3rd December 2024
RENEWING OLD TIES: THE NEW BISHOP OF LONDON
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
25th November 2024
The climate crisis and gender-based violence
8th November 2024
Ecolabels: A Catalyst for Sustainable Food Choices?
22nd July 2016 London, UK
Gearing up for the Games
It’s beginning to feel very real. There are only two weeks to go until the start of Rio 2016. Brazil has been in the unusual (unprecedented?) position of hosting the top three sporting events in the world in the space of just two years. That also meant that just as the lights were going out in the […]
22nd July 2016 London, UK
Forced Marriage Summer Campaign – #RightToChoose
Last week saw the launch of the Forced Marriage Unit’s annual summer campaign. The long summer holiday is a high risk time when families may use the opportunity to take young women and men abroad for a forced marriage. This year the Forced Marriage Unit has produced short audio pieces based on the film launched […]
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19th July 2016 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Volunteerism beyond borders
My blogs are usually about links between the UK and Sri Lanka. Today it’s the turn of some of the less sung heroes, those who work or volunteer in Sri Lanka’s charitable sector. I’m focusing on two long-standing partners of the High Commission, CAL and MENCAFEP, who just two of the many good people are […]
15th July 2016
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
#Adiosistanbul 8: big issues
The best thing about working in Istanbul isn’t the history, the architecture or the teeming energy of the city, magnificent though they may be. No. For a diplomat, the best thing about working here is that Turkey really matters to the United Kingdom. A prosperous, successful Turkey can help boost British security and prosperity. So […]
14th July 2016 Delhi, India
Indian industry roundtable on National IP Policy
It is unusual for July and August to be packed with activity in the IP World in India. Things typically quiet down after the flurry of activity around World IP Day, but the Indian IP circuit has been abuzz with roundtables, workshops and conferences on the recently released National IP Policy. The Department of Industrial […]
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13th July 2016 Beijing, China
Business-university collaboration: driving innovation in the UK and China
What are the best models for universities and industry to work together to drive innovation? And how can they work together successfully across borders? These were some of the questions addressed by the China-UK Symposium on Innovation Driven Development with Business-University Collaboration that I and other SIN colleagues attended in Beijing last week. The Symposium […]
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12th July 2016 Colombo, Sri Lanka
The books that bind
It was a career first for me on Sunday, when I found myself selecting knickers for Her Majesty The Queen. No lèse-majesté this, rather part of the celebrations of the 210th anniversary of the building of the Governor’s Palace at Mount Lavinia. This included a literary festival, featuring British authors who have written about or been […]
12th July 2016 Bangalore, India
From lamb biryani to Land Rovers
The UK and Make in India – ‘a recipe for success?’ As a young boy in London I grew up watching my father spending almost every Saturday cooking curry in our kitchen. I eagerly watched the clock tick down until dinner-time when I could finally see what my father had made. Little did I know […]
11th July 2016 Tripoli, Libya
Getting To Know Libya
Since the Presidency Council arrived in Tripoli, I have had the pleasure of visiting the city five times. The most recent visit was during Ramadan. The first impression was the welcome I received and the friendliness of the people. From my arrival at Matiga to the staff in the offices, there was a warm welcome […]
11th July 2016 Geneva, Switzerland
Continuity And Change Following The Referendum
As Britain’s ambassador in Geneva I have often been asked in recent days about developments in the UK. There has been much uncertainty and some anxiety. I have sought to explain, but also to reassure. On 23 June the British people voted in a referendum to leave the European Union. It is clear that some […]
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