MALAYSIA APPOINTED AS CHAIR OF THE COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

 

 

YBhg. Dato’ Sudha Devi K.R. Vasudevan has been appointed Chair of the Commonwealth Foundation for a two-year term beginning 1 January 2021. The decision was reached during the Extraordinary Meeting of the Commonwealth Foundation Board of Governors, which was held virtually on 28 October 2020 in London, United Kingdom and endorsed by the Commonwealth Heads of Government on 7 December 2020.Malaysia received the highest votes during the election, defeating candidates from Cameroon, Kenya and Papua New Guinea.

 

The appointment of Dato’ Sudha as Chair of the Commonwealth Foundation is historical as she will be the first Malaysian and first Chair from the Asian region since the Foundation’s establishment in 1966.

 

Prior to this appointment, Dato’ Sudha served as Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Australia and Ambassador of Malaysia to the Federative Republic of Brazil. She has also served in various diplomatic positions in Germany, Singapore and Switzerland.Throughout her diplomatic career, she has held various positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including director-general of the Department of Policy Planning and Coordination, undersecretary for the East Asia Division and deputy director-general for the ASEAN-Malaysia National Secretariat.

 

The Commonwealth Foundation is dedicated to strengthening people’s participation in all aspects of public dialogue and to act together and learn from each other to build democratic societies. The Foundation also seeks to ensure that policy and government institutions are more effective contributors to development through the influence of civic voices.

 

As Chair of the Foundation, Dato’ Sudha will preside over meetings of its Board of Governors, represent the Foundation at intergovernmental meetings and events, and serve as an ambassador for the Commonwealth Foundation to promote the Foundation’s vision and values.

 

Malaysia expresses its deep appreciation to Commonwealth Foundation member countries for their support in appointing Dato’ Sudha as Chair of the Commonwealth Foundation. Malaysia is committed to supporting the work of the Foundation in achieving its vision and goals and in affirming its role as a voice for the citizens of the Commonwealth.

 

 

 

PUTRAJAYA

 

8 December 2020