11th October 2024 Vienna
We all hold biases and stereotypes. Whether we realise it or not. And it’s good to question ourselves on what we believe to be true! Especially when it comes to gender roles and norms. In my work as Ambassador to the UN in Vienna, I see this in the way different countries do or don’t […]
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8th March 2024 Vienna
Almost a decade ago, the world agreed that by 2030 we must achieve gender equality and empower ALL women and girls. But, in 2024, we are nowhere near achieving this. Why? Rather than countries coming together at the United Nations to make progress, a vocal minority are actively trying to undermine gender equality through the UN.
31st October 2023 Vienna
Over the 20 years since the UNCAC was adopted we have learned a lot about what enables the Convention to drive change – for the UK it comes down to two key principles: transparency and inclusion of civil society.
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13th October 2023 Vienna
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is one of the most significant organisations in the UN system. When I started my internship, I found both the IAEA and the UK Mission in a flurry of activity. Preparations were underway for the IAEA’s General Conference, a central event in the Agency’s calendar…
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5th September 2023 Vienna
Alien invasions, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Trek versus Star Wars. Or the Space Race, rocket launches and astronauts exploring the moon. These might be the things that come to mind when you think of outer space. How about the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)? You might wonder why a UN organisation […]
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3rd July 2023 Vienna
On 28 June, 71 countries agreed a joint call to action urging the removal of online Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). We agreed that we need three things…
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12th May 2023 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 […]
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24th April 2023 Vienna
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 […]
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2nd September 2021 Vienna, Austria
These, however, are parsimonious days… The telegraph has made a difference in the position of Ambassadors. When men can and do receive instructions hourly about the smallest details, and, indeed, ask for them as if anxious to escape responsibility, it is easy to conceive that the Foreign Office will not again insist on the Treasury behaving […]
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25th August 2021 Vienna, Austria
When I was appointed as a junior diplomat to Vienna in September 1984, my letter of appointment, signed by Her Majesty the Queen and Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe, contained the phrase: “Whereas it appears to Us expedient to nominate some person of approved Industry, Fidelity and Knowledge [my emphasis] to perform the functions of an Officer […]
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