James Kariuki CMG
Biography
James Kariuki is currently Chargé d’Affaires at the UK Mission to the United Nations, New York. He was appointed Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in August 2021.
He previously served as Multilateral Policy Director at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office from 2018 to 2021 where he was responsible for policy towards the UN and multilateral system, human rights and sanctions. He was Director of Diplomacy 20:20, the FCO’s transformation programme, from 2016 to 2018.
From 2012 to 2016 James spent four years as Counsellor, British Embassy, Washington, where he led UK government work across the US on politics, communications, economics and global issues. Previous overseas postings were to the UK Mission to the UN in New York, the British Embassy in Caracas, and on secondment to the UN in Baghdad.
Between 2007 and 2012 James held a number of Senior Civil Service roles in London: Head of Policy Planning (FCO), Deputy Director, Europe (FCO), and Deputy Director at the National Economic Council Secretariat (Cabinet Office) during the financial crisis.
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Chargé d’Affaires, UK Mission to the UN, New York
The Chargé d’Affaires’ role is to represent the UK within an international organisation, engaging with every other country or organisation that belongs to or observes the body. The Ambassador is also responsible for the direction and work of the Mission. Ambassadors to multilateral missions are often referred to as ‘Permanent Representatives’.
Previous roles in government
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Deputy Permanent Representative, UK Mission to the UN, New York
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Multilateral Policy Director
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Director, Diplomacy 20:20