My learning goal is there is no doubt that more lesson- learned experience and knowledge will impact to my ability to facilitate cooperation with people who share same experiences. Thank you!

I’m very interested in building international consensus and learning how colleagues from other countries see today’s global challenges.

I’m really excited to be in Korea to learn about its culture and also to build a network of friendship and collaboration with all of you.

That’s why I’m very excited to be part of this program. For me, it’s not only about learning from Korea’s experience and from all of you, but also about understanding Korean culture better. We already host many Korean companies in Türkiye, and the trade volume between our two countries is over 10 billion dollars. That’s why Korea’s experience in areas like industrialization, environment, and sustainability is especially valuable for me.

I am honored to join the 2025 Global Leadership Programme, motivated by the prospect to strengthen my leadership capacity, learn from global best practices, and engage with diverse professionals.

I hope to gain insights into Korea’s economic transformation and explore innovative strategies in governance and development that can also be used to Tanzania’s context.

Beyond my professional work, I have interest in leadership development, and cross-cultural collaboration, which I trust are important for driving inclusive and sustainable development.

I am Simon from the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. I work in the Korea Economic and Outreach Section and manage the Australia-Korea Foundation program where we provide grant funding to organisations that foster the Australia-Korea relationship through projects such as arts and cultural exchanges and research collaborations.

I am interested in the KDI program because I work directly on Korean political, economic and cross-cultural issues, and hope to gain insights on how Australia can partner with Korea and other countries in achieving our multilateral interests especially in the Indo-Pacific region. I also like to learn and understand how Korea and other countries make policy decisions in key areas of interest.  I also enjoy meeting new people at this course.

This is my second time in Korea, with the first time in November 2024. The weather in November was so much more pleasant than the weather now.

I live in Sydney with my wife and son. I miss them but also feel extremely blessed to have this opportunity to learn from all of you.

My role is to coordinate South Africa’s international work on social and population development. This covers areas such as youth, older persons, cooperatives and social protection. I also focus on education and culture through UNESCO. Right now, because South Africa holds the G20 Presidency, I am involved in the Sherpa track, the Foreign Ministers’ Meetings and the Education and Culture Working Group. A big part of my work is helping draft, facilitate and negotiate the final declarations.

What I hope to get from this programme is, first, the chance to build real connections with peers, because those relationships make multilateral work so much more meaningful. Second, I want to learn from the examples we will see here in Korea and think about how South Africa could benefit from some of those experiences.

On a personal note, I love learning about new cultures. I enjoy exploring the everyday side of life, not just history, and I find that sharing food and conversation with local people is one of the best ways to do that.

It is a privilege to be part of this programme, and I am looking forward to our time together.

As being from eastern province of Saudi Arabia, my region and i story with South Korea began in the 1970s, when skilled South Korean firms like Hyundai built transformative infrastructure, like the Jubail Industrial City, just 100 kilometers from my hometown. Their professionalism work earned huge respect and appreciation from Saudis, laying the foundation for a strong partnership.

I engage with 15 G20 working groups, engagement groups, and South Africa’s host country initiatives, tackling issues like energy, tech agriculture , employment , women’s empowerment, anti-corruption etc. These efforts, inspired by host nations like South Africa, along with G20 countries members and invites countries to shape global policy.

As the New York foreign affairs meeting approaches in late September, I’m thankful for insightful ideas from this program and my time in South Korea’s culture.

I’m excited for South Korea’s future G20 hosting to push forward shared goals.

Hello, everyone. My name is Gillian Kerubo.

I am a Second Counsellor at the Kenya Embassy in Korea.

At the Embassy, I handle political and trade issues, which involve strengthening our relations and promoting Kenya’s exports to Korea, as well as facilitating Korean investment, particularly in the manufacturing, technology, and infrastructure sectors.

My motivation to join the Global Leadership Program 2025 by KDI, is the School’s unique combination of academic rigor, practical field study, and global peer collaboration aligns perfectly with my vision to become a more effective and globally minded leader.

I believe, learning directly from Korean policymakers, institutions, and development models will offer me rare insights into policy planning and execution that are grounded in real-world success.

Through this program, I hope to gain comparative policy insights, sharpen my leadership skills, and expand my international network. I am especially interested in sharing experiences with fellow participants and learning how other countries approach similar challenges. I am confident that the lessons I will learn, both academic and practical, can be directly applied to ongoing initiatives in my home country, especially in areas such as digital governance, public-private partnerships, and innovation.

Beyond my own learning, I am committed to being an active contributor to the program by sharing the context and innovations emerging from my region. I look forward to collaborative problem-solving and cross-cultural dialogue with a global cohort of peers who share a passion for public leadership and economic development.

Looking forward to meeting and interacting with you all.

Thank you.

By participating in the program, I intend like to learn from the development experience of Korea as well as the strategies it is implementing to deal with the changes being brought about by climate change and AI. I also hope to gather wisdom from my other colleagues who are participating in the program.

My name is Clariça Soares, and I’m from Brazil. I currently live in Brasília, the capital city, where I work at the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services as the Coordinator for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

My main responsibility is coordinating the Brasil Mais Produtivo program, which aims to enhance productivity and promote digital transformation among small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in the industrial sector.

For me, this program is a great opportunity to learn from best practices in innovation and industrial development, especially from Korea, but also from peers from other countries. I hope this experience will allow me to have meaningful exchanges and help me bring valuable insights back to Brazil.

Personally, I’m very interested in Korea’s experience with state-led industrial development and its strong commitment to innovation. I’m also excited to explore Korean culture. I’m truly looking forward to everything this experience has to offer.

I work as policy analyst on international economic and financial affairs at the European Commission, one of the institutions of the European Union in Brussels (Belgium). My responsibilities include coordinating the European Union’s position at the G20 finance track and at the International Monetary Fund.

I strongly believe in global cooperation to address global challenges as well as learning from each other’s best practices and this program is an excellent example of it. I am thrilled to start this trip and learn more about Korea’s development experience and to fruitfully exchange with and learn from international colleagues.

I love traveling and learning about the history and culture of countries. It’s my first time in Korea and I am honored to be part of this program.

Career Vision

I am driven by a passion to bridge government, business, and society in shaping policies that advance inclusive development, digital transformation, and sustainability. Whether in diplomacy, multilateral forums, or the private sector, I aspire to lead initiatives that combine innovation, equity, and resilience for Africa’s future.

I am a South African diplomat with extensive experience in multilateral negotiations, economic diplomacy, and policy coordination. My career has been defined by a commitment to advancing South Africa’s strategic interests in global governance, sustainable development, and inclusive growth.

My motivation to join the program was to draw lessons from the KDI leadership experience that would complement my diplomatic background and strengthen my capacity in both diplomacy and leadership development, building on initiatives such as the Mandela Washington Fellowship. I was particularly interested in understanding how South Korea successfully shaped its public and cultural diplomacy into a powerful instrument of soft power, and how these strategies have been translated into tangible economic benefits.

Professional Experience

• Diplomatic Service: Serving in the Directorate: United Nations – Climate Change (DIRCO, Pretoria)

• Ive been posted in DRC from 2020-2024.

Skills & Expertise

• Multilateral negotiation and consensus-building

• Policy analysis and strategy development

• Economic diplomacy and trade facilitation

• Climate change, just transition, and sustainable development

• Stakeholder engagement across government, private sector, and civil society

• Academic research, writing, and public communication