Jan Thompson CMG OBE
Biography
Jan Thompson has served as the British Ambassador to Norway since April 2023. Previously, she was appointed Deputy High Commissioner to India in August 2018. She served as British Ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2013-2017 and then, temporarily, as Deputy High Commissioner to Canada prior to her arrival in New Delhi. Previous postings have included Germany (1992-1994) and the UN Security Council in New York (1997-2000). Jan also led work on the Balkan wars (1994-1997) and headed the UK department on Afghanistan (2002-2005). After the Asian tsunami she flew to Thailand to establish a temporary British office to help the victims. From 2007-2010 she served as the UK’s Lead Climate Change Negotiator before moving on to head the UK department in the Libya conflict.
Jan joined the FCO in 1990 after two years spent working for the BBC. She speaks French, German and Czech, and is now embarking on Norwegian.
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British Ambassador to Norway
The Ambassador represents His Majesty The King and the UK government in the country to which they are appointed. They are responsible for the direction and work of the Embassy and its Consulates, including political work, trade and investment, press and cultural relations, and visa and consular services.
Previous roles in government
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British Deputy High Commissioner New Delhi
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Deputy Head of Mission, British High Commission Ottawa
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British Ambassador to the Czech Republic