South Africa’s High Commissioner to Canada – Sibongiseni Dlamini-Mntambo

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to South Africa’s High Commissioner to Canada - Sibongiseni Dlamini-Mntambo. We discuss feminisation of government services across the globe and increasing the ratio of female to male diplomats. In part, this trend takes consideration of the changing nature of diplomacy and international relations which now tends to address common global interest issues, such as climate change, human rights and sustainable development. We consider some of the duties of diplomats and skills needed to perform in this role through a stakeholder management lens, emphasising capabilities of communication, negotiation and influence. The High Commissioner remarks on some of the achievements during her tenure, which include developing academic collaborations, progressing shared expertise and lifting trade bans on importing South African wine. We acknowledge the challenges and obstacles that women still need to overcome to rise in their disciplines of choice and remind women to keep opening spaces for other women to reduce gender inequality.