SINGAPORE, 17 November 2025 – In separate ceremonies held at the Istana, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam formally accepted the credentials of four new Heads of Mission, signifying the strengthening of diplomatic relations between Singapore and their respective nations. The envoys included His Excellency Paul Thoppil, the High Commissioner of Canada; His Excellency Artis Bertulis, the Ambassador of the European Union; His Excellency Innocent Bagamba Muhizi, the High Commissioner of the Republic of Rwanda; and His Excellency Dr. Anjani Kumar Sinha, the Ambassador of the United States of America.

His Excellency Paul Thoppil
The High Commissioner of Canada

Prior to his appointment to Singapore, High Commissioner Thoppil had been serving as Canada’s first Indo-Pacific Trade Representative, based in Jakarta, Indonesia, since 5 September 2023. This position, an outcome of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, is focused on the enhancement of trade, investment and supply chain resiliency between Canada and the Indo-Pacific region. High Commissioner Thoppil will continue in this role on a concurrent basis in Singapore.

Previously, High Commissioner Thoppil was the Assistant Deputy Minister, Asia-Pacific, at Global Affairs Canada, who led the development of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy launched in November 2022. He received a 2021 Public Sector Award of Excellence for his contribution towards the release of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, two Canadian citizens arbitrarily detained in China. High Commissioner Thoppil has served abroad as Minister (Commercial) and Senior Trade Commissioner at the Embassy of Canada to Japan in Tokyo, advancing Canada’s trade, investment, and innovation links with Japan. He has an extensive public sector and private sector career, including as Senior Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Finance, Results and Delivery Officer at Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, and positions at the Treasury Board Secretariat, the Department of Finance, the Canadian Commercial Corporation, and Price Waterhouse Coopers.

High Commissioner Thoppil is a Chartered Professional Accountant and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours), with a specialisation in accounting, from the University of Ottawa. High Commissioner Thoppil is married to Naina Thoppil and has two sons studying at universities in Canada. Paul is an avid cross-country skier and runner. His family origins come from Kerala, India, where he spent his summers throughout his childhood years, and continues to return periodically to India to maintain his family and cultural ties.

His Excellency Artis Bertulis
The Ambassador of the European Union

Ambassador Bertulis is a career diplomat. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Singapore, Ambassador Bertulis was the EU Ambassador to Guinea-Bissau from 2022 to 2025.

Ambassador Bertulis has also served as Latvia’s Ambassador to Sweden (2001 to 2005); to Portugal and Brazil (2007 to 2011), Italy, Albania, Malta and San Marino (2013 to 2018), Permanent Representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization (2013 to 2018) and as Latvia’s Ambassador to India and Sri Lanka (2018 to 2022).

Ambassador Bertulis holds a Master’s degree in Physics and completed postgraduate studies in international affairs at the University of Latvia and the Royal College of Defence Studies in London. Ambassador Bertulis is married with two children.

His Excellency Innocent Bagamba Muhizi
The High Commissioner of the Republic of Rwanda

High Commissioner Innocent Bagamba Muhizi was Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) from 2017 to 2025. At RISA, he spearheaded major initiatives to advance Rwanda’s digital transformation agenda focused on government service digitalisation, connectivity, digital literacy, and innovation ecosystem development.

High Commissioner Muhizi was Regional Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Access Holdings Bank from 2016 to 2017 and led digital transformation across their operations in Liberia, Rwanda, and Zambia. He was CIO and Head of Transactional Banking Services at I&M Bank Rwanda from 2008 to 2016 and helped launch Rwanda’s first e-tax services with the Rwanda Revenue Authority.

High Commissioner Muhizi holds a Master of Science in Information Technology from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems and Business Management from La Roche University, United States of America. High Commissioner Muhizi is married with four children.

His Excellency Dr. Anjani Kumar Sinha
The Ambassador of the United States of America

Ambassador Dr. Sinha is a distinguished medical professional with decades of experience in orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine. Over the course of his career, he built and led specialised practices across eight locations in New York and served as a senior surgical consultant in Florida. His career reflects a deep commitment to advancing healthcare through collaboration with public and private sectors, as well as with medical, legal, and business operators across the healthcare industry.

In addition to his professional achievements, Ambassador Dr. Sinha is a dedicated philanthropist with a lifelong commitment to supporting communities in both the United States and India. Together with his wife, Dr. Kuntala Sinha, he has supported numerous institutions of higher education in New Hampshire, New York, and their medical school alma maters in India, leaving a lasting impact on generations of students and professionals.

Ambassador Dr. Sinha earned his medical degree from MGM Medical School and Delhi University in India, where he also completed a master’s degree in Orthopaedic Surgery. He has been married to Dr. Kuntala Sinha, a retired anaesthesiologist and former New York University faculty member, for 48 years. Together, they have a daughter, a son, and three grandchildren.

Source: MFA

H.E. EIVIND SIGVART HOMME AMBASSADOR TO SINGAPORE KINGDOM OF NORWAY

Ambassador Eivind Sigvart Homme, a career diplomat, has been with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, since 1984.

Prior to his posting to Singapore, Ambassador Homme was Head of the International Department and Secretary of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence of the Norwegian Parliament. He was also Special Advisor and ASEM Senior Official, as well as Special Advisor on Global Health for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ambassador Homme has served as Ambassador of Norway to India and Bhutan, as well as to Indonesia, Timor Leste and ASEAN. He was the Deputy Chief of the Norwegian Mission in Beijing, and was posted to Washington D.C, Rome and Manila. Prior to joining the foreign service, he served as a navigation and communications officer in the Royal Norwegian Navy.  Ambassador Homme is married and has two children.    

DR MICHAELA FROŇKOVÁ AMBASSADOR TO THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE CZECH REPUBLIC

Dr Michaela Froňková is a career diplomat with over 20 years of experience in the foreign service. She is the first resident Czech Ambassador to Singapore, following the reopening of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in August 2020.

Ambassador Froňková has held several positions at the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including as adviser of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Deputy Director of the Western Europe Department. She has also served postings as Minister-Counsellor at the Czech Embassy in Canada, an exchange diplomat at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and First Secretary at the Czech Embassy in France, amongst others.

Prior to her accreditation to Singapore, Ambassador Froňková served as the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Lebanon (2016 – 2020) and previously, to Morocco (2012 – 2016).

Ambassador Froňková obtained her PhD in medical rehabilitation, and a Certificate of Studies in European Law from Charles University. She also holds a Certificate of European Studies from the International Center of European Studies (in Nice and Prague).   

She was conferred the Order of Ouissam Alaouite in the grade of Grand Cross by the King of Morocco Mohammed VI.

Ambassador Froňková is married with two sons.

JEAN-DOMINIQUE IERACI HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SINGAPORE CANADA

Mr. Jean-Dominique Ieraci was appointed the High Commissioner of Canada to the Republic of Singapore in August 2021.

High Commissioner Ieraci is a career diplomat. Prior to his current appointment, he served as Deputy Head of Mission at the Canadian embassy in Mexico (2016-2021); Minister-Counsellor, Economic and Commercial Affairs, at the Canadian Embassy in Paris (2008-2013); Counsellor at Embassy of Canada in Syria (Covering Cyprus and Jordan) (2000-2002); and Trade Commissioner and Vice-Counsel at Embassy of Canada in the Republic of Korea (1994-1998).

This is also High Commissioner Ieraci’s second tour in Singapore. He was previously Counsellor (Trade and Economic) and Senior Trade Commissioner at High Commission of Canada in Singapore from 2005-2008.

High Commissioner Ieraci’s most recent headquarter assignment was Director General, Trade Sectors at Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (now Global Affairs Canada), where he was responsible for the support to the internationalisation of Canadian firms in 22 main sectors of the economy, ranging from Information technology to Canada’s International Education Strategy.

Mr. Ieraci graduated in industrial engineering from the École Polytechnique de Montréal. He is married and has 3 children.