao, Iloco South & North, Cebu, Palau, Cavite, Negros, Bohol, Zamboanga, Davao and Mindoro.

H.E. Annika Thunborg, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Republic of the Philippines

Dr. Annika Thunborg arrived in Manila 2021, taking up her post as Sweden’s Ambassador to the Philippines. Previously, she served as Ambassador to Mexico between 2016 and 2021. From 2013 to 2016, she served as Director of the Department of Non-Proliferation, Disarmament and Export Control at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Stockholm. Previously, between 2007 and 2013, she served as Spokesperson and Chief of Public Information at the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization at the United Nations in Vienna, Austria.

As a member of the Swedish Foreign Service, she also served at the Permanent Mission in Geneva and in the Foreign Minister’s office.

Before joining the foreign service in 1997, she worked as an assistant professor at the University of Lund, Sweden, as a reporter at Swedish Television and as an editorial writer at various Swedish newspapers. Dr. Thunborg has a PhD in political science from the University of Lund and a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University in New York, USA. Dr. Thunborg is married to MSc. Aaron Tovish.

H.E. Mrs. Răduţa Dana Matache, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to the Philippines

H.E. Răduţa Dana Matache presented her credentials as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to the Philippines on December 15, 2021, to the President of the Philippines, H.E. Mr. Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

A career diplomat, Răduţa has 30 years’ experience in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Romania. Since 1992 she held different positions in Bucharest, including as desk-officer for the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, deputy director for the OSCE, director for Analysis and Strategic Coordination, director of the NATO Division and Secretary of State for European Affairs.

As a diplomat, Răduţa was posted in Washington, D.C. (1996-2000) and London (2004-2008), including as chargée d’affaires a.i. (2006-2008), and was the Ambassador of Romania to Sweden (2009-2015).

Răduţa is educated at the Electronics and Telecommunications Faculty in Bucharest, Romania (1982-1987), is an International Relations graduate of the National School for Political and Administrative Studies, in Bucharest (1990-1992), has an MA in European Integration from the University of Limerick, Ireland (1992-1993) and has completed the London-based Royal College for Defence Studies’ program for mid-career officials (January to December 2003).

Dr. Ana Isabel Sánchez Ruiz, Deputy Head of Delegation – Head of Political Press and Information Section, Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines

Dr. Ana Isabel Sánchez Ruiz has been the Deputy Head of Delegation – Head of Political Press and Information Section, Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines since August 2021. Before this position, she was the Deputy Head of Division for Multilateral Relations in the European External Action Service (EEAS) from 2020 to 2021. From 2019-2020, she was the Head of Section for relations with the European Commission in EEAS’ Policy Coordination Division. Previously from 2015-2019, she was the Delegation of the European Union to Japan’s First Counsellor. She then was a Desk Officer for relations with the United States, US, and Canada Division for EEAS from 2013-2015. Between 2010-2013, she served as the Acting Deputy Head of Division and Desk Officer for relations with Switzerland, Western Europe Division, European Commission Directorate General (DG) for External Relations in the EEAS.

Before she entered foreign service in 2001, she was a lecturer for Public International Law at the University “Complutense” of Madrid. She also completed her Doctor of Laws at the University of Zaragoza, Spain.

CLOSING

Doris Magsaysay-Ho, President and Chief Executive Officer, Magsaysay Group of Companies; and Chairperson, Asia Society Philippines Foundation, Inc.

Ms. Doris Magsaysay Ho is President and CEO of the Magsaysay Group of Companies, which is involved in shipping, human resources, and business process outsourcing services. Magsaysay Transport and Logistics Group operates in the Philippine trade with container liner and tanker services. Its affiliate, Fairmont Shipping Limited, based in Hong Kong and Vancouver, operates in the international dry bulk trade. Magsaysay expanded from its roots in shipping to people resource providers. The company prepares its people for a diverse range of positions for the maritime, cruise, health care, hospitality, engineering, and other industries. Magsaysay has received the Best in Education and Training Award and the Corporate Social Responsibility Award twice from the Seatrade Asia Awards. It has also received the Corporate Social Responsibility Award from the Asian CSR Awards and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council. Ms. Ho is a member of ABAC Philippines.

She is also the Chairperson of Asia Society Philippines Foundation, Inc.

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