Web Desk
Jane Marriott, a career diplomat has been appointed as the next British High Commissioner to Pakistan, making her the first woman to hold this esteemed position. She is replacing Dr. Christian Turner.
With an extensive background in diplomacy and a proven track record of successful partnerships, Jane Marriott is set to assume her role in mid-July, heralding a new chapter in UK-Pakistan relations.
Prior to this appointment, Jane Marriott served as the High Commissioner to East African country of Kenya from September 2019 to June 2023.
Prior to that, she held the position of Director in the Joint International Counter-Terrorism Unit at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Home Office from 2016 to 2019. She has also held significant roles in the FCO, including serving as the Additional Director in the Middle East and North Africa Directorate from 2015 to 2016.
Marriott’s diplomatic career has taken her to different parts of the world. She served as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Sana’a from 2013 to 2015 and held the position of Deputy Director for the Americas, Middle East, and Africa at the National Security Council in 2012. She has also served in Tehran as the Chargée d’Affaires and Deputy Head of Mission from 2010 to 2011.
Throughout her career, Marriott has been involved in various important assignments, such as working as the Deputy Head of the Afghanistan Group and Senior Advisor to the US CENTCOM Assessment Team from 2006 to 2010. She has also served as a Political Advisor to Coalition Forces in Southern Iraq and Political Advisor to US-led combined Coalition Forces in Afghanistan. Additionally, she worked as the Head of Nuclear Non-Proliferation at the FCO from 2001 to 2003.
Marriott’s extensive experience in diplomacy includes roles in the Cabinet Office and Home Office from 1998 to 2001, showcasing her expertise in diverse areas of governance and
Expressing her enthusiasm about her upcoming appointment, Jane Marriott stated, “I am incredibly excited to be appointed as the next British High Commissioner to Pakistan – a country I am delighted to have visited twice before. I am looking forward to getting to know this culturally rich and deeply diverse country even better. The United Kingdom’s relationship with Pakistan is rooted in shared history. Our people-to-people ties bind our countries together in common partnership, which I will be aiming to strengthen further.”
As Ms Jane Marriott takes on her new role, her appointment signifies a significant milestone in UK-Pakistan relations. Her extensive experience, strategic vision, and commitment to fostering collaboration are expected to fortify the existing bond between the two nations, opening doors to enhanced cooperation in various domains for the mutual benefit of both countries and their people.
