Press release

Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe

Ms Catriona Laing CB has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
Catriona Laing

Ms Catriona Laing CB has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe in succession to Ms Deborah Bronnert, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ms Laing will take up her appointment during September 2014.

Ms Laing joined the FCO in January 2012 when she was posted to Afghanistan. She is an economist by background and has spent much of her career in Africa serving in Botswana, Kenya, Sudan and Somalia.

On her appointment as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe, Ms Laing has said “I am delighted to have been appointed as British Ambassador to Zimbabwe. It is a great privilege to have the opportunity to work with Zimbabwe on issues of importance to both countries and to continue to deepen our partnership”.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Full name Catriona Wendy Campbell Laing
Married to Clive David Nicholas Bates
2013-2014 FCO, Corporate Projects and Pre-Posting Preparation
2012 – 2013 FCO, Head Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team and NATO and UK Senior Civilian Representative Southern Afghanistan
2009 – 2012 Ministry of Justice, Director, Human Rights and International
2006 – 2009 Department for International Development (DFID), Head, DFID Sudan
2005 – 2006 DFID, Head, International Division Advisory Department
2001 – 2005 Cabinet Office, Deputy Director, Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit
2000 – 2000 DFID, Globalisation White Paper Team
1999 – 2000 DFID, Head Eastern Europe, Western Hemisphere Policy Department
1996 – 1998 DFID, Team Leader, European Union and International Economics Policy Department
1995 – 1996 Cranfield University, studying MBA
1994 – 1995 DFID, Economic Adviser, Latin America, Caribbean and Atlantic Department
1993 – 1994 UN Mission in Somalia, Head, UN Development Office
1992 – 1993 Overseas Development Administration (ODA), Economic Adviser, Aid Policy Department
1990 – 1991 ODA, Assistant Economist, British Development Division (East Africa) based in Kenya
1989 – 1990 ODA, Assistant Economist, West Africa Department
1986 – 1989 Botswana, Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications, ODI Fellow Planning Officer

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Published 23 July 2014