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Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
15th July 2025
International Day of Women in Diplomacy: UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls visit to Geneva
1st May 2025
The UN Commission on the Status of Women: My first visit as UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls
17th November 2014 Ottawa, Canada
We will remember them…
In a quiet corner of Ottawa by the junction of Sussex Avenue and Stanley Drive, there stands a fine memorial to the Canadian Officers loaned to Great Britain during the Second World War…
17th November 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Keep calm and carry on
Stereotypes about nations are dangerous things. I read recently that national stereotypes exist for a reason. Maybe, but they can breed prejudice – in the sense of “pre-judging” people or places based on a stereotype before you encounter them. What of stereotypes about Britain? I hope many of my previous blogs have challenged some of […]
17th November 2014 Singapore
Prosperity Fund Project Evaluations in Indonesia
Last month, I made a trip over to Jakarta to join in the evaluation of two Prosperity Fund projects that ran from 2011 to 2013. Aside from the perpetual traffic jams, this visit was extremely enjoyable for two very important reasons. Firstly, this was a perfect opportunity for me to see and hear the impact […]
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17th November 2014 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Digital Diplomacy: From Ferrero Rocher To Tweeting
I’m delighted that Vicki Treadell, British High Commissioner (Designate) to Malaysia has allowed me to print in full a speech that she delivered to the press corps on 12 November 2014. The speech looks at the challenges faced by diplomats and journalists of remaining relevant in the digital age and the fantastic opportunities presented by […]
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17th November 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
David Cameron visits Australia for Brisbane G20 Summit
You always look forward to your Prime Minister visiting the country you’re posted in, even though it means a lot of extra work for the whole team. David Cameron has just been back in Australia for the second time. He began his official bilateral visit on Friday with a stroll around Sydney’s beautiful harbour with […]
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14th November 2014 Singapore
What’s Coming Up On the Blog in the Next Few Weeks
It’s now been 2 months since we started this blog and we are gathering more and more stories to bring you from our work in the region. As we look ahead to the start of the South East Asia Prosperity Fund bidding round at the end of November, I wanted to give you a flavour […]
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14th November 2014 Skopje, North Macedonia
We will remember them
Remembrance is a hugely significant event for the British people and particularly poignant for members of Her Majesty’s armed forces. This year I joined the British Ambassador, Mr Charles Garrett at a service at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Skopje. We were joined by the Minister of Defence, Dr Zoran Jolevski, representatives of […]
14th November 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Thailand’s Choice
Political turbulence in Thailand in the first half of 2014 took its toll on the economy. But in the immediate aftermath of the military coup on 22 May, I met many Thai and British business people who were optimistic that business confidence would quickly return to the Thai marketplace and that the economy would start […]
14th November 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The Baltic Convoys
This week I have been commemorating Remembrance Day in the Russian Arctic port city of Murmansk, destination of the famous Arctic Convoys that ran the gauntlet of German submarines on the northern supply route between Britain and the Soviet Union during the Second World War. I have also been reflecting on a different convoy in […]
13th November 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Return to Iasi
It was good to return this month to the university city of Iasi, my home over the summer during my Romanian immersion language training. The focus of the visit was to speak at two very different conferences. At the first, marking the 175th anniversary of the foundation of the Central University Library, I spoke about […]