Championing Diplomacy: Honouring H.E. Mrs. Eat Sophea’s Legacy of Leadership

We honour the achievements of Cambodian women leaders, such as Her Excellency Mrs. Eat Sophea, on the International Day of Women in Diplomacy.

H.E. Mrs. Eat Sophea, a pioneer in Cambodian diplomacy, has dedicated forty years to furthering Cambodia’s foreign policy, fostering international ties, and representing the Kingdom internationally.

From her early days as an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in 1985, to her current role as Permanent Secretary of State and personal advisor to the Prime Minister of Cambodia, her dedication, integrity, and leadership have earned her national and international respect.

She has held important diplomatic roles throughout her career, including ASEAN Senior Official Meeting (SOM) Leader during Cambodia’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2022, Secretary of State in charge of Asia-Pacific Affairs, Cambodia’s Permanent Representative to the UN and Ambassador to Thailand. Her work demonstrates a strong and consistent commitment to promoting bilateral relations, regional collaboration, peacebuilding, and multilateralism.

A proud Australia Awards alumna, H.E. Mrs. Eat Sophea obtained her Master of Public Policy and Administration from Flinders University in 2004. Reflecting on her time in Australia, she shared:
“With the skills I got from Australia, I could help set the relationship between Cambodia and other countries, provide better analysis on different issues, access information, promote ties, and contribute to our foreign policy. Go out there to Australia, not only to learn from the university but also to learn from life and society, and come back with positive points.”

Her Excellency is an outstanding example of how women can break down barriers, create bridges, and influence a more inclusive future for all peoples around the world through diplomacy.

We sincerely extend our congratulations to Her Excellency on her exceptional contributions and commitment to public service.

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