South Africa: Dhundup Gyalpo has formally assumed charge as the new Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Office of Tibet in South Africa. He took over the responsibilities today from Cultural Officer Khenpo Jamyang Gonpo in a ceremony held virtually in the presence of Rigzin Choedon Genkhang, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the European Union, Western Europe and the Maghreb.

Prior to departing for South Africa, Gyalpo was granted an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He also met with Sikyong Penpa Tsering and DIIR Kalon Norzin Dolma.

Born on 24 January 1975 in Sikkim, India, Gyalpo completed his schooling in Shimla in 1994. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Economics from Punjab University in Chandigarh in 1997. He joined the Tibetan civil service in January 2000 and subsequently studied Chinese in Taiwan for two years from 2007 to 2009.

Over the past two decades, Gyalpo has held several positions within the Central Tibetan Administration. He served as the in-charge of the Health Education and Media Section at the Department of Health from 2000 to 2004, followed by his role as editor of TibetNet/Tibetan Bulletin from 2004 to 2007. He later worked as a Research Fellow at the Tibet Policy Institute from 2012 to 2014.

Gyalpo also served as Secretary at the Office of Tibet in Taipei from 2014 to 2018, and most recently as Secretary at the Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New Delhi from 2019 to 2026.