Harriet Mathews CMG OBE
Biography
Harriet Mathews is Director General, Africa, the Americas and Overseas Territories at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Harriet was previously Deputy Political Director from January to July 2023 and Director General, Geopolitics and Security from March to September 2022. She was acting Political Director from September 2022 to January 2023. Before that, Harriet was Deputy Political Director and Multilateral, Sanctions and Strategic Engagement Director from January 2021 to March 2022. Harriet was Director for Africa from September 2018 to December 2020.
Harriet joined the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1997. She is an Africa specialist and has held several positions related to Africa, including the Head of East and West Africa Department. Harriet was awarded the OBE in 2005 for her work on West Africa. Harriet was awarded the CMG in 2017 for services to Diplomacy, International Peace and Security and the UK response to the Ebola crisis.
Harriet went on to serve as the first female Ambassador in Mogadishu. Harriet has also been Head of Energy in the FCO and has worked in Brazil, Israel and Afghanistan. She also oversaw the policy delivery of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting hosted in London in 2018.
Curriculum vitae
| Dates | Role |
|---|---|
| 2022 to 2023 | Director General, Geopolitics and Security |
| 2021 to 2022 | Deputy Political Director and Multilateral, Sanctions and Strategic Engagement Director |
| 2018 to 2021 | Director for Africa |
| 2016 to 2018 | Director of Policy for Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018, Commonwealth Summit Unit |
| 2015 to 2016 | British Ambassador to Somalia |
| 2014 to 2015 | FCO, Head of Ebola Task Force |
| 2012 to 2014 | FCO, Head of East & West Africa Department |
| 2009 to 2011 | FCO, Head Energy, Climate Change and Energy Department |
| 2008 to 2009 | FCO, Head, Rule of Law Afghanistan |
| 2005 to 2008 | Tel Aviv, Head of Political and Press Section |
| 2003 to 2005 | FCO, Head of West Africa Section, Africa Directorate |
| 2003 | FCO, Press Officer, Press Office |
| 1999 to 2002 | Brasilia, Second Secretary |
| 1997 to 1998 | FCO, Desk Officer for Central Africa, Africa Directorate |
Director General, Africa, the Americas and Overseas Territories
The Director General is responsible for the delivery of UK policy on the geographical areas of:
- Africa
- the Americas
- Caribbean
- Overseas Territories and the Polar region
- Small Island Developing States
As a board member, the Director General also gives corporate leadership to the FCDO by ensuring that the department meets the international policy priorities, Public Service Agreements targets and service delivery targets set by ministers.
Previous roles in government
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Deputy Political Director
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Director General, Geopolitics and Security
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Deputy Political Director
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Director, Africa
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British Ambassador to Somalia