Jennifer Townson
Biography
Jennifer was the government’s Migration and Modern Slavery Envoy from October 2019 until August 2021.
Jennifer joined the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1989. From July 2013 until January 2017 Jennifer was the Deputy Head of Mission, Consul General and Director of Trade and Investment at the British Embassy Vienna. She has previously served overseas in the British High Commission, Mauritius and in the political section of the British Embassy, Paris.
In London Jennifer has worked as Deputy Head of Department in the FCO Human Resources Directorate. She has also served as the Assistant Private Secretary to the FCO Minister responsible for Trade and Investment, and the Foreign Affairs Spokesperson in the House of Lords. She worked extensively on Africa policy, including as Deputy Head of Department for East, West and Southern Africa, and on Pan-Africa policy, leading multilateral negotiations on peace and security commitments under the UK’s 2005 G8 and EU Presidencies. She has spent time seconded outside the Foreign Office to an independent political, trade and arts institute focussing on UK links with Asia.
Previous roles in government
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Migration and Modern Slavery Envoy
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Deputy Head of Mission, Austria