25th April 2024
Reflect & Remember: Anzac Day 2024
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
23rd April 2024
Good English – A Key to Panama’s Future Success
21st March 2024
Forests in focus on International Day of Forests
22nd February 2021 Tokyo, Japan
Farewell to the Foreign Office
I retire at the end of February, after 32 years in the Foreign Office, and 40 years in public service in total. Just another civil servant moving on from a job. But to me it feels a poignant moment. When I left university in 1980 I wasn’t seeking fame or fortune, which was perhaps just […]
22nd February 2021 Tokyo, Japan
Farewell to Japan
I leave Japan at the end of February on completion of my term as Ambassador. It was also my first posting as a young diplomat, so it’s rather an appropriate place to be ending my career in. I have been fascinated by Japan since 1983, when I visited on a study tour, after winning an […]
22nd February 2021 Tokyo, Japan
Sankyu (thank you) Japan: a farewell twitter campaign
As I prepared to leave Japan at the end of February, on completion of my assignment, I have been reflecting on my four years as Ambassador here, as well as the four years I spent here earlier in my career. I’ve been flicking through my photos. I decided to do 39 tweets highlighting things I […]
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8th February 2021 Belgrade, Serbia
Boycie and Baldrick Get a Shot in the Arm
In this strangest of years, international cooperation has taken on a different aspect. Border closures, quarantine and testing regimes have never before been part of my daily diplomatic vocabulary. Though as a well travelled diplomat vaccination has long played a small but important part in my professional life. The world faces a common challenge that […]
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5th February 2021 United Kingdom
Molly: My Apprenticeship during COVID-19
Why I chose to do an apprenticeship with the FCDO. In 2020 I published a blog as to why I chose to do an apprenticeship with the FCDO. I still stand by my words. Since then I have successfully completed my apprenticeship but not without its trials! How did COVID-19 impact on your apprenticeship and […]
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5th February 2021 United Kingdom
Kai: Why I chose to do an apprenticeship with FCDO
Why did you choose to apply for an apprenticeship? I chose to apply for an apprenticeship because I view it as a way to gain practical experience in a role and industry. It appealed to me that you get to learn on the job from experienced professionals and be able to put what you learn […]
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5th February 2021 United Kingdom
Matthew: My Apprenticeship during COVID-19
Why I chose to do an apprenticeship with the FCDO. A common criticism of university is that it doesn’t prepare graduates with the necessary practical experience to operate in the world of work. For me, an apprenticeship at the FCDO offered the opportunity to take advantage of the theoretical knowledge I gained at university, and […]
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3rd February 2021 Tokyo, Japan
Two Plus Two makes for a good discussion with Japan
The last time British and Japanese Foreign and Defence ministers met in the “2+2” format with their Japanese counterparts, it was in the splendid setting of the former Royal Naval College at Greenwich. This time, under COVID, it will take place virtually, from electronic conference suites in Whitehall and the Japanese equivalent, Kasumigaseki. But the […]
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2nd February 2021 Canberra, Australia
Be a High Commissioner for a Day Competition #HC4aday
International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate women’s achievements and raise awareness about gender equality. But it’s also an opportunity to stop and reflect on what more can be done to ensure a gender equal world. At a time where the impacts of COVID-19 are being found to be worse for women “across every […]
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26th January 2021 Khartoum, Sudan
Farewell Sudan
I leave Sudan at the end of my posting this week. When I arrived in Sudan in April 2018, I could not have imagined that I would see the historic change that I have. With a dictatorship that had weathered the Arab Spring and was approaching its 30th year in power, prospects for change seemed […]