13th January 2020
New year, new start. Many of us will be looking ahead to what 2020 holds in store, probably with some nervousness, but hoping for positive change. Here in the British Embassy there will be lots of continuity – working to deliver citizen-focused change that increases opportunity, reduces corruption, strengthens the rule of law, and improves […]
5th December 2019
Along with many others across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the UK Embassy is currently marking ’16 Days of Activism’ to combat violence against women. Why only 16 days, you might well ask, and what does this mean for the other 349? By giving this critical problem a defined period of focus, running from 25 November […]
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31st October 2019
The British Embassy recently moved its whole operation down to Mostar for a day. In addition to many other activities across the city, we set up a ‘pop-up’ reception in front of the Mepas Mall. This gave the chance for different teams to explain our work – defence cooperation, education, projects, scholarships, consular support, political […]
22nd August 2019
This week, like many others, I have been enjoying the Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF). I feel particularly lucky that my first as UK Ambassador was the 25th SFF (I will admit to having sneaked in unofficially last year, just before I began my mandate). I am still star struck after seeing two of my favourite […]
26th June 2019
The rule of law. It’s a phrase I hear almost every day. I probably use it as often. It is the basis of complaints from citizens, accusations between politicians, and criticisms from civil society. It is at the heart of the European Commission’s recent ‘Opinion’ on BiH. I am not sure we know what we […]
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16th May 2019
As British Ambassador in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), I am proud to stand up for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights, which are fundamental human rights, and the fight against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. 17 May is International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, better known as IDAHOBIT, […]
29th March 2019
Last week I visited Una-Sana Canton, to see first-hand some of the UK’s support work for local communities there. By chance, this coincided with the festival of Nowruz, so during my visit to one of the temporary accommodation facilities for migrant families, I was able to join their colourful, musical Persian New Year celebrations. In […]
26th February 2019
27 February is ‘World NGO Day’, a chance for all of us to reflect on the vital contributions made by Non-Governmental Organisations, also known as Civil Society Organisations. What do we mean by that? Anything that brings people together in the space outside of governments and business (hence the term ‘third sector’), from sports clubs […]
6th February 2019
Sport has always played a big part in my personal life, as a young rugby player, a student field hockey player, and more than all as an armchair enthusiast. I am lucky that sport has also factored in my professional career, by managing to be in Japan for the 2002 World Cup, London for the […]
17th January 2019
Happy New Year, everyone. This is an exciting time of fresh beginnings, renewed energy and commitment to the challenges in front of us. I cannot say it was a full break from work, because sometimes a claim is so ridiculous that you have to respond – protests in Banja Luka were organised by the UK […]