Paul Thomas Arkwright

Biography

Paul Arkwright was the UK government’s COP26 Regional Ambassador to Sub-Saharan Africa from March to October 2020. Find out more about COP26, the 2021 UN Climate Conference.

Paul was the British High Commissioner to Nigeria from September 2015 until November 2018. He joined the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1986 and served in a variety of roles in London and abroad. His previous roles include:

  • 2013 to 2015: FCO, Director, Multilateral Policy
  • 2009 to 2013: British Ambassador to the Netherlands
  • 2006 to 2009: FCO, Head, Counter-Proliferation Department
  • 2001 to 2005: UK Delegation to NATO, Political Counsellor
  • 1998 to 2001: Paris, First Secretary Political
  • 1997 to 1998: Secondment to Quai d’Orsay, Paris, UN and International Organisations department
  • 1993 to 1997: UK Mission to the UN, First Secretary Political
  • 1991 to 1993: FCO, Non Proliferation and Defence Dept, Head of Conventional Arms Section
  • 1988 to 1991: British Military Govt Berlin (later British Embassy, Berlin), Second Secretary Political
  • 1987 to 1988: FCO, Desk Officer, Hong Kong Department

Previous roles in government

  • British High Commissioner to Nigeria
    • 2015 to 2018
  • British Ambassador to the Netherlands and UK Permanent Representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
    • 2009 to 2013