High Commissioner for Grenada to the Court of St James’s, Her Excellency Ruth Elizabeth Rouse, has recently been nominated for a Diplomatic Initiative Award.
CaribDirect.com caught up with the busy diplomat, who was stunned and flattered by the notion of being nominated for what she enjoys and does naturally. Ms Rouse made it clear she did not have a clue about the nomination.
The Diplomatic Initiative Award is organised by Grassroot Diplomat, a diplomatic consultancy group which aims to bridge the gap between civil society and political leaders.
Unlike other consultation groups, they offer research and development on any policy-related projects and matchmake diplomatic avenues. Grassroot Diplomat concentrates on strengthening new or existing projects with the intention of building sustainable relationships with national or international government bodies, and members of the business community.
By way of background, High Commissioner Ruth Elizabeth Rouse joined the Grenada Foreign Service in 1982 and served in various capacities around the world and currently as High Commissioner for Grenada to the Court of James’s (U.K.).
High Commissioner Rouse also served as Chief of Protocol to the Government of Grenada and in a Regional Capacity at the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States High Commission in Ottawa Canada, prior to her first appointment as Head of Mission.
Ms Rouse holds an MA in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Westminster, United Kingdom and a BA in French and Spanish from Carleton University, Canada.
High Commissioner Rouse has completed 30 years in the Public Service of Grenada as a Foreign Service Officer, and is the recipient of the 1998 Independence Award for Exemplary Public Service. She takes pleasure in serving her country and enjoys the challenges it presents.
The High Commissioner in spite of the Christmas flurry everywhere, was her usual calm and humorous self. When asked about this nomination she quickly giggled, blushed and proclaimed her disbelief.
She then gracefully gave an account of the extensive work she does in mentoring female diplomats around the world.
HC Rouse said she is committed to formulating gender friendly policies that recognise the not only requisite skill sets but implications of gender in the discharge of diplomatic functions.
The High Commissioner is the founder of the Women in Diplomatic Services Organisation, which has a mandate to encourage women from missions around the world to work together as a team; provide scholarships for young women diplomats; and assist Governments in building their respective Foreign Services…
It is this great work that has caught the eyes of the organisers of Grassroot Diplomat Initiative Awards. To qualify for this award the ‘nominee must have actively championed a cause for the betterment of society.
The nominee may have authored, campaigned, lobbied or publicly added their voice to a policy issue that they feel strongly about. Policy may be a local, regional, national or international initiative on any subject matter.’
Ms Rouse is accordingly reognised as a dedicated, selfless and outstanding diplomat serving Grenadians in the United Kingdom.
CaribDirect.com congratulates High Commissioner Rouse on this nomination and urges Grenadians in the UK to lend their support to the event scheduled for 31st January 2013 in London. Tickets are available at http://www.grassrootdiplomat.org/#/categories/4566326578.
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