Diplomacy in Action - HE Madiepetsane Charlotte Lobe, an Icon of Change in Singapore A compelling video interview—filmed and produced by the dedicated student team from Nanyang Technological University Singapore’s veNTUre initiative—offers an inspiring glimpse into the work and wisdom of Her Excellency Madiepetsane Charlotte Lobe, High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to Singapore. This interview is part of our ongoing Icons of Change series, spotlighting individuals who are advancing the Sustainable Development Goals with integrity, vision, and action. In this special feature, Her Excellency reflects on the power of diplomacy, her unwavering commitment to inclusive international cooperation, and the spirit of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals—a goal she brings to life in her daily work with governments, communities, and global institutions. With over two decades of public service and international leadership, Her Excellency has cultivated a diplomatic career rooted in compassion, governance excellence, and a deep commitment to justice and sustainable development. Her efforts to build strong bridges between South Africa and ASEAN nations—including in areas of economic cooperation, cultural dialogue, and environmental sustainability—reflect the enduring strength of diplomacy built on mutual respect, Ubuntu values, and a shared responsibility for global progress. Through this collaboration with the veNTUre team, we not only celebrate Her Excellency’s distinguished achievements, but also recognize the value of youth-led storytelling in amplifying global voices and lived leadership. This student-led initiative has helped bring an important message to the forefront: that diplomacy, when practiced with authenticity and purpose, can shape a more peaceful, equitable, and sustainable world for all. We extend our sincere appreciation to the veNTUre team from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore for their thoughtful engagement, production, and commitment to promoting global citizenship through creative storytelling. Your efforts bridge generations and give visibility to the changemakers shaping our world today. 📽️ Watch the interview to learn how Her Excellency is transforming diplomacy into a vehicle for sustainable development and collective progress. #IconsOfChange #CharlotteLobe #DiplomaticLeadership #GlobalCooperation #NTUveNTUre #SDG17 #PartnershipsForTheGoals #UbuntuInAction #SouthAfricaAbroad #SustainableDevelopment #WomenInLeadership #YouthInAction #ExcellenceInDiplomacy #BetterWorldThroughDialogue #InternationalRelations #LeadershipInAction #IconsOfChangeAsia #GlobalVisionLocalImpact #RecognizingVisionEmpoweringTransformation
00:00We are like an unseen hand. We do work that ordinarily people don't recognize.
00:06We're doing things like behind the cameras.
00:21My name is Madhya Bethany Charlotte Lobby.
00:24I am 52 years old. I am the High Commissioner of South Africa in Singapore.
00:28I've been in Singapore since June 2022.
00:32My work has five pillars.
00:34First is promoting and strengthening bilateral ties between South Africa and Singapore.
00:40Second one is to strengthen trade between South Africa and Singapore.
00:45The third one is to promote investment in Singapore so that Singapore companies can invest in the South African economy.
00:54The fourth one is to promote tourism.
00:57And the last one is to promote people-to-people relations where we promote not only economic diplomacy but also cultural diplomacy.
01:05The link between what we do and sustainable development is anchored by SDG number 17, that of partnerships.
01:15Because the success of our work is based on us building strong partnerships between our countries of accreditation and our countries.
01:23But also to build partnerships between the private sector in South Africa and Singapore.
01:29Every year I organize the South Africa Focus Week in Singapore.
01:33Through the South Africa Focus Week, we introduce South African companies to opportunities in Singapore.
01:40We also use that to do business matching and business networking.
01:45And I am very proud of this because for the past two years we've had younger people coming to Singapore to learn about Singapore's success story.
01:57But also to meet with other younger people who are raised differently from them and see how they can promote networking,
02:05how they can collaborate with the organizations in Singapore.
02:09SDG number 17 carries weight for all of us because it is a reminder for us to partner with each other to achieve the rest of the SDGs.
02:21If you look at the strengths of different countries, you will realize that others are doing good or well in certain SDGs and not doing well in other SDGs.
02:30And I believe we can utilize our participation in the UN to try and learn best practices.
02:40It will be multilateral engagements but also bilateral.
02:43I also believe that we can make sure that our universities share knowledge and share work around the different innovations that they are promoting.
02:57And this is one of the things that I believe as part of quality education, we can promote as ambassadors and ensure that there is some collaboration between different institutions.
03:11In order for humanity to survive, we need each other.
03:15And I believe that as ambassadors, as high commissioners placed all over the world, we can play a significant role in making sure that our countries come together.
03:24No country can achieve sustainable development alone because we have neighbors.
03:30We have neighbors, even if Singapore can achieve most of the SDGs.
03:36If Malaysia and Indonesia are not achieving, it is still a problem for Singapore because our growth, we must bring everyone and leave no one behind.
