Director Consular and Crisis

Jennifer Anderson CMG

Biography

Jennifer Anderson is the Director, Consular and Crisis at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Commonwealth Office (FCDO), starting in this role in January 2020.

Jennifer served as Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Ankara until January 2020. Before this, she was Head of the FCO’s Counter-Terrorism Department. Jennifer has also served overseas as:

  • High Commissioner to Botswana and UK Representative to the Southern African Development Community (SADC)
  • Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy Jakarta
  • First Secretary (Political/Military Affairs) at the British Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels

Jennifer’s other previous roles include Deputy Head of Security Policy Department, Change Manager for the FCO’s desktop IT replacement programme, and Head of the Bosnia and Visegrad Sections.

Jennifer has degrees in law and political science from the Australian National University. Before joining the FCO, she was Research Associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, London. Jennifer also worked at the Office of National Assessments and at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in Canberra, Australia.

Jennifer was awarded the Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the New Year Honours 2024 Overseas and International List for services to British foreign policy and to British nationals overseas.

Follow Jennifer on Twitter/X: @JenAndersonFCDO

Director Consular and Crisis

The Director Consular and Crisis leads the UK’s consular services globally, including providing assistance to British nationals in difficulty overseas, and preparing for and responding to crises abroad. They oversee a Directorate of around 200 staff in the UK and a network of around 600 staff in 160 countries and territories around the world.

Find out more about the Consular and Crisis Strategy and how the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office supports British nationals abroad.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Previous roles in government

  • Minister Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission, Turkey
    • 2017 to 2020