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At the Coalface
At the Coalface is a series of conversations hosted by Philippe Rose.
Philippe's guests share stories about their life beyond the headlines of international affairs. They look for lessons learned about making an impact in the world as practitioners in diplomacy, international organisations, NGOs, journalism and the private sector.
Many of Philippe's guests are connected by their common experience of taking time away from work to attend graduate school at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University.
At the Coalface
Mahendra Shunmoogam - A Life Working Toward a Better Society
In this episode, I sit down with Mahendra Shunmoogam, a South African policy thinker working at the intersection of industry, trade, and climate diplomacy.
Mahendra’s path spans HIV/AIDS activism, science and economic policy, government diplomacy, corporate affairs, and global climate governance. From working with Zackie Achmat at the Treatment Action Campaign to coordinating negotiations for the G77 at the UNFCCC, his career offers a rare perspective on how values travel across institutions.
We talk about growing up in Cape Town as an Indian South African, the debates that shaped his worldview, and how questions of belonging later surfaced inside global negotiations. Mahendra reflects on the tension between the moral clarity of activism and the compromises required in multilateral diplomacy.
We also explore how evidence enters policy, how companies really think about serving society, and what just international negotiations might look like for countries in the Global South.
Recorded on 5 December 2025.
Connect with Mahendra on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mahendra-shunmoogam-b794a51.
Instagram: @at.the.coalface
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