Ben Mellor
Biography
Ben Mellor has worked in diplomacy, development and international policy for over 30 years, with extensive experience across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. He began his career with the Foreign Office working on shaping environment policy and on delivering major urban development, water and enterprise programmes in India, helping shape early UK support to private‑sector‑driven growth.
He has since held a series of senior roles in the UK and overseas, including leading Department for International Development offices in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan and Nigeria, and advising the UK Executive Director at the World Bank in Washington. He has worked at the forefront of major international challenges — from humanitarian crises in Sudan and northern Nigeria to stabilisation efforts in Libya, Syria and Iraq and supporting global economic governance. He has also driven innovation throughout his career, helping establish the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, directing a Review of bilateral aid for the coalition government in 2010, and playing a key role in creating the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in 2020.
Ben has a Masters in Public Policy Management from the University of Birmingham, where he received a Distinction, and read Architecture and English at King’s College, Cambridge.
British Deputy High Commissioner New Delhi
The Deputy High Commissioner is a senior diplomat and typically a key advisor to the High Commissioner. The Deputy High Commissioner is responsible for the daily management of an overseas High Commission and will represent the UK’s interests in the absence of the High Commissioner as Chargé d’Affaires. A senior ranking Deputy may also take the title Minister.
Previous roles in government
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Head of DFID Nigeria
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Head of DFID Sudan