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Philip Malone

Philip Malone

Ambassador to Lao PDR

Part of UK in Laos

30th September 2013 Vientiane, Laos

Laos through my eyes – Tessa Bunney

This article is part of a series of guest blogs contributed by Brits who have lived and worked in Laos, or who have other interesting links to Laos.

As a phoTai Dam woman, Oudomxay Provincetographer, I have a particular interest in different landscapes and the way they are shaped by human activity.  Working closely with communities and individuals, my work explores people’s relationship to the environment.

In 2009, whilst working in south west China I met three Aini (Akha) minority women who had walked several kilometres over the border from Laos to sell produce they had collected from the forest or grown at home.  Beautiful and strange fruit and vegetables; dried bamboo shoots all laid out on banana leaves sold directly from the pavement of Mengban for the eager Chinese customers to buy.  Dressed in their traditional costume, these women stayed in my mind and in 2011 I decided to visit Laos for a short research visit and my photographic project Field, Forest and Family was born.

Akha Puxo woman, Phongsaly ProvinceAfter a period of intense fund-raising in the UK to continue Field, Forest and Family, I moved to Vientiane with my husband and son to work on this project for six months including making a photo-film and working on an editorial commission about an all-female bomb disposal team in Xieng Khouang Province in collaboration with the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) which was published in the Financial Times in April 2013.  The photofilm can be viewed on-line at https://vimeo.com/73657656

Fourteen months later we are still here and I am continuing to enjoy exploring rural Laos, freelancing for NGOs and working on editorial assignments throughout the region.

Field, Forest and Family is supported by Arts Council England.

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Portrait of author

About Philip Malone

Mr Malone joined the FCO in 1981. He has served in a range of FCO and overseas posts with a particular focus on South East Asia and Europe. Philip Malone…

Mr Malone joined the FCO in 1981. He has served in a range of FCO and
overseas posts with a particular focus on South East Asia and Europe.
Philip Malone LVO took up his appointment in October 2012.
 
Curriculum Vitae
Full name: Philip Malone LVO

Married, two children
Oct 12: Laos,  Head of MissionJan 08 – Aug 12: Helsinki, Deputy Head of MissionApril 03 – Jan 08: Singapore, Head of ChanceryApril 99 – Sept 02: FCO, Head of France/Benelux Section, EU
Bilateral Department and additionally Deputy Head of Department (March
02- Sept 02)Jan 95 – Feb 99: Bandar Seri Begawan, Second Secretary (Defence/Chancery)May 92 – Nov 94: Luxembourg, Third Secretary (Commercial/Press and Public Affairs)June 89 – Jan 92: FCO, Assistant Parliamentary ClerkOct 86 – May 89: Guatemala City, Third SecretaryOct 83 – Aug 86: Buenos Aires, Attaché1981: Joined FCO, CSCE Unit, East European and Soviet Department

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