Conference by the High Commissioner of South Africa to Canada: Whither Multilateralism in the Age of Loss

The Cyberjustice Laboratory is delighted to invite you to the conference Whither Multilateralism in the Age of Loss by Rieaz “Moe” Shaik, High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to Canada.

Organized by the Groupe de recherche en droit et économie politique (GREDEP), the conference will take place on Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. at the Cyberjustice Laboratory (B-2215).

Practical Information

When: Thursday 30 October 2025, 4h30 PM

Format: In person and online (Zoom link)

Where: Laboratoire de cyberjustice (B-2215)

Jean-Brillant Building
3200 Rue Jean-Brillant
H3T 1N8
Montreal, Québec

Speaker's Biography

High Commissioner Rieaz Shaik is South Africa’s envoy to Canada since 2022. Mr Shaik was an anti-apartheid activist, a former student leader, and an active member of African National Congress's (ANC). He has held several senior management positions, both in the private and public sectors: CEO at CorpAfrica (Pty) limited, South Africa's Consul General to Germany, South Africa's Ambassador to the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Special Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Head of South Africa’s foreign intelligence service, and Group Executive of the Development Bank of Southern Africa.

Summary

South Africa's leadership of the G20 in 2025 is a historical milestone, not only because it is the first African country to assume presidency, but also because of the inspiring priorities that it set forth as a member of the BRICS: equity, sustainability and solidarity in global governance. As multilateralism has long been a cornerstone of South African foreign policy, the GREDEP invites South Africa’s High Commissioner to Canada Rieaz “Moe” Shaik to reflect on his country’s G20 presidency and diplomatic heft and explain why and how South Africa's economic relationships have thus far straddled geopolitical divisions.

High Commissioner Shaik's presentation will thus touch on the importance of multilateralism, and analyze the drivers of fragmentation and integration in the global order. Further, he will highlight South Africa's role in promoting collaboration between nations on vital global issues, especially with the November 2025 Johannesburg G20 Summit in mind.

This content has been updated on 10/30/2025 at 11 h 39 min.