The Honourable Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng delivered the lecture at Swansea University’s Taliesin Theatre on the evening of Monday, June 29, on the theme of Enhancing ASEAN-UK Relations: Forging closer ties between Brunei Darussalam and Swansea in a globalised world.

Professor Richard B Davies, Swansea University’s Vice-Chancellor, said: “We were delighted to welcome back one of our most distinguished international alumni, The Honourable Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng, to give what was a most interesting and thought-provoking James Callaghan Memorial Lecture.

‌“I am confident this year’s lecture will have resonated across a University which, as well as having a strong and clear vision for delivering world-leading research, innovation and education, also delivers an outstanding student experience, with teaching of the highest quality, producing graduates equipped for distinguished personal and professional achievement.

“There are exciting opportunities ahead for Swansea University, as we prepare to enter a new era with the opening of our science and innovation Bay Campus this September.

“Swansea University is a global university, pursuing an ambitious internationalisation strategy. As we move forward, we look forward to forging even closer ties with Brunei Darussalam and our growing number of international partners, who are critical to our continued success and to providing further exciting opportunities to benefit research and innovation, and our staff and students.” 

Earlier in the day, The Honourable Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng toured the University’s Singleton Park Campus and also paid a visit to the University’s new £450million Bay Campus development, which opens this September.  

The Honourable Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng received his Bachelor of Sciences (BSc) in Sociology/Social Anthropology from Swansea University and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Social Anthropology from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

He started his career at the Brunei Museum as Deputy Director and Director and was subsequently transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam as Director-General of ASEAN-Brunei Darussalam in August 1983.

He was then appointed as Brunei Darussalam’s High Commissioner for New Zealand in February 1986.

In May 1986, he became the Director of Politics at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and was promoted to the post of Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the same year. 

He was appointed by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah as a member of the Privy Council in 2003 and as an official member of the Legislative Council in 2004.

For his services, he was conferred the title of Pehin Menteri and Dato Seri Setia, as well as other meritorious awards by His Majesty.  He was appointed as the Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in May 2005.

Swansea University’s James Callaghan Lecture Series was established on the occasion of the University's 75th anniversary in 1995, to commemorate the Presidency of The Right Honourable Lord Callaghan of Cardiff (1912-2005).  Lord Callaghan, who was British Prime Minister from 1976-1979, was President of Swansea University from 1986-1995, and he became an Honorary Fellow of the University in 1992.

In October 1996, Lord Callaghan returned to Swansea University to open the campus building named in his honour.  The building fittingly reflects Lord Callaghan's working life, as it houses (amongst others) the departments of Politics and International Relations, and History.

Images:

Top - (left to right) Professor Richard B Davies, Vice-Chancellor, The Honourable Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng, Brunei Darussalam’s Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Professor Iwan Davies, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, at the James Callaghan Memorial Lecture 2015.

The Honourable Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng delivers the James Callaghan Memorial Lecture 2015 at Swansea University’s Taliesin Theatre.