31st December 2014 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I wanted to write a blog looking back on 2014 from the High Commission’s perspective but I have to admit that it’s been difficult to get the words right. 2014 was by any measure a challenging year for Malaysia and the High Commission. The nation has had to deal with an unprecedented number of large-scale […]
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17th November 2014 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I’m delighted that Vicki Treadell, British High Commissioner (Designate) to Malaysia has allowed me to print in full a speech that she delivered to the press corps on 12 November 2014. The speech looks at the challenges faced by diplomats and journalists of remaining relevant in the digital age and the fantastic opportunities presented by […]
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17th July 2014 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I think it’s fair to say that historically, the Foreign Office has struggled to recruit staff from diverse backgrounds and has suffered from a perception of being elitist and detached. In fact, I remember the reaction of some members of my extended family when I told them in 2002 that I would be joining the […]
6th May 2014 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I’m very pleased that Simon Featherstone, the British High Commissioner, has agreed to write a guest blog for me on his three and a half years in Malaysia. Both Simon and Gail will be sorely missed by everyone in the High Commission and we wish them well on their return to the UK. As any […]
27th March 2014 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Last month, in partnership with the Razak School of Government (RSOG), we sent five of Malaysia’s ‘rising talents’ within its civil service to London for a week-long familiarisation trip. The delegates came from a range of Malaysian government departments: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Ministry of Women, Family and […]
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20th December 2013 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2012 was by any measure an extraordinary year with historic visits by the British Prime Minister and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. I asked in my end of year blog whether we could maintain the same level of ambition in 2013. Looking back on this year, I can emphatically say that we have! Over […]
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10th November 2013 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I’m delighted that Alison Collingridge, our Prosperity Promotion Manager, has agreed to write a guest blog on the amazing events taking place in KL next week. Alison has worked tirelessly for over a year to bring the very best of British to Malaysia – the new London Routemaster bus, specially commissioned Minis, one of our […]
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29th October 2013 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
One of my favourite things about being a diplomat is having the opportunity to represent the UK at fun and unusual events. This past weekend was a good example: I attended the opening ceremony of the Asian Youth Para Games; helped to launch UNICEF’s ‘Disable to Enable’ campaign in Malaysia; and got to hold the […]
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9th September 2013 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
What has three miles of telephone and IT cabling, a floor size of 13,000sqft, and 40% of its wall space covered in coloured, writable glass? Need another clue? It’s also the greenest building in Kuala Lumpur’s Central Business District. It’s the new British High Commission which opens its doors on 1 October! In just three […]
9th July 2013 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I’m delighted that Simon Featherstone, the British High Commissioner, has agreed to write a guest blog on Prime Minister Najib’s groundbreaking(!) visit to the UK. It’s not often that you get a behind-the-scenes look at an occasion of this magnitude so please enjoy and feel free to post your thoughts or comments below. The work […]
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