3rd December 2024
RENEWING OLD TIES: THE NEW BISHOP OF LONDON
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
25th November 2024
The climate crisis and gender-based violence
8th November 2024
Ecolabels: A Catalyst for Sustainable Food Choices?
5th June 2023 Belgrade, Serbia
Dear Serbia
Dear Serbia, I first arrived in Belgrade in the mid-1980s by train as a student with a small tent. I caught a number 53 bus to the campsite that used to next to the ‘Kamp Košutnjak’ café. Had I known then what the future held for me, I could have looked across the valley to the […]
15th May 2023
Rights, freedom, potential: UK leadership at Education World Forum 2023
Last week, over 100 Education Ministers from across the globe came together for the 19th Education World Forum (EWF). The EWF takes place in London every year and is the largest gathering of Education Ministers in the world. This year’s event was an excellent opportunity to showcase UK leadership on global education following the launch […]
Read more on Rights, freedom, potential: UK leadership at Education World Forum 2023 | Reply (1)
12th May 2023 Vienna
Tackling global cybercrime in Vienna
You might hear about ‘cybercrime’ in the news; but what does it mean, how does it affect us and how are we tackling it in Vienna? Cybercrime is a global threat. It affects each of us more than we might realise, from Ransomware attacks that threaten NHS services to online scams and other types of […]
Read more on Tackling global cybercrime in Vienna | Reply (1)
12th May 2023 Skopje, North Macedonia
Women into leadership
The 2022-23 Programme of Events concludes with Women Into Leadership 23 in Birmingham and a nomination for a Civil Service Team of The Year Award. The British Embassy Skopje based Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) funded HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Western Balkans Training Team have concluded the 2022 to 2023 calendar of events […]
25th April 2023 Belgrade, Serbia
Challenges, risks and threats
On 24 February 2022 the world watched with horror and disbelief as Vladimir Putin had launched his illegal, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Many people including in Serbia did not to believe or want to believe that Moscow would take such a reckless step, particularly against another Slavic nation with many historic, family and cultural ties […]
24th April 2023 Vienna
Multilateralism and diplomacy for peace
Today (24 April) we are celebrating the International Day for Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace. I didn’t plan a career in multilateral diplomacy when I joined the Foreign Office but an early experience at the UN in New York – an amazing city, especially when you’re an enthusiastic 20-something – sealed the deal. I loved […]
Read more on Multilateralism and diplomacy for peace | Reply
5th April 2023
Ambassador for a Day in Venezuela
Within the framework of International Women’s Day, the British Embassy in Caracas held the “Ambassador for a Day Contest”, an initiative of the British Government to promote the participation of young women in leadership roles. As a result, UK Heads of Mission around the world give hundreds of women the chance to experience first-hand our […]
5th April 2023 Geneva, Switzerland
Groundhog Council
I think it’s over. But I’m not entirely sure. Each morning for the last six weeks I’ve been waking up to the grim realisation that the Human Rights Council session was still going and going and going. It went on for so long that I’ve lost track of everything. What day it is, my name, […]
15th March 2023
Rights, freedom and potential: our Women and Girls Strategy
Last week the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) launched its International Women and Girls Strategy on International Women’s Day. As the Director for Education, Gender and Equalities, and Gender Envoy at the FCDO, I had the privilege and pleasure of joining the Foreign Secretary in Sierra Leone for the launch, where we saw the […]
Read more on Rights, freedom and potential: our Women and Girls Strategy | Reply
20th February 2023 Belgrade, Serbia
Ukraine one year on: look back in anger
On 24 February 2022 the world watched with horror and disbelief as Vladimir Putin launched a full scale, illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. One year on that horror and disbelief is mixed with anger and sorrow. At the senseless loss of tens of thousands of lives – Ukrainian and Russian. At the callous disregard […]
Read more on Ukraine one year on: look back in anger | Reply