Dominic Meiklejohn

Part of UK in USA [New York]

28th July 2010 New York, USA

Summer calendar

It’s been some time since I wrote here.  I’d like to say that my return is in response to overwhelming public demand, but basic respect for the truth prevents me.
 
Since my last piece, we have had a few events worth noting:

  • HM The Queen paid a short visit to New York on 6 July, about which my colleague Sheila O’Connor wrote in more detail.  From my point of view, as a member of the Board of the British Memorial Garden Trust, the formal opening of the Garden marks a major step in the life of this project.
  • Prince Harry spent a few days in New York, highlighting the shared sacrifice of US and UK troops in Afghanistan.  And the need to work together on the common challenges facing our veterans.
  • Prime Minister David Cameron talked to senior American business leaders about the Colaition Government’s economic policies.  And its determination to make the UK an even better place to business in and with.
  • the opening of the American Museum of Natural History’s exhibition on Scott and Amundsen’s race to the South Pole.
  • Oh, and I suppose I have to mention the World Cup.  From an English point of view, less said the better, perhaps.  While we’re on a football/soccer theme however, worth mentioning that several British teams have been playing in our region over the last few weeks: Celtic, Manchester United, Manchester City and Spurs.  Celtic supported a local project in Philadelphia.

Continuing the sporting theme, on  27 July, we will mark two years to go before the opening of the London 2012 Olympics.  More on that next week.

About Dominic Meiklejohn

I was born in Woking, outside London, in 1967 and attended Merton College, Oxford University, graduating in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. After university, I worked for HM Customs and Excise…

I was born in Woking, outside London, in 1967 and attended Merton College, Oxford University, graduating in Politics, Philosophy and Economics.

After university, I worked for HM Customs and Excise before joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1990. After working for the European Community Department, I learned Polish and began a posting at the British Embassy Warsaw, where I headed the British Know How Fund for Poland (1993-96). In 1997, I worked for the OSCE Mission in Albania, before heading up the India team in the South Asian Department of the FCO. In 2000, I was posted as First Secretary to the British Embassy Warsaw, with a particular focus on European Union issues in the run-up to Poland’s accession to the EU. In 2003, I returned to the UK as Deputy Head of the Environment Policy Department. From 2004-2005, I led the FCO’s Knowledge Management Programme. During this period, I led two deployments of the FCO’s Consular Rapid Deployment Team– to Sri Lanka, after the tsunami in 2004 and to Pakistan, after the earthquake in 2005. From 2006-2007, I served as Deputy Consul-General, Basra, Iraq. From June 2007 I worked with the FCO’s Change Unit.

I took up my current appointment on 22 January 2008. My wife Joanne and I are the proud parents of Olivia. Outside of the office, I cycle around Manhattan, play soccer (football) and, when parenting duties allow, enjoy the cultural riches offered by New York. I try hard to understand baseball.

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