Jessica Hand

Biography

Jessica Hand was Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Angola and the Republic of São Tomé e Príncipe 2018 to 2021. Prior to that, she had led UK policy on conventional arms control issues, including the control regimes and arms export licensing at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London.

Mrs Hand has a background in political-military and multilateral issues, as well as trade and investment promotion. She has served as Director of UK Trade & Investment, Turkey and HM Consul-General in Istanbul; Director of Operations and HM Consul-General in Moscow; Political Adviser to the Commander of NATO’s Joint Headquarters North; Deputy Head of the FCDO’s Non-Proliferation Department in London; HM Ambassador to the Republic of Belarus; and Head of the Sanctions Unit (then part of the United Nations Department) in the FCDO in London.

Jessica Hand’s professional history is given in the official announcement of her appointment.

Previous roles in government

  • British Ambassador to Angola