High-level meetings, timely political analysis, and keeping in mind international sensitivities – a career in the foreign service seems like it is not for the faint of heart.
Diplomat and public officer Navjote Singh Sachdev, 38, makes it look effortless, and to top it off, he is one of six recipients of the 2026 Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) Scholarship.
He primarily worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), where he focused on Singapore’s ties with Malaysia and the United States of America, two of the country’s most important foreign partners.
“MFA’s work is tough but important. Each of us have a deep sense of mission and commitment to the cause. We learn to work as a team, each of us doing our part as we work towards securing and furthering Singapore’s interests,” he said.
In his most recent role, Mr Navjote served as Special Assistant to Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan from July 2024 to February 2026.
A notable highlight was when he helped Minister Balakrishnan prepare for his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Sept 27, 2025.
According to MFA’s press statement, the minister’s speech reaffirmed Singapore’s conviction that multilateralism and international law, anchored in the United Nations and the UN Charter, remained essential for advancing global peace and prosperity.
“With so much happening in the world, we had to keep revising the drafts to take into account new developments. It was an important speech, at the highest level, and the stakes were high,” Mr Navjote explained.
He added that Ambassador Burhan Gafoor, the Permanent Representative of Singapore to the United Nations, with all his experience, also offered his excellent guidance and together, they were able to draft an impactful speech.
Mr Navjote counts his early years at Raffles Institution and Raffles Junior College among the best years of his life. “They taught me to think critically, to have my own voice, to work hard, and all this underpinned with the right values.”
These traits earned him the prestigious Public Service Commission (PSC) Scholarship in 2007, through which he pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Oxford in England.
“At university, I found international affairs to be very interesting, so I decided to give MFA a shot,” Mr Navjote recalled. “When I joined (in 2014), I never expected to be here more than a decade later.”
He credits his four-year stint at the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 2018 to 2021 for solidifying his commitment to a career in foreign service, describing the experience as formative.
“Through bilateral and consular work, I saw how diplomacy is built on trust, teamwork and mission,” said Mr Navjote, who has always viewed Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Vanu Gopala Menon as a role model.
When MFA encouraged Mr Navjote to apply for the LKY Scholarship, he received strong support from High Commissioner Vanu and the MFA leadership, including Permanent Secretary Albert Chua.
The postgraduate scholarship is awarded to “exceptional individuals who demonstrate a strong sense of commitment to serve Singapore and Singaporeans”, the Public Service Division (PSD) said in a media statement.
Mr Navjote was selected from a pool of around 160 applicants this year, a spokesperson for PSD told tabla!
He is also MFA’s first LKY Scholar, according to a post on the ministry’s Instagram page.
“With so many rapid developments taking place in the world, for example in frontier technology, a postgraduate degree at this time would help me stay updated and better equipped to contribute to the challenges of tomorrow,” Mr Navjote said.
He will be pursuing a Mid-Career Master in Public Administration at Harvard University in the United States. The one-year programme, starting this July, will allow Mr Navjote time to read widely and learn from the distinguished faculty and peers from around the world.
“We rarely get a chance to step back and take the time to learn and grow, so this is a very valuable opportunity,” he added.
Mr Navjote shares a close-knit relationship with his family – parents and one brother – who have been extremely supportive of his career. They still have meals together regularly at his parents’ or grandparents’ place.
“Gurdwara Sahib Katong, which my family has been going to for decades, honoured my grandfather after I received this scholarship, which was very touching for all of us,” he said.
Although the perks of the job include getting to experience new cultures and “travelling to places you’d never dream you’d get to”, it can be challenging to live alone, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic when Mr Navjote was based in Kuala Lumpur and could not see his family for a long stretch.
When asked if there is any food or routine he performs overseas to remind him of home, the diplomat replied: “Let’s be honest, there is no substitute for the food in Singapore! Just call home regularly, talk to family and friends. That’s the best way.”
