Brunei Darussalam shares best practices with Timorese Future ASEAN Leaders
DÍLI, 10 August 2026 (TATOLI) – A delegation of ten young professionals from Timor-Leste has drawn valuable lessons from Brunei Darussalam’s experience in governance, economic diversification and women’s leadership during the Futuru Lider Ba ASEAN (FLBA) Cohort 3 Leadership Immersion Programme, held from 25 July to 2 August 2026. The week-long programme formed part of Timor-Leste’s broader efforts to strengthen its engagement in ASEAN following its accession as the 11th ASEAN Member State in October 2025, while supporting its long-term preparations to host the ASEAN Summit in 2029.
FLBA is a flagship initiative of the Government of Timor-Leste, managed by the Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. It aims to prepare a new generation of Timorese leaders with the knowledge, skills and regional perspectives needed to contribute to the country’s future within ASEAN. The 2026 participants constitute Cohort 3 of the programme, following Cohort 1 in 2024 and Cohort 2 in 2025. The delegation was drawn from a cohort of 120 young professionals from all municipalities and a wide range of professional sectors across Timor-Leste, selected through a highly competitive process involving more than 500 applications and 150 interviews.
Each of the ten participants undertook an Action Learning Project focusing on areas such as higher education and research, arts and culture, zero-waste management and the circular economy, decentralisation, women’s leadership, youth and sports, the digital economy, Timor-Leste branding and tourism, the blue economy, and education policy.
The delegation was led by Ms Flora Maria de Jesus Lopes and assisted by Mr Jacob Rafel Ferreira de Sousa. H.E. Abel Guterres, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Brunei Darussalam, personally accompanied the delegation throughout the immersion programme and participated in its engagements with government ministries and national institutions. Participants also benefited from coaching and mentoring by Ms Norazlianah Ibrahim, former Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Timor-Leste, whose diplomatic experience and insights further enriched their learning experience.
Throughout the visit, the delegation met with representatives from key government ministries, educational institutions and national organisations, including the Management Services Department of the Prime Minister’s Office; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports; the Legislative Council Department; the Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam; Rimba II Secondary School, Ministry of Education; Universiti Brunei Darussalam; Royal Brunei Airlines; Brunei Amateur Swimming Association, and the Poni Foundation. Each engagement was carefully aligned with the participants’ Action Learning Projects, enabling them to gain first-hand insights into the country’s policies, development approaches and best practices relevant to their respective fields.
Beyond the institutional engagements, the programme also included a networking session with ASEAN representatives accredited to Brunei Darussalam, as well as visits to several of Brunei Darussalam’s cultural and historical landmarks, including Kampong Ayer, the Royal Regalia Museum, Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, the Brunei History Centre, The Energy Hub, the Brunei Arts and Handicraft Training Centre, and Rimba Garden Central.
One of the delegation’s most significant observations was Brunei Darussalam’s unwavering commitment to Wawasan Brunei 2035 (Brunei Vision 2035). Participants noted the close coordination among government agencies and private sector institutions in pursuing shared long-term national goals, demonstrating a cohesive and forward-looking approach to development.
The delegation also recognised Brunei Darussalam’s efforts to diversify its economy beyond the oil and gas sector, an area of particular relevance as both Timor-Leste and Brunei Darussalam seek to strengthen long-term, sustainable economic growth. Equally inspiring was the prominent role of women in leadership, with participants observing women serving in senior positions across many of the institutions visited and contributing actively to policy development and decision-making.
In addition, the programme highlighted Brunei Darussalam’s achievements in education, youth development, environmental sustainability, national branding and regional connectivity. These experiences provided practical ideas that participants can adapt to support Timor-Leste’s own development priorities.
The successful implementation of the programme reflected the Embassy of Timor-Leste in Brunei Darussalam’s strong commitment to supporting Timor-Leste’s ASEAN journey while further strengthening the longstanding friendship between the two countries.
As Timor-Leste continues its ASEAN journey, initiatives such as FLBA will help prepare a new generation of leaders capable of contributing meaningfully to the ASEAN Community.
TATOLI
