Hugo Shorter
Biography
Hugo Shorter was appointed as the Chargé d’Affaires ad Interim of the UK Mission to Afghanistan in January 2022. Previously he was the Director for the Americas and Small Island Developing States at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) from January 2019 to January 2022.
Previously Hugo was the interim Foreign & Commonwealth Office Director of Communication from November to December 2018, and he was Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Lebanon from September 2015 to August 2018. Before that, Hugo advised the Foreign Secretary on a wide range of Foreign Policy priorities as Head of External Affairs for Europe Directorate.
He has also co-ordinated the UK’s foreign policy work on G7/8, coming after an early-career focus on defence, security and trade policy, and successful postings as Minister Counsellor for Europe and Global Issues, Paris and Deputy Head of Mission, Brasilia.
Hugo Shorter attended school in Rio de Janeiro, before taking degrees at Oxford University and the École Nationale d’Administration. He is married and has 3 children.
Career
- 2019 to 2022: Director Americas and Small Island Developing States
- 2018: Interim FCO Director of Communication
- 2015 to 2018: Ambassador to Lebanon
- 2012 to 2015 FCO, Head, Europe Directorate External
- 2007 to 2012 Paris, Counsellor, Europe & Global issues
- 2004 to 2007 Brasilia, Deputy Head of Mission
- 2001 to 2004 FCO, Deputy Head North East Asia & Pacific Department
- 2000 to 2001 Private Secretary to Minister of State
- 1998 to 2000 FCO, Head, Trade Policy Section, EU Department-External
- 1994 to 1998 UKDel NATO, Second, later First Secretary
- 1992 to 1993 Attachment to École Nationale d’Administration, Paris
- 1990 to 1992 FCO, Desk Officer Spain & Portugal, Southern European Department
- 1990 Joined FCO
Previous roles in government
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Chargé d'Affaires ad Interim, UK Mission to Afghanistan (in Doha)
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Director, Americas
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Director of Communication
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British Ambassador to Lebanon