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Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

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4th June 2014

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by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

British MPs in Canberra discuss Malaria and Foreign Policy

A busy week in Canberra with two separate visits by Members of the House of Commons. The Rt Hon Stephen O’Brien MP, the PM’s Special Representative for the Sahel, was in Australia in his capacity as envoy for the Roll Back Malaria campaign. He is a passionate advocate for the cause and believes there is […]

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3rd June 2014

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by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Australia sets scene for London Global Summit on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict

HE Paul Madden and The Hon Julie Bishop

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and I co-hosted a Dialogue on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict at Parliament House yesterday. It was well timed, just a week before the London summit from 10-13 June. Julie is one of 14 global champions for the PSVI initiative, including presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers from a diverse range […]

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28th May 2014

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by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Briefing the Party Room

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop invited me to address the Coalition “Party Room” last night. Around a quarter of the party’s parliamentary members attended. I talked about three things. – What’s going on in the UK – the recent European election results, the forthcoming Scottish referendum, and the return to sustainable economic growth – UK thinking […]

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22nd May 2014

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by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Keeping up Appearances at the High Commission

Hyacinth Bucket came to dinner last night. Well actually it was actress Patricia Routledge CBE. In a distinguished career she has done everything from the Royal Shakespeare Company to Broadway musicals and Coronation Street. But it was as the socially pretentious Hyacinth Bucket (“pronounced Bouquet”) that she really became a household name around the world. […]

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20th May 2014

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by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

“High Commissioner? But you’re just a boy.”

That’s what Lord Carrington said when we met in London last week. I must hang round with 94 year olds more often. It’s been a long time since anyone’s called me a boy. But to the former Foreign Secretary who is my most distinguished predecessor, and who arrived in Canberra as High Commissioner in the […]

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7th May 2014

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by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Wombats and Ambassadors join Foreign Minister in Western Australia

80 Ambassadors making the acquaintance of kangaroos, koalas and wombats. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop certainly knows how to show the diplomatic corps a good time. The get to know you session with a collection of iconic Australian marsupials was a fitting end to a fascinating trip to her home state of Western Australia. We had […]

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2nd May 2014

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by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Australian Defence Minister visits RN ship and sub as search enters new stage

With the search for Malaysian Airlines MH370 moving to a new phase this week, the two British ships involved – Hydrographical vessel HMS Echo, and submarine HMS Tireless – have been withdrawn from the search and are both in port in Western Australia. I invited Defence Minister, Senator David Johnston, to come on board to […]

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1st May 2014

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by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Magna Carta and the "Golden Thread for Economic Development"

“The authors of the Magna Carta clearly recognised the interdependence between personal freedom and economic freedom” said Foreign Minister Julie Bishop as she began her speech at the annual Magna Carta Lecture, which the British High Commission hosts. Before a packed audience at the Victoria State Parliament, she set out her new development paradigm, for […]

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26th April 2014

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by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Royal couple and baby George wow Australia

The visit to Australia by Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge has been an outstanding success. It has clearly been a very special experience for the young Royal couple themselves and for the tens of thousands of Australians who have turned out to see them, and the millions who have followed the […]

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17th April 2014

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by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

New Visa Applications Centre in Sydney opens

I formally opened the new Visa Applications Centre (VAC) in Sydney today. It’s actually been operating since 17 March 2014, along with new VACs in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra. The change is part of a global project by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to outsource these arrangements. A million Australians visit the UK each […]

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About Paul Madden

Paul Madden has been the British Ambassador to Japan from January 2017. He was Additional Director for Asia Pacific at the FCO in 2015.He was British High Commissioner to Australia…

Paul Madden has been the British Ambassador to Japan from January 2017.

He was Additional Director for Asia Pacific at the FCO in 2015.He was British High Commissioner to Australia until February 2015. Prior to this he was British High Commissioner in Singapore from 2007-2011.

A career diplomat, he was previously Managing Director at UK Trade and Investment (2004-2006), responsible for co-ordinating and
implementing international trade development strategies to support
companies across a wide range of business sectors.

As Assistant Director of Information at the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office (2003-2004) he was responsible for public diplomacy policy,
including managing the FCO funding of the BBC World Service, the British
Council and the Chevening Scholarships programme. He led the team
responsible for the award-winning UK pavilion at the Aichi Expo in Japan
2005.

He was Deputy High Commissioner in Singapore from 2000-2003 and has
also served in Washington (1996-2000) and Tokyo (1988-92). Between
1992-96 he worked on EU enlargement and Environmental issues at the FCO
in London.

Before joining FCO he worked at the Department of Trade and Industry
(1980-87) on a range of industrial sectors and trade policy, including
two years as a minister’s Private Secretary.

He has an MA in Economic Geography from Cambridge University, an MBA
from Durham University, studied Japanese at London University’s School
of Oriental and African Studies, and is a Fellow of the Royal
Geographical Society. His first book, Raffles: Lessons in Business
Leadership, was published in 2003.

Married to Sarah, with three children, he was born in 1959, in Devon.