Commonwealth Envoy

Jo Lomas

Biography

Jo Lomas has been the UK government’s Envoy to the Commonwealth since October 2021. Jo was previously High Commissioner to the Republic of Rwanda, and non-resident Ambassador to Burundi from January 2018 to June 2021.

Jo holds a BSc degree in political sciences from the University of Bristol and a Post Graduate Diploma in business studies from the Open University.

Commonwealth Envoy

The Commonwealth Envoy represents the UK within the Commonwealth, including on the governing Board of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The Envoy works in support of the 3 main pillars of the Commonwealth to implement the principles set out in the Commonwealth Charter. The 3 pillars consist of:

  • its Member States (of which there are 56 including the UK)
  • the Commonwealth Secretariat
  • the many accredited Commonwealth organisations

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Previous roles in government

  • Non-resident British Ambassador to Burundi
    • 2018 to 2021
  • British High Commissioner to Rwanda
    • 2018 to 2021
  • British High Commissioner to Namibia
    • 2015 to 2017
  • Deputy Head of Mission, Bosnia and Herzegovina
    • 2014 to 2015
  • Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Bosnia and Herzegovina
    • 2014 to 2014
  • Deputy Head of Mission, Bosnia and Herzegovina
    • 2011 to 2013