Iain Griffiths
Biography
Iain began his role as British Deputy High Commissioner to Canada in August 2026. He leads the day-to-day work of the British High Commission in Ottawa and the network of British Consulates across Canada. He supports the High Commissioner across the UK-Canada relationship, including on defence and security, trade and investment, and cooperation on climate, science, and technology.
Before moving to Canada, Iain was Head of the United States and Canada Department at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) where he coordinated cross-government preparation for the change of US administration in 2025.
Iain previously served as Private Secretary to the Permanent Under-Secretary, working at the centre of the department through the UK response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the merger of the FCO and DFID. He has also served as Private Secretary to four Ministers of State and as Deputy Head of the NATO Team.
Overseas, Iain served in Lebanon as First Secretary and Head of Programmes, leading the UK’s work with the Lebanese Armed Forces to secure the Syrian border. He also served at the UK Mission to the United Nations in New York, where he
covered Africa and peacekeeping and negotiated Security Council Resolution 2098 - the mandate that for the first time gave a UN peacekeeping force an explicit remit to take offensive action.
Prior to joining the Diplomatic Service, Iain worked in strategy consulting at Accenture and as a research economist. He first worked overseas as an English teacher in Guangdong, China.
He runs, slowly but persistently.
Deputy Head of Mission, British High Commission Ottawa
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.