Innovation Centre Denmark Bangalore’s Post

It’s hard to imagine a more exciting time to take over as Consul General at British Consulate-General Los Angeles. I will be covering a region in the United States which has GDP comparable to the fifth largest economy in the world, which means there is an enormous opportunity to deliver on the Prime Minister’s priorities on growth. It is one of the busiest destinations for British tourists, meaning there is a huge responsibility to ensure their safety and wellbeing. And it is home to the story telling capital of the world, meaning there is a fantastic platform to project the best of the United Kingdom to a global audience. But it is much more than just those headlines. This is a region which is going to be at the forefront of innovation in semi-conductors, just look to Arizona. That will be leading on scientific break throughs in every field, driven by world-beating educational institutions. And, particularly for States like Hawaii and the US Pacific Territories, it will be at the fulcrum of the US’ relationship with Asia, and on the front-line of some of the most complex issues that face us through climate change.  Importantly, it is also home to a significant number of Indigenous American tribes, who remain a template for blending deep traditions with modern innovations. And who could forget that our home base of Los Angeles will play host to the opening game of the World Cup in 2026, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028 – it’s going to be a busy time. It is a place that is fast growing, culturally dynamic, and attention-grabbing - and the UK has a role to play in all of this. As a global leader in trade, innovation and creativity; as a leader in science, education and discovery; and as a key voice in both NATO and the United Nations, we bring a range of capabilities that few can match when it comes to partnership. Plus we have the talent base to ensure we take full advantage of all of these opportunities. To say it is hard to imagine a more exciting time to take on this role, is also to say there has never been a greater responsibility in ensuring this role can deliver on all the potential around it. And I cannot wait to get going. 

Happy Mauritian Independence Day everyone! Isn't it such a strange concept - that one country owned another country and then that country got independence to be its own country. History blows my mind. Today we celebrate freedom from colonial rule. We celebrate becoming an independent state. We celebrate being a nation that likes to celebrate! I am Mauritian through and through and so proud of my heritage and culture. I've been lucky enough to work in spaces that allow me to embrace every aspect of who I am and bring my heritage, multiculturalism and learnings into the workplace with me. I wouldn't be who I am at work if I couldn't talk openly about my parents' immigration story and the way that it has influenced who I am. We need to do more to embrace other people's cultures, viewpoints, and world experiences if we want to change the way we deliver products and services to be more inclusive. So today, on Mauritian Independence Day, as yourself what are you doing to embrace multiculturalism in your team? #MauritiusIndependenceDay #ProudMauritian

Top 5 Upsides to Taking an Overseas Assignment I had the joy and opportunity to take an overseas assignment to London for two years. It was a top highlight in my life and I learned many lessons. Our whole focus this week will be on overseas assignments starting with the top 5 upsides: 1. Exposes you to new and difficult challenges! It will be a step of faith. It will take courage, openness, and a willingness to change up EVERYTHING you know. All your habits, all your traditions and all your comforts. Some people thrive on that; others not so much. However I never regretted being challenged in those ways. 2. Exposes you to the big world out there! I cannot stress enough the benefit you will get from being exposed to tons of different people and cultures and languages and situations. How people globally strive to live and learn and succeed, many times with similar goals we all have, but just using different paths. 3. Exposes your skills to a new community Think of it like your own world concert tour. Having someone tell you about a Taylor Swift concert is a shadow of actually experiencing one yourself. Now think of the skills you bring to the table in the same way - a whole new community will be able to see the value you add and in turn, you will see they value THEY add. Which will lead to... 4. Exposes your profile to new leaders! There is no guarantee. However in my experience, it is as rare as the black swan event for an overseas assignment to be viewed anything but positively by leaders. You put your hand up to fill a gap, expand an office or solve a tension. And that will likely reveal some new pipelines of opportunity. 5. Exposes you to plain old-fashioned fun! Seriously - you will have a blast! Will it be smooth and perfect…absolutely not. But I can guarantee you will come away with highlights and stories that you will tell for years to come. Like the time I got on the wrong side of border security between Spain and Andorra...

A very productive two days to gather and network and collaborate with my fellow partners from across APAC in Global Transaction Advisory alongside our other service lines at Alvarez & Marsal #manda #transactionadvisory #privateequity

🌏🇦🇺🇬🇧 Reflecting on Australia Day: A Journey Through Time 📚🕰️ As we celebrate Australia Day from our corner of the world in the UK, it's a wonderful opportunity to delve deeper into the historical tapestry that connects us with our friends Down Under. The relationship between the United Kingdom and Australia is a narrative rich in history, marked by pivotal moments and shared experiences. The Age of Exploration: The story begins in the late 18th century when British explorer Captain James Cook charted the east coast of Australia in 1770. This marked a new chapter in our shared history, leading to the establishment of a British penal colony in New South Wales in 1788, now commemorated as Australia Day. The Colonial Era: Throughout the 19th century, Australia served as a British colony. This period saw an influx of British settlers, leading to significant development in Australia, but also complex interactions with the indigenous populations. Our shared colonial history has had lasting impacts on Australia's cultural and political landscape. Federation and Beyond: The Federation of Australia in 1901 was a turning point, as Australia became a dominion within the British Empire, gaining independence in governance while acknowledging the British monarch as head of state. This was a step towards the Australia we know today - independent, yet sharing enduring ties with the UK. Shared Challenges and Triumphs: Over the years, both nations have stood side by side through global events like the World Wars, where Australian troops fought alongside British forces. These shared experiences further solidified our bonds. Cultural and Economic Ties: Today, our connection extends beyond history into strong economic, political, and cultural ties. The UK remains one of Australia's largest trading partners, and our cultural exchanges, from sports to the arts, continue to enrich both societies. As we celebrate Australia Day, let’s take a moment to appreciate the depth and complexity of this relationship. It's a story of exploration, settlement, shared challenges, and mutual growth. Here's to honouring our past, celebrating the present, and nurturing this enduring bond for years to come. Happy Australia Day! 🎉 #AustraliaDay #History #UKAustraliaRelations #SharedPastFuture 🇬🇧🇦🇺🌏📖

Expanding labor migration pathways across the hemisphere can harness the significant economic contributions of migrants and address labor shortages while reducing irregular migration and saving lives. By investing in workforce development, job matching platforms, and integration programs, we can develop safe, legal, and orderly solutions to better manage historic levels of migration.

Today is Singapore’s National Day. Like me, Singapore hits the wonderful age of 59 years old today. Congratulations to all Singaporeans and to Singapore’s leaders for forging something truly impressive in a small tropical island. The story of Singapore is well told. But one of its more amazing achievements is maintaining racial harmony and balance in a region of the world known more for ethnic homogeneity than heterogeneity. As a Canadian and an immigrant to Canada from a parentage of (lightly) mixed ethnic variance, issues related to culture, ethnicity, equality, acceptance and the inverses, racism and bias are at the forefront of my mind, along with power imbalances between the elite and the disenfranchised. Although these are often verboten topics in polite company, even within discussions in university settings, I believe they are paramount to the future of SE Asia and East Asia. No large country with a declining population (see South Korea, Japan and mainland China) can survive and thrive if it does not adopt non-ethnic based principles of immigration. But, this will be tough! As a white male in Asia, I see labels applied to me across countries that are somewhat innocent in intent but place a focus on differences. Such wordings tend to be muted in countries with high immigration - like Canada, but they are lexiconic in various places in Asia. A caucasian person can be termed: Thailand - Farang Indonesia - Bule Cambodia - Barang (more for French) Singapore - Ang Mo Malaysia - Ang Mo Japan - Gaijin (more racially neutral) China - Waiguoren (more racially neutral) Vietnam - Người nước ngoài (racially neutral) Some might argue that these terms connote white privilege, others are clearly derogatory. Hong Kong - gweilo Vietnam - T…g Tây (not 100% on how to write this slur) Philippines - AFAM The latter is an interesting word in itself as it refers to a white foreign man in a relationship with a Filipina. It can have multiple connotations, some of which are pejorative. But when used by the marites’s (gossip hounds) of the world the connotation is negative, implying social climbing, racial biases, or sugar dating. Although just one example, it marks a trend where social mobility is restricted by the so-called crab effect. Indeed, going back to the issue of power assymetries and entrenched social statuses, certainly political and business elite have a responsibility to free resources so that the capable and motivated can achieve the so-called American dream anywhere in the world. But those who seek to climb, should be supported not impeded, by others in the same social stratum. Unfortunately, human nature dictates that behavior will be otherwise, much to my frustration given my love for Asia and my hope to see a better world here. Until such a world emerges in other countries in Asia, we can at least look to Singapore on the day of its 59th birthday where its version of meritocracy has worked. #singapore #equity

"The idea of your ancestors and then other people who are coming after you is really you are at the center of that and have a chance to shape the future, as well as pass on what you've learned." Ambassador Caroline Kennedy spoke at Asia Society about #US-#Australia relations. 🇺🇸🇦🇺 📺 Watch her full conversation with Ambassador Kevin Rudd here: https://lnkd.in/eTBjS5MV"

Today marks a historic occasion - the first U.K. Overseas Territories Day! Join us in celebrating the vibrant diversity of our territories: together, we make the UK stronger. 🎉 🌎 #UKOTDay #GlobalBritishFamily There are 16 U.K. Overseas Territories, of which 12 are inhabited. Each has its own way of life, dialect, cuisine, music, national dress, and art. The U.K. Overseas Territories are located in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean and in Antarctica, the UK’s global footprint is unrivalled and truly extends across the world. The U.K. Overseas Territories are world leaders in a range of sectors: from insurance, gaming, finance, law and tourism to the export of high-quality lobster and squid. The majority of Overseas Territories are financially self-reliant, with increasing wealth being devoted to environmental protection, education and health care. The U.K. Overseas Territories are environmental superpowers and can be considered as some of the most beautiful and diverse areas in the world. The Overseas Territories are home to some of the UK’s most extraordinary biodiversity. It is estimated that more than 1,500 endemic species of plants and animals are found in the Overseas Territories, including a quarter of the world’s penguins, one third of the global population of albatross, and the largest coral atoll on earth. The relationship between the Overseas Territories and the U.K. is one of modern partnership. This partnership is based on the principles of self-determination, ensuring the people of the Overseas Territories are able democratically to choose their own government and association with the United Kingdom.

I’d like to share a bit about my passion ❤️ about Bulgaria 🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬 and what I'm involved in every day 🤗. After four years of thinking, discussions, and dreaming, in December 2022, my sister Anna-Maria Andreeva I held our first meeting for our project, ЗаВръщане в България ❤️. Since then, I've been really excited and thankful to see how smoothly everything is unfolding. What is ЗаВръщане в България 🇧🇬? It’s a project born from the idea that every challenge offers an opportunity. We’ve noticed that more and more Bulgarians living abroad are looking to come back home, and at the same time, there are growing opportunities for them to make a significant impact back in Bulgaria. We believe these two trends feed into each other and open up a unique chance for all Bulgarians to help develop our society. What We See 👀: 🔴 Lack of centralized information: Many Bulgarians living abroad struggle to find reliable and comprehensive information about returning home. 🔴 Community seeking: Statistics show that an increasing number of Bulgarians are returning and looking for communities where they can share ideas and collaborate. 🔴 Need for creative minds: Bulgaria is facing challenges in various sectors like infrastructure, business, education, and healthcare. These areas need fresh, innovative solutions from motivated and creative people. ⭐️ This is where ЗаВръщане в България steps in. What are we aiming for? We aim to make it easier for Bulgarians abroad to return and collectively inspire the progress of our Bulgarian society 🇧🇬. 📚 Simplify the Return: Develop an informative platform that offers everything returnees need to know about resettling in Bulgaria, from legal advice to cultural integration tips. 🤝Build Communities of active citizens in different towns and cities: Establish a supportive network where like-minded individuals who believe in Bulgaria’s potential can connect, share experiences, and collaborate on ideas and projects. 💡 Drive Societal Change: Initiate a think tank to implement out-of-the-box solutions for municipal challenges across Bulgaria connected to improving social, cultural, educational, healthcare, and economic landscapes. Together, we are making Bulgaria not just a place to live but a place to thrive. If this sounds interesting and you'd like to know more, feel free to write to us or drop a comment below.