22nd December 2025
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
17th December 2025
MAKING LIFE SAFER, FOR EVERYONE
9th December 2025
Why We Need Data, Courage, and Community
20th May 2015 Los Angeles, USA
Microalgae Mission to USA
Slimy isn’t the first word that comes to mind when you think of Phoenix, Arizona. But in March, 13 delegates from the UK had a chance to view Arizona State University’s amazing selection of ponds – and green slime. ASU’s facility is just one of five algae testbeds in the US as part of the […]
19th May 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
A Commemoration in Comana
On Sunday 10 May I headed out of Bucharest to the tranquil wetlands of the Neajlov Delta south of the city. With representatives of the local community, an Embassy group took a boat through channels framed by rushes and yellow irises to a large billboard, emerging out of the water and backed by reeds. The […]
19th May 2015 Bangalore, India
From neutrons to node and space
Like always, the last three months at UK SIN has been quite hectic. In January, I visited the ISIS pulsed neutron and muon source in Harwell, Oxfordshire, a world-leading centre for research in the physical and life sciences, owned by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council. I was also there to witness the signing […]
19th May 2015 Bangalore, India
Catalysing collaboration between UK and Indian space sectors
On 10 March Bangalore played host to a RiffStream# event focusing on developing commercial opportunities between UK and India players in the space sector. It was my first experience of using RiffStream# methodology where the event is designed to be high-energy and interactive ‘experiences’. Having joined the SIN team in India in March this workshop […]
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19th May 2015 Oslo, Norway
Syttende Mai
Although I have now been in Norway for a few months, I always knew that my “induction” would not be complete until I had experienced Grunnlovsdagen on the Seventeenth of May. Despite hearing and reading a lot about the significance of Constitution Day, Sunday’s festivities exceeded my already high expectations. The photographs look great. They […]
17th May 2015 Havana, Cuba
Homophobia and transphobia – a battle we share
The Conga Cubana against Homophobia and Transphobia held in Havana on 9 May was a riot of colour and noise. With whistles, banners, flags and hand-written signs, about 1500 people marched up 23rd Street calling for their rights to be respected. I was honoured to be invited and to attend and was impressed by what […]
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15th May 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Wildlife Diplomacy – Ending the Trade in Illegal Wildlife Products
A new push is urgently needed to fight the illegal trade in wildlife products. On 18 May, HRH The Duke of Cambridge will join United for Wildlife (UfW) meetings in Gland, Switzerland. UfW is a collaboration of seven conservation organisations and the Royal Foundation. Convened by the Duke, they have joined forces to tackle conservation […]
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15th May 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Landscape – A Touch of Britain
When I first arrived, I didn’t look very closely at them. After we had settled in, I inspected each one and wondered whether I could change them. Then I forget about them, until quite recently when one of my team had the idea that we should exhibit them. I’m talking about the paintings that usually […]
15th May 2015 Mumbai, India
Engaging with police for Intellectual Property Enforcement
Recently, I spoke at a seminar on counterfeiting and smuggling at the Police Commissioner’s offices in Pune, Maharashtra. Several aspects such as socio-economic impact, legal remedies, and enforcement procedures were discussed. This programme was organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Sanjay Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police, Pune, in his […]
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14th May 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Ecumenists and Diplomats
Amongst the Vasari frescoes In the Sala Regia in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican is a series to make ecumenists blanche. It depicts the planning and implementation of the St Bartholomew’s Eve Massacre – the massacre in Paris on 23-24 August 1572, ordered by the King of France, of thousands of French Huguenot Protestants. […]