UK in Australia

Before I came to Australia, someone said to me: “You’ll lay a lot of wreaths”. The comment recognised, I think, an Australian paradox that I’ve also noticed now I’m here: how a nation which is so informal and at ease with itself can also be attached to the art of the ceremony and the more […]

It’s been over a month since I arrived with my family in Australia; and it’s been busy! I’ve been investing time in getting to know the country and have travelled 6,500 miles in the last two weeks, shuttling between Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. I’ve met our fantastic ‘UK in Australia’ team spread across […]

This week, I’m gearing up for the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings. It’s my first Anzac Day here and I want to be ready; so I’ve visited the incredible Australian War Memorial here in Canberra (before the crowds arrive this weekend) and watched some moving documentaries on the History Channel. And […]

It’s great to arrive in Australia to take up the role of British High Commissioner. I feel honoured to have been appointed to the role, and look forward to getting stuck in. A bit about me. You can see my bio here, but in short I’m a career diplomat – and a mum. I’m here with […]

The voices of my childhood spoke in an Australian accent. I was born in London to Australian parents, whose Sydney twang was much imitated by school friends, more used to west London’s downward inflection. When I wasn’t listening to mum and dad I was watching cricket, and the voice of cricket was Richie Benaud. Of […]

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the establishment at the 2005 World Summit of the principle of Responsibility to Protect (R2P). The governments present agreed that they had a responsibility to protect civilian populations from genocide and mass atrocity events. This could be in three ways: a state protecting its own populations; a state […]

The second Monday in March has a dual significance in Canberra. On the one hand it is a local public holiday (Canberra Day), and on the other it is Commonwealth Day. For most of us, the significance of the latter is often masked by the opportunity offered by the former to enjoy a well-earned break […]

Regular readers of this blog will know that High Commissioner Paul Madden has now left Australia. His successor will arrive here in April, meaning that I, as Deputy High Commissioner, get to spend a couple of months rejoicing in the title of “Chargé d’Affaires ad interim”. My aim in this period is to ensure that […]

This is my final blog from Australia. My 205th. I hope someone’s been reading them. It has been one of the greatest privileges and pleasures of my life to represent Britain in Australia as the Pom HC. There is no country to which we feel closer. It has been a fantastic time to be here. […]

Well, finally, it’s time to say farewell to Canberra. Our home for the last four years. It’s not the first time we’ve lived in a planned, administrative capital, but Washington was different, and older. While we were here, Canberra celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2013, with many events and exhibitions. It was a reminder of […]