Page 50 - NYAA Annual Report 2024

NYAA YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHERS’ NETWORK (YPN)
TIONAL RELA
INTERNA
OOPERA
TIONS
TIONS AND C
Visit by Dr Gunnar Hauptmann, Executive Vice President and Head of Programme,
St. Gallen Symposium
NYAA was pleased to host Dr Gunnar Hauptmann, Executive Vice President and Head of Programme for the
St. Gallen Symposium. The visit fostered youth leadership and global engagement discussions, highlighting
opportunities for collaboration between the NYAA and the St. Gallen Symposium in nurturing young leaders
to address pressing global challenges.

Bilateral Meeting between Swiss Ministers and Dr Tan See Leng at the Swiss Parliament
The ED and Deputy ED, along with Dr Tan See Leng, Singapore’s Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for
Trade and Industry, met with the Swiss State Councillor, Minister of Finance, and Minister of Trade at the Swiss
Parliament House. During the meeting, the Swiss government proposed establishing a young entrepreneur
exchange programme between NYAA Singapore and the Canton of St. Gallen.

Minister Tan endorsed the initiative, suggesting the Swiss government collaborate directly with NYAA to
explore this opportunity further.

International Swiss Talent Forum (ISTF) 2024
On 19 January 2024, H.E. Frank Grütter, Ambassador of Switzerland to Singapore, hosted a breakfast at the
Swiss Club, where he presented Ms Shayna Leng with a Certificate of Recognition for her participation in ISTF
2024.

Ms Shayna Leng Shuen Rea, an undergraduate at Harvard University and an NYAA Gold Award holder from the
2024 cohort, has been selected to represent Singapore and NYAA at the 13th International Swiss Talent Forum
(ISTF) 2024 in Nottwil, Switzerland, from 20 to 24 February 2024.

She joined the top talents from 27 European Union member nations and Switzerland. Since the partnership
between NYAA Singapore and the Swiss Council of Science began in 2018, NYAA Gold Award holders have
consistently performed admirably at this prestigious event.

Shayna made both Singapore and NYAA proud through her contributions to the forum. Dr Julian Cancino,
Director of the ISTF, praised her contributions. This achievement highlights the success of NYAA Gold Award
Holders’ Alumni (GAHA) in showcasing Singapore’s international talent.

Sixth UN Environment Assembly Meetings 2024
The Executive Director (ED) and Deputy Executive Director (Deputy ED) participated in the United Nations
Environment Assembly Meetings in Nairobi, Kenya, in February 2024. They engaged with the Children and
Youth Committee representatives throughout the weekend, setting the stage for productive discussions.

They participated in the Opening Plenary of the UN OECPR, where they contributed to deliberations on
the content and wording of proposed resolutions, declarations, and decisions for endorsement by the UN
Assembly.

During the Assembly, the ED reconnected with H.E. Michael Lotem, Ambassador of Israel to Kenya and the UN
Environment, Dr Dechen Tsering, Regional Director and Representative for Asia and the Pacific, and UNEP’s
Climate Change Division. The ED and Deputy ED also met with H.E. Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director.
The day was packed with meetings, as many Ministers sought to engage with the NYAA team.

Due to a scheduling conflict with the Budget Committee of Supply (COS), Ms Grace Fu, Singapore’s Minister
for Sustainability and the Environment, could not attend the Assembly. Mr Ranjeet Singh, Divisional Director
of International Policy at the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, represented her.

The ED also discussed the issue with environmental ministers from the People’s Republic of China, Japan,
and the European Union. Returning to the UN Environment Assembly after a three-year hiatus due to the
COVID-19 pandemic was a rewarding experience, allowing the ED to reconnect with old and new friends.

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