Seychelles: First Lady Mrs Veronique Herminie Urges Girls to Break Barriers and Dream Big – “Reach for the Skies”

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First Lady of the Republic of Seychelles, Mrs Veronique Herminie, attended the Women Leadership and Diplomacy Summit held on August 28, 2026, in New Delhi, India, as part of Mission ShakthiSAT, an international initiative aimed at empowering girls through science, technology, innovation, leadership, diplomacy and space exploration.
The summit, held on 28 August 2026, forms part of the STISA-2034 Awareness through Research and Innovation for Girl-Ambassadors in Space programme, being held from 22 to 31 August at Gautam Buddha University in Greater Noida, India, under the African Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (ASTII) programme.
Mission ShakthiSAT seeks to bring together young girls from across the world and expose them to opportunities in space science and technology, with the wider objective of developing the next generation of scientists, engineers, innovators, policymakers, diplomats and leaders.
As part of the programme, participating girls are receiving training in space science and satellite technology, including hands-on opportunities to learn about CubeSats and payload integration. The programme also provides opportunities for participants to engage with scientists, researchers, space professionals and leaders from different parts of the world.
For Seychelles, participation in initiatives such as Mission ShakthiSAT also presents opportunities to strengthen the country’s understanding and use of space-derived geospatial information. Data collected through Earth observation technologies can provide valuable information about the planet’s land and oceans, supporting areas such as environmental monitoring, conservation, climate research and maritime management.
For an island nation such as Seychelles, access to such information can be particularly valuable in strengthening the monitoring and protection of its vast marine environment. Geospatial data can support efforts to better understand changes in coastal and marine ecosystems, monitor areas of ecological importance and inform conservation and sustainable management of maritime resources.
Seychelles is participating in the initiative, with Nicole Abrams serving as the Seychelles Ambassador for Mission ShakthiSAT, alongside Seychellois girls taking part in the international programme.
Addressing the summit, Mrs Herminie highlighted the importance of encouraging girls to enter fields traditionally dominated by men, drawing on her own experience of working in the male-dominated construction sector despite her professional background as an ACCA-certified chartered accountant.
She shared how accepting a senior leadership role in a construction company initially placed her outside her area of technical expertise, but ultimately led to more than seven years in the sector and her promotion to Deputy CEO of the company’s holding company, where she helped lead a workforce of more than 1,000 people.
Mrs Herminie used this experience to encourage the young participants not to allow their academic or professional backgrounds to limit their ambitions, stressing that STEM initiatives require a wide range of skills beyond traditional scientific disciplines.
She also emphasised the importance of youth as drivers of innovation and transformation, urging young girls to make use of education and technology to develop their skills and pursue their aspirations.
“Why not space science? Why not build satellites? Why not reach for the moon?” she challenged the participants.
The First Lady further called on women already in leadership positions to share their knowledge, experience and opportunities with the next generation, stressing the importance of mentorship in helping young girls develop confidence and build their own paths.
Mrs Herminie also welcomed Seychelles’ participation in Mission ShakthiSAT and noted the importance of bringing the knowledge gained through the programme back to Seychelles. She highlighted the establishment earlier this year of a department within the Ministry of Education focusing on STEM, artificial intelligence and innovation, saying that the experience gained by the Seychellois participants could contribute to the continued development of STEM education in the country.
The Women Leadership Summit brought together women leaders, ministers, ambassadors, policymakers, scientists, educators, diplomats, industry representatives and young participants, with discussions focusing on women’s leadership, global peace, international cooperation, space diplomacy, sustainable development and the role of young women in shaping the future.
The programme represents a broader international effort to expand girls’ access to science and technology and demonstrate that opportunities in space exploration are not limited by nationality, background or traditional career paths.
Mission ShakthiSAT aims to empower 12,000 girls across 108 countries, creating opportunities for them to gain knowledge, exposure and practical experience in areas that can help shape the future of science, technology and innovation.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.