9th April 2026
The Gulf, Berlin and the Commission on the Status of Women: building global alliances to advance women’s progress
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
26th February 2026
Different Memories, Shared Futures: Why Inclusive Remembrance Matters for Serbia and the Region
22nd December 2025
Continuing to grow the global alliance for women and girls
5th July 2013 Athens, Greece
G8 priorities: what do you think?
At Lough Erne in Northern Ireland recently, leaders of the G8 discussed some of the fundamental questions facing our societies and economies. They came up with a short list of practical steps to take. Those steps are set out in a remarkably short and punchy declaration, which you can find here. Representing half of the […]
4th July 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
INVESTING IN A LOW-CARBON ENERGY FUTURE
It was a delight, as always to be in Visby this week for Almedalen. I spoke at a seminar on the “Swedish super-model” and attended several interesting discussions on Europe, defence policy, Swedish politics and economics. Energy policy and climate change were also themes, as they are for the UK government. Like all EU partners, […]
Read more on INVESTING IN A LOW-CARBON ENERGY FUTURE | Reply
4th July 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Modern Slavery: Church and State against Human Trafficking
Trafficking in human beings – for forced labour, for sex, for their organs – has been with us as long as one human has exploited another. That is no reason why we should resign ourselves to its existence in the 21st century. The British government sees tackling modern slavery as an important global priority. And yet, […]
Read more on Modern Slavery: Church and State against Human Trafficking | Reply (1)
4th July 2013 New Delhi, India
Further funding for the Unbox Fellowships
Every time you sneeze, stop and consider what you are thinking about. This was one of the recommendations given during the Unbox festival in January this year. This festival showcased some of the best of India’s burgeoning design, art and technology sectors, including the findings from the Unbox fellowships, advertised in my earlier blog. The […]
Read more on Further funding for the Unbox Fellowships | Reply
4th July 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Arts and crafts
London’s Royal Academy will host the largest exhibition of Australian art ever to leave this country from 21 September to 8 December. It includes many of Australia’s finest historic and current works from the leading public institutions. I attended the media launch at the National Gallery in Canberra last week, and gave an interview to […]
3rd July 2013 Washington DC, USA
My First Memories of Nelson Mandela
I’ve never met Nelson Mandela, nor have I been to South Africa. But like many who care about Africa or human rights or history, I am thinking of him a lot these days. And I can’t help but remember February 1990, when he was released from prison. Back then I was ten and living in […]
Read more on My First Memories of Nelson Mandela | Reply (2)
3rd July 2013 Montreal, Canada
The Brain Enigma – How does the brain really work?
Despite intensive research for centuries, the normal functions and structure of the brain remain an enigma. Last June 25, an unprecedented partnership agreement (MoU) was signed in Montreal to broaden understanding of the human brain and take neuroscience research to new horizons…
Read more on The Brain Enigma – How does the brain really work? | Reply
3rd July 2013 London, UK
@UKintlaw – tweeting and engaging on international law
On 2 April the International Law Team at the British Embassy in The Hague launched a Twitter account dedicated to international law issues. @UKintlaw is the first government Twitter account set up to tweet and engage solely on matters of international law. Its primary focus is on tweeting news arising out of events taking place within […]
Read more on @UKintlaw – tweeting and engaging on international law | Reply
3rd July 2013 London, UK
Breaking the Sound Barrier with BEDB
First of all I would like to convey my sincere gratitude to the British High Commission to Brunei Darussalam for giving me the opportunity to post an article on the British High Commissions’ blog regarding my view on the Innovation Forum: UK-Southeast Asia Innovation, Design and Technology Forum which was held on Friday, 7th June 2013 in Singapore.
2nd July 2013 Kingston, Jamaica
Scattering and Gathering: Thoughts on Diasporas
I’ve always liked the word ‘diaspora’, which comes from Greek and means scattering or dispersion. Before I came to Jamaica I thought of the Diaspora as referring mainly to the worldwide Jewish community. And indeed, that community is represented here, with its roots in the immigration from Europe of those forced to convert to Christianity […]
Read more on Scattering and Gathering: Thoughts on Diasporas | Reply (1)