2021 Government Leaders List
The 2021 Indiaspora Government Leaders List recognizes more than 200 Ieaders of the Indian diaspora who have ascended to the highest ranks of government in 15 countries across the globe.
While some are elected officials, others are appointees or civil servants. All have risen to the call for public service. Key agents in shaping politics and policy from a local to global scale, their leadership will impact generations to come.
About
The 2021 Indiaspora Government Leaders List recognizes more than 200 Indian diaspora leaders who have ascended to the highest echelons of public service in 15 countries across the globe, with nearly 70 of these leaders holding senior, cabinet-level positions.
Methodology
To compile this list, Indiaspora researched government websites and other publicly available resources to compile a comprehensive list of diaspora leaders serving in the following positions:
- Heads of government and deputy heads of government
- Ministers and agency heads serving as part of a government’s cabinet
- Ambassadors* and consuls general*
- Parliamentarians and federal legislators*
- Chief justices
- Heads of central banks
- Senior civil servants*
- Additional U.S. leaders, including federal administration nominees and appointees, and state and local leaders
*Countries with a significant history of diaspora migration were included, such as Australia, Canada, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.
Officers of Indian citizenship were not included because the list aims to highlight the contributions of the diaspora.
National Assembly | South Africa
Ashor Sarupen
MP Sarupen is part of the Standing Committee on Appropriations and Standing Committee on Finance. Ashor has been a Member of the Gauteng Legislature 2014 – 2019 and an Ekurhuleni Metro Councillor 2011 to 2014. His political leadership accomplishments consist of being the DA Constituency Chair – Springs, DA Chief Whip in Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality, Founder of DA Students Organization Wits Branch, DA Gauteng Campaign Strategic Advisor, Gauteng Campaign Strategic Advisor, DA Federal Council Member for 10 years, and DA Gauteng PEC Member for 5 years.
MP Sarupen has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Wits, PGDip Business Administration –Wits, BSc Hons – Wits, and a Certificate in Legislative Drafting from the University of Pretoria. His hobbies are learning about South African History and Politics, economics, reading, watching movies, motorsport riding.
Member of Parliament, House of Commons | United Kingdom
Virendra Sharma
MP Sharma was first elected as MP in the Ealing Southall by-election on 19 July 2007. Since 2007 he has been elected three more times. He came to Hanwell from India in 1968. When first elected he served as a member of the International Development Select Committee. He was a member of the Health Select Committee from 2010 – 2015, along with membership of the Joint Committee on Human Rights. Since 2015 he has returned to the Council of Europe where he is a member of the Sub-Committee on Refugee and Migrant Children and Young People. He currently chairs the Indo-British All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), leads the APPG for Gurkha Welfare, and is Co-Chair of the APPG on Nepal, the Tuberculosis Group, the Hepatitis Group and is Vice-Chair of the APPG for British Hindus. He has previously chaired the APPG for Tamils and is still actively involved as the Vice Chair.
Virendra served as a councillor in Ealing for 25 years including a term as May After first coming to England, he started out as a bus conductor on the 207 route and after college eventually worked as a day services manager for people with learning disabilities in Hillingdon.
Virendra studied at the London School of Economics on a Trade Union Scholarship.
Baron Sheikh, Member of Parliament, House of Lords | United Kingdom
Iltaf Sheikh
Lord Sheikh was born in Kenya and brought up in Uganda. His family originated from Amritsar in Punjab. Lord Sheikh has been honored by the presentation of several personal awards which have been given to him for his achievements, leadership, business and community work. He has also been awarded an honorary doctorate for Humanitarian work which he undertakes. Lord Sheikh was elevated to the House of Lords in 2006. He is an active Peer and speaks regularly in the House of Lords on a variety of subjects. He is a Patron of several Muslim and non-Muslim organisations and is actively involved in strengthening relationships between various racial and religious groups. He is the Chairman of companies relating to Property and other businesses.
Lord Sheikh is also a writer. His first book on the Maharaja Ranjit Singh was very well received, and his second, An Indian in the House, is on the first four Indians who were members of British Parliament. He has nearly completed his third which is a historical novel based in India. He has been a visiting lecturer at Universities and acts as an advisor to a British University. He promotes educational and cultural ties between the UK and other countries. He is the Chairman or a senior official of several All-Party Parliamentary Groups which includes the Group for India. He has been described as a businessman, academic, philanthropist and writer.
Canadian Parliamentarian Secretary, and Member of Parliament - House of Commons | Canada
Maninder Sidhu
MP Maninder Sidhu is a first-term Parliament member who was named parliamentary secretary to international development minister Karina Gould by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He is the Member of Parliament for Brampton East. Maninder knows what it takes to strengthen our middle class, create well-paying new jobs, and offer real help to families. He believes in unlocking the potential of our talented young people and entrepreneurs and building new, home-grown businesses and companies. He will work to ensure every young person has the same opportunity he has had to live, work and raise a family in our hometown. Today, motivated by gratitude for the opportunities he has had, Maninder is determined to help young people here find more success, close to home and their families.
He is the founder of The Kindness Movement Charity and mentors aspiring young entrepreneurs.
Maninder graduated from the University of Waterloo and built a successful customs brokerage business.
Member of Parliament - House of Commons | Canada
Sonia Sidhu
MP S. Sidhu, since being elected as the MP for Brampton South has been a fierce advocate for healthcare. As a member of the health committee, Sonia has advised on 18 different reports that impact the lives of Canadians every day, including the report recommending the implementation of a national pharmacare plan, drinking water standards and more. She has also been an advocate for national pharmacare and she crossed the country to consult with experts and her report “Defeating Diabetes” was presented earlier this year to the Minister of Health. She has also raised her voice to bring more jobs and investment to her community, supporting investments in her local economy, and jobs that are being created by companies like Amazon. She has also been working to ensure that there are more co-op jobs so that graduates can get out into the workplace with the experience that they need. She is a tireless worker who fights for her community, especially the seniors in her riding.
Before entering politics, she was a small business owner, an entrepreneur, and worked in Victoria Hospital as a Cardiac Technologist. Before being elected, she worked as a healthcare professional for almost 15 years, in Brampton South where she was involved in diabetes research and education in Brampton.
Sonia has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science.
Member of Parliament - House of Commons | Canada
Gagan Sikand
MP Sikand is the Member of Parliament for the riding of Mississauga-Streetsville. Gagan is also a Member of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security and the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament.
Gagan is a lawyer and a former small business owner. He has worked for the Attorney General of Ontario, the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada. He also sits on the Board of the Dental Hygienists of Ontario. He is also a mentor with the Kids Now program at Woodlands Secondary School. He also coaches basketball and serves as a board member for the Young Governors Council of Junior Achievement
Gagan volunteers on the local United Way advisory council and regularly helps out at both the Eden and Seva food banks.
Member of Parliament | Singapore
Pritam Singh
MP Singh is a member of the Worker’s Party in Singapore and was elected to the Parliament in 2011.
Pritam is a locum solicitor at Donaldson & Burkinshaw LLP. Mr. Pritam is an NSman with the rank of Major, and a Combat Engineer by vocation. He is also an author.
Pritam is a 2003 Chevening Scholar and holds a Juris Doctor (cum laude) degree from the Singapore Management University. Earlier, he won the Straits Steamship Prize, awarded to the top graduating student reading both History and Political Science, as an undergraduate at the National University of Singapore in 1999. He also has a Diploma in Islamic Studies (by correspondence) from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).
National Assembly | South Africa
Narend Singh
Narend Singh MP is a seasoned and well respected political figure in South Africa – to many in his home country he is a household name and a formidable force in holding the South African government accountable. His roots trace back to his grandfather, Mr Bendasari Singh, who arrived as an indentured labourer to South Africa on the 24th April 1897 at 23 years of age, hailing from Gorakhpur in the State of Uttar Pradesh. He established himself and settled on the south-coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where he started his family.
In 1994, he was appointed a Senator in the first Senate of the Republic of South Africa. In the Province of KwaZulu-Natal he first served in the role of Leader of Government Business and later appointed as Member of the Executive Council in various portfolios from April 1997 to March 2006. Singh, has over three decades of experience in serving his country in public office and is a key figure in his political home – South Africa’s fourth largest political party, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). He currently serves the IFP as Treasurer General and in Parliament’s National Assembly, he serves as Chief Whip of the IFP’s 15 Member Parliamentary Caucus. A patriot, a conservative and a true champion of democratic rights and freedoms, Narend Singh, believes that his fellow South Africans and by extension all who reside within the African Diaspora, can only truly be liberated and free – once economic liberation is met with social justice built on strong, independent constitutional and democratic principles on the African continent at large.
Narend Singh holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Economic Principles from the University of London (UoL), a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Policy and African Studies from the University of Johannesburg and Masters Degree (MSc) in Public Policy and Management, (UoL)..On a lighter note, Narend Singh enjoys spending time with his family, his grand-children and friends and is an avid reader, an adept communicator and a dedicated servant of the people. He is passionate about service delivery and fully immerses himself in assisting local non-profit community based organisations.
Member of Parliament - House of Commons | Canada
Jagmeet Singh
MP Jagmeet Singh became the leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) in 2017 and has served in Parliament representing Burnaby South in British Columbia since 2019. Jagmeet was the deputy leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party from 2015 to 2017, before becoming a candidate for the party at the federal level. His election as the leader of the NDP made him the first person of color to lead a major political party in Canada.
Jagmeet practiced as a criminal defense lawyer before his entry into Canadian politics. He first served as the Member of Provincial Parliament for Ontario in 2011 and became the first turban-wearing Sikh to serve in the legislative body. During his time in the Ontario Parliament, he was appointed the NDP’s critic for justice and consumer services.
Growing up in the greater Toronto area, Jagmeet often faced bullying and learned martial arts as a means to defend himself. This practice led to him win championship titles in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Jagmeet received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Western Ontario and completed his law degree from the Osgoode Law School at York University.
United States Representative -Michigan | United States
Shri Thanedar
Shri Thanedar became Michigan’s 13th Congressional District Representative making him the 5th Indian-American to be elected to the US Congress. Thanedar came to the US from India back in 1979 with only a small blue suitcase and $20 dollars in his pocket. In August 2018, Shri made a historic run in the Democratic Primary as the first Indian-American in Michigan to pursue the office of governor in his home state. He has been on the front lines with the Fight for $15 Movement because he himself has worked minimum wage jobs.
Shri is also a Ph.D scientist, an author, a former Michigan democratic gubernatorial candidate, a retired small business owner. In 1990, he purchased a failing small business that had three employees. He grew that business into a pharmaceutical and chemical research services company of international reputation with 450 employees. In 2010, Shri started a small chemical and pharmaceutical research services company in Michigan, which in 2016 grew to about 50 employees. His companies have developed and invented many medicine formulations that everyday save human and animal lives. Shri is a proven jobs creator and understands how to build teams to grow successful businesses.
Shri received his B.S degree in Chemistry (Karnatak University) and an M.S. degree in chemistry (Bombay University). He holds a PhD in Chemistry at the University of Akron in 1982. He was also a post-doctoral research scholar at the University of Michigan from 1982-1984.When families get to know him, they recognize that he has the knowledge, the people skills and the endurance to work tirelessly for real change in Michigan by setting policy that works for the people to improve quality of life for all.
Member of Parliament - House of Commons | Canada
Tim Uppal
MP Uppal is the Member of Parliament for Edmonton Mill Woods and the Caucus-Party Liaison for Canada’s Official Opposition. Tim comes from a hardworking and proud Canadian family who emigrated from Punjab, India. He previously served as the Minister of State for Democratic Reform and the Minister of State for Multiculturalism during Stephen Harper’s Conservative government.
Prior to entering politics, he was a residential mortgage manager for TD Canada Trust and served as a senior advisor to the Conservative Party of Canada. He was executive producer and host of a radio show on CKER in Edmonton.
Tim earned his MBA from the Ivey School of Business. He and his wife are enjoying the gifts and responsibilities of raising their three young children.
Member of Parliament, House of Commons | United Kingdom
Shailesh Vara
MP Vara was first elected to Parliament in 2005, representing the constituency of North West Cambridgeshire. He has since been re-elected to Parliament in 2010, 2015 and 2017. He was formerly a Minister for Northern Ireland, having also previously served as a Minister for Justice, a Minister in the Department for Work and Pensions and as a Government Whip. He has also introduced two Private Members’ Bills.
Shailesh is qualified as a solicitor. He has worked in the City and the West End of London, as well as in Hong Kong. Prior to entering Parliament, he held various posts in the Conservative Party including being a Vice-Chairman of the Party during 2001-2005. During the period 2005-2006 he held a range of other responsibilities. These included being Joint-Vice Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Trafficking of Women and Children, Treasurer of the BBC All Party Parliamentary Group, Vice-Chairman of the Executive Committee of Conservative Lawyers and the Chairman of the Conservative Parliamentary Friends of India Group.
Shailesh was educated at Aylesbury Grammar School and Brunel University.
Baroness Verma, Member of Parliament, House of Lords | United Kingdom
Sandip Verma
Baroness Verma moved to the UK with her parents when she was 1 year old. In 2006, Sandip was raised to the peerage as Baroness Verma of Leicester in the County of Leicestershire. She was Opposition Whip from 2006 to 2010 and then Government Whip following the 2010 general election. She served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for International Development from May 2015 until July 2016. She has been a Conservative member of the House of Lords since 2006 and previously served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for DECC. Prior to becoming Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for DECC, Baroness Verma was Spokesperson for Cabinet Office, International Development, Women and Equalities and Business Innovation and Skills.
Baroness Verma started her first business at the age of 19 in high fashion, supplying high street multiples. In 2000 she changed her business to the service sector.
Baroness Verma attended local schools and university in Leicester.
Baron Verjee, Member of Parliament, House of Lords | United Kingdom
Rumi Verjee
Lord Verjee was educated in the UK from the age of six and adopted Britain as his home following the expulsion of the Asian-Ugandan population. He was appointed to the House of Lords in 2013. In parliament, he takes an active interest in areas such as health, international development, social mobility, entrepreneurship and ensuring equal opportunities for all within society. He has been a significant supporter of the party’s Leadership Programme, finding and mentoring candidates from minority groups, helping them gain seats for the Liberal Democrats and diversify the party’s talent pool.
Lord Rumi has had a varied career as a multiple entrepreneur and philanthropist. Rumi founded Domino’s pizza in the UK, owned Watford football club with Elton John, and Mayfair’s luxury china and glass emporium, Thomas Goode & Co. His current focus is on real estate. Through his charity, The Rumi Foundation, he supports a broad range of innovative initiatives tackling some of the world’s most pressing issues in education and inequality. He is also Chairman of the international development and youth empowerment movement, WE UK. Rumi was awarded a CBE for charitable services in 2009 and served as a member of the Advisory Board of the British Olympic Association for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Lord Rumi studied Law at Downing College, University of Cambridge where he is now an Honorary Fellow.
Member of Parliament - House of Commons | Canada
Arif Virani
MP Arif was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Parkdale—High Park in 2015 and was re-elected in 2019. Arif was appointed by Prime Minister Trudeau as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice, and has served in this role since 2018. He also served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, (2015-2017) helping welcome over 50,000 Syrian refugees to Canada. He was then appointed the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Heritage (2017-18), where Arif worked on Multiculturalism, restoring Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy, and co-developed with First Nations, Inuit and Metis leaders Canada’s first-ever Indigenous Languages legislation.
Between degrees, he spent a year working in Ottawa with 2 MPs under the Parliamentary Internship Programme.He was one of the founding Board members of Toronto’s legal aid clinic SALCO. He is a supporter of the Redwood Shelter for abused women, has regularly helped at the Parkdale Food Bank, and led community efforts to address mental health stigma. He continues to volunteer with Roncyworks and the Sorauren Park Hosers, flooding the local rink. He is a lawyer by profession.
Arif has an Honours B.A. in History and Political Science from McGill and completed his LL.B. at the University of Toronto, where he graduated as Valedictorian. He speaks English, French, and some Hindi. His Tibetan, Polish and Ukrainian are works in progress. He loves coaching his two young and very active boys.
Member of Parliament, House of Commons | United Kingdom
Nadia Whittome
MP Whittome is the MP for Nottingham East and was first elected to Parliament in 2019. She is the youngest MP in the Parliament.
Before her election, she was a hate crime worker in Nottingham, and prior to that a care worker while working on her law degree at the University of Nottingham.