17th July 2025
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
19th February 2014 Mumbai, India
Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult
Imagine a place where scientists, engineers, and businessmen are jointly creating the next best technology, which will change the way our world functions – welcome to the Catapult centre! The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) has created a network of Catapults in the UK to support innovation, and thereby drive economic growth. Currently, there are seven […]
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19th February 2014 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
World Land Speed Record Holder visits Brunei
Imagine a car that can go at over 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) per hour. In one blink of the eye, the car can go 150 metres. In one second, the distance of four and a half football pitches. Well, imagination seemed to come much closer to reality when the British High Commission hosted a visit […]
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18th February 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Welcome to The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award to Bulgaria
Yesterday, I took part with the President in the official launch of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Scheme in Bulgaria. This was not just an offical duty, but a personal pleasure too, because from the age of 14- 18, at school, I participated in the Scheme. The lessons I learned then stay with me now. As […]
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18th February 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Incentive
An advantage for English speakers trying to speak another language is that so many of our words find their way into other languages. Russian is no different. But I can imagine that the creep of anglicisms into Russian is as galling for Russian speakers, as it is for speakers of other languages. One word that […]
18th February 2014 Mumbai, India
Interview with Dr. Paul Ellsmore, Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult centre, Glasgow
A 5-member UK delegation participated in the recent workshops (03/02 & 06/02) on offshore wind energy organised by the UK Science & Innovation Network India in Ahmedabad and Chennai. I met with Dr. Paul Ellsmore, Academic & Cross-Catapult Manager from the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult centre, Glasgow to find out more about the centre’s […]
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18th February 2014 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
The impact of invasive Acacia in conjunction with fire on the Kerangas forest of Brunei
This is a guest blog by James Margrove, a post graduate student from the University of Aberdeen, who is currently in Brunei doing an internship at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam studying the impact of invasive Acacia in conjunction with fire on the Kerangas forest of Brunei. I was first informed about the internship opportunity with the […]
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17th February 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
A year to remember
The first few weeks of the year can be slow for many of us, waiting for the busy times to kick in. That’s certainly the theme of a ‘Calendario Brasileiro 2014’ which I see flying around on social media, suggesting we may only have a couple of working months in the year as a whole, […]
17th February 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Let’s End the Illegal Wildlife Trade
On 13 February the UK hosted governments from across all five Continents to galvanise international action on the illegal wildlife trade – The London Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade. Our focus was to improve law enforcement to catch and punish those responsible; support the development of sustainable livelihoods in areas affected by wildlife crime; and […]
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17th February 2014 Islamabad, Pakistan
My first impressions of Pakistan
Let me start by saying that I am honoured and proud to have been appointed as the British High Commissioner to Pakistan. I believe I have got one of the best jobs in the British Diplomatic Service. The country is also close to my heart. I have some very old connections with Pakistan. My grandfather […]
17th February 2014 Mumbai, India
Exploring UK-India partnerships in offshore wind energy
O mighty wind! Whether onshore or offshore, You seldom rescind Whether in Edinburgh or Tuticorin! The UK Science & Innovation Network India recently organised workshops in Ahmedabad (February 03/14) and Chennai (February 06/14), in partnership with Knowledge Economy colleagues, to explore the potential for UK-India partnerships in offshore wind energy. We received tremendous support from […]
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