Hema Kotecha
Biography
Hema Kotecha took up her appointment as Deputy Head of the UK Mission to the UN, WTO and other International Organisations in Geneva in May 2022.
Hema previously served in Ukraine as Counsellor at the British Embassy in Kyiv, in North Africa and the Middle East after the Arab Spring and across the Caucasus and Central Asia. She has led the development of several UK cross-Government National Security Council Strategies and headed teams in London including on economic diplomacy and crisis operations.
Hema has also worked for the United Nations, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and European Union.
Hema has a background in foreign and security policy, conflict resolution, security sector reform and peace operations. She holds Masters degrees in Classics and in Development Studies.
Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva
The Deputy Head of Mission is a senior diplomat and typically a key advisor to the Ambassador or High Commissioner. The Deputy is responsible for the daily management of an overseas Embassy or High Commission. They will represent the UK’s interests in the absence of the Ambassador as Chargé d’Affaires. A senior ranking Deputy may also take the title Minister. Smaller missions may not have a Deputy Head.