9th December 2025
Why We Need Data, Courage, and Community
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
2nd December 2025
In cybersecurity, there are no limits – only new voices ready to lead
14th October 2025
Lost and Found (but mostly lost)
6th August 2014 London, UK
Championing digital around the FCO
A key part of the FCO’s digital strategy is to build digital skills and knowledge across our network – over 13,000 people in nearly 270 offices around the world. In the Digital Transformation Unit we knew that we wouldn’t achieve this just with classroom training courses or lectures delivered in London, so we’ve taken an […]
6th August 2014 Kingston, Jamaica
One year later …..My Jamaica
As Jamaica celebrates her 52nd anniversary of independence on today , I would like to offer my congratulations, and say thanks for a remarkable and rewarding year working here so far. The UK/Jamaica relationship is a strong partnership. We cooperate in many areas . My continuing objective is to do more. I arrived just over a […]
6th August 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Guest Blog: ‘No one is born educated’ by Richard O’Carroll
In this month’s slot, I am happy to host a blog written by Richard O’Carroll, who is a Teacher of English at the British Council Jordan. He speaks fluent Arabic and his interests are in helping learners communicate effectively in intercultural business contexts. ‘We have a saying in Arabic which means ‘no one is born […]
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5th August 2014 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Green Brunei at the Singapore Power Shift
Our guest blogger for this week is Khairunnisa Ash’ari who is the Community Engagement Director for Green Brunei. With the support of the British High Commission, Khairunnisa attended the Singapore Power Shift, a kickstarter workshop to build up climate change knowledge and learn how to run successful campaigns. “The biggest threat to climate change is inaction.” […]
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5th August 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Australia remembers start of the Great War
Alongside Ambassadors and High Commissioners from many countries, representing both sides of the conflict, I took part yesterday in a moving ceremony to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of WW1, at Canberra’s Australian War Memorial. Meanwhile in Glasgow, Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove, one of Australia’s most distinguished former soldiers, represented Australia at the Commonwealth […]
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4th August 2014 Budapest, Hungary
"Innovation is GREAT: Regional Automotive and Aerospace Workshop" – Exploring the business potential in Central and Eastern Europe
One of my main professional targets as the Business Champion of Emerging Europe is to help increase the flow of trade between the UK and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Our economists reckon that there’s a potential of 20 billion Euros of business to be done if we could just get Central and Eastern European businessmen […]
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4th August 2014 Yerevan, Armenia
We have found an extraordinarily successful way to live together
The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit again in our lifetime’ – Sir Edward Grey, British Foreign Secretary, 3 August 1914 Just a few days ago, I stood in the study of Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Josef, in his summer villa in Bad Ischl, Austria, looking at the very […]
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4th August 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
“The Great War – Lest we Forget”
On 3 August 1914, Europe saw the start of the worst human disaster experienced up to that time when the German Empire declared war on France. The subsequent World War (#WW1) cost the lives of at least fourteen million people and shattered the fabric of society. The war set in motion a chain of events […]
4th August 2014 Islamabad, Pakistan
WW1 Centenary – Pakistan’s Right to Commemorate
This is my first blog for the High Commission and a quick look at the archives tells me that it’s the first time in a long time that a member of the Defence Team has rolled up his sleeves and ‘put fingers to keyboard’. So when Alison Blake, our Deputy High Commissioner, asked me to […]
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4th August 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Commonwealth Games: well done Glasgow, over to Gold Coast
So, a very successful Commonwealth Games draws to a close in Glasgow. The city showed itself off to great effect, helped by some wonderful weather. The organisers and volunteers can take great pride in the welcome they provided. Scottish and English athletes shared triumphs together as part of Team GB at London 2012. Here they […]
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