On 10 August 2023, the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs (DVIFA) organized a special lecture on “Leadership and Character in Uncertain Times” delivered by Mr. Natapanu Noppakun, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information, at Naradhip Auditorium, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The lecture aims to share the knowledge and experience Mr. Noppakun received from attending the online Harvard Kennedy Executive Education course on Leadership and Character in Uncertain Times with sponsorship from the 2023 Kasemsamosorn Scholarship. The session was attended by over 80 officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and partner agencies in the public and private, as well as academic and media industries.

               The lecture began with the introduction and welcoming remarks by Mrs. Thitiporn Chirasawadi, Director of the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs. Then, Deputy Director-General Noppakun discussed the topic in various aspects, from the definition of being a “leader,” the various styles and characteristics of an ideal leader to the difference between leaders in the past and present, obstacles and challenges faced as well as providing examples of important world leaders as case studies.

               The lecture is part of the DVIFA Knowledge Sharing to equip officials with essential knowledge and skills necessary for work and promote the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a learning organization, especially in terms of lifelong learning.