Marianne Young

Marianne Young

High Commissioner, Windhoek

Part of UK in Namibia

4th January 2012 Windhoek, Namibia

Marking UK and Namibian history in the making

Happy New Year to all!

As noted in my previous blog, 2011 marked a significant strengthening of UK-Namibian relations. Looking forward, I am happy to say that 2012 already looks set to hold a number of significant events that will help boost our bilateral links further and provide plenty of reasons for celebration.

This year, the UK will host the Great Show on Earth – the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games  – and will also celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee to commemorate her 60 year reign. Plenty of Namibians will be participating in the Games and many more will be welcomed to London to join in the wider festivities and have a chance to build on the many strong ties of business, culture, education and friendship between our two nations.

HE Mrs Marianne Young with Peyambeko Ingashipola, who gave birth to the first baby girl of 2012 in Windhoek

It was in this spirit that I travelled to Katutura State Hospital this morning to meet the first baby born in Windhoek this year – at 1 16am on 1 January – to Peyambeko Ingashipola from Havana, Katutura. The beautiful baby girl does not yet have a name as Peyambeko is still recovering from the birth before travelling to her home to settle on an appropriate one the wider family.

I presented the proud mother with a special London 2012 Olympics Shirt to signify the growing links between our two nations during this important year.

Few things can symbolise the coming of the new than the sight of a healthy newborn baby cradled in the arms of a proud new mother. It was a really fitting start to 2012.

As we enter the New Year, I look forward to developing plenty of new UK-Namibian babies of my own:

I continue to encourage all Brits in Namibia to get in touch with the British High Commission to assist us with our UK Namibian Mapping Exercise: we want to find out who you are, where you are and what you are up to.

I plan to develop an event’s plan for our nascent British Business Group: we already have plenty of significant British firms signed up but please get in touch even if you are just considering doing UK-Namibian business: we would be delighted to help and link you up with relevant members.

I hope to continue my familiarisation travels around Namibia to get to know this vast country better. Having been west to the coast (Swakopmund and Walvis Bay), north to Oshana (mainly around Oshakati and Ondangwa) and east as far as Gobabis (for Heroes’ Day)

HE Mrs Marianne Young with Dr Becky Ndjoze-Ojo, British Council Director

I now aim to head north east to the Caprivi in the next few months to get to know this unique region and then down to the south later in the year, all plans permitting. Do let me know about any British linked activities, personalities or even historic ties to both these regions and I will be delighted to incorporate them if possible.

So, 2012 is set to be a lively year. I extend a welcome to all Namibians to visit the UK at this historic time to see what makes it such a great place to visit, live, work, invest and do business – and to those remaining at home in Namibia, I look forward to working with you locally to boost our links still further, to increase bilateral trade and investment, and to create more ties of friendship over the year to come.

About Marianne Young

Marianne Young is the current British High Commissioner to the Republic of Namibia. She arrived in Windhoek in June 2011 and presented her credentials to the President of the Republic of…

Marianne Young is the current British High Commissioner to the
Republic of Namibia. She arrived in Windhoek in June 2011 and presented
her credentials to the President of the Republic of Namibia on 3rd
August.
Mrs Young joined the FCO in 2001 following a career in international
journalism, including time spent running an Asian maritime press office
in Singapore and a traineeship on the UK’s Times newspaper.
Her first role in the FCO was as a Press Officer in News Department,
after which she went on to be Head of the Great Lakes Section in Africa
Directorate and then Head of the East Africa & Horn Section.
In 2005, she became the first Head of Communications for the Engaging with the Islamic World Group.
She moved to the British High Commission in Pretoria in February 2007
and served as the Head of the External Political Section and Deputy
High Commissioner to the Kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland.
Mrs Young moved across to the British High Commission in Windhoek in
June 2011, and presented her credentials to the President of the
Republic of Namibia on 3rd August 2011.
On her appointment as British High Commissioner to the Republic of Namibia, Mrs Young said:
“I am honoured and delighted to be appointed Her Majesty’s High
Commissioner to Namibia. I look forward to working to strengthen the
many commercial, political and cultural ties between our two countries,
and to help the many British nationals who holiday there. My family and I
are particularly thrilled to be remaining in southern Africa – and to
have the opportunity to explore this beautiful country further and
discover more about its people and culture.”
Curriculum vitae

Full name:
Marianne Young

Married to:
Barry Young

Children:
Two daughters and one son

 
June 2011
Windhoek, British High Commissioner

2007 – 2011
 
Pretoria, Head of External Political Section and DHC for the Kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland

2005 – 2006
FCO, Head of Communications, Engaging with the Islamic World Group

2004 – 2005
FCO, Head of East Africa & Horn Section, Africa Directorate

3/2003 – 8/2003
FCO, Head of Great Lakes Section, Africa Directorate

2002 – 2003
FCO, Press Officer, Press Office

2001 – 2002
FCO, Departmental Report Editor, Press Office

2001
Joined FCO

2000-2001
Senior Correspondent, Fairplay Group, UK

1995-2000
Staff Editor and then Asia Editor, Fairplay Group Singapore

1994-1995
Graduate Trainee at The Times newspaper, UK

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