Mr Nik Mehta, British High Commissioner to Singapore, discusses how the UK is partnering with ASEAN to enhance energy connectivity across the region. He explains how sustainable infrastructure and green financing are key to positioning Southeast Asia as a leader in the global energy transition.
The theme for SIEW is "A Connected and Sustainable Energy World". What do you look forward to being discussed at the event?
Looking ahead, how can Singapore and the United Kingdom deepen cooperation on energy?
What are the United Kingdom's foremost priorities in achieving its energy goals?
About Nik Mehta, British High Commissioner to Singapore
Nik Mehta is the British High Commissioner to Singapore. Prior to this, Mr Mehta served from 2022 to 2024 as the Director for Policy and Requirements in the UK's National Security Community.
Mr Mehta joined the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in 2002, and has worked in Iraq, Uganda, Malaysia and South Korea. The posting to Uganda was particularly poignant for Mr Mehta because his mother, a Ugandan-Asian, was expelled from the country by Idi Amin’s forces in the early 1970s. Mr Mehta reported on the 20-year conflict between the Ugandan Government and the Lord’s Resistance Army, and the ensuing humanitarian crisis. He was the Political Counsellor in Malaysia and was responsible for the UK's response to the two Malaysia Airlines disasters in 2014 and 2015.
Mr Mehta's most recent role overseas was as the Deputy Ambassador at the British Embassy in South Korea from 2018 to 2022. Alongside the Ambassador, he was responsible for leading the embassy through the challenges of COVID and for deepening the bilateral partnership with the Korean government. During his time in South Korea, he brokered an agreement with the K-pop band Blackpink to work with the British government on climate action.
In the UK, Mr Mehta's roles have primarily focused on conflict and security issues. From 2015 to 2018, he was a Deputy Director at the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) working on international cyber-security.
Throughout his career, Mr Mehta has been a strong supporter of diversity and inclusion. He believes passionately that the Diplomatic and Intelligence Services should reflect fully the talent across UK society and that diversity is one of the UK's great strengths. Mr Mehta has led a number of campaigns to improve the recruitment and development of staff from minority backgrounds. He is the National Security Community’s co-Champion for Race.
Mr Mehta was awarded an OBE in HM The Queen’s 2014 Birthday Honours for his contribution to British foreign policy and diversity.