Kate Foster OBE
Biography
Kate Foster was appointed Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in July 2026.
She previously served as Africa Director at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office from April 2023 to 2026, where she was responsible for policy towards Africa and for the UK’s Embassies and High Commissions across sub-Saharan Africa. She was British Ambassador to Somalia from 2021 to 2023.
Between 2015 and 2021 Kate held a number of senior roles in London. She served as Deputy Director for International Affairs in the National Security Secretariat in the Cabinet Office, and also held senior roles in the Department of Health during COVID, on the UK Government response to the West Africa Ebola epidemic, and in the Department for International Development on crisis response across Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Prior to joining the UK Government, Kate worked in the private sector and as Country and Emergency Response Director at Save the Children and the International Rescue Committee across Africa.
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Deputy Permanent Representative, UK Mission to the UN, New York
The Deputy Permanent Representative is a senior diplomat with the rank of Ambassador, acting as alternate to the Permanent Representative across the full range of UN business. This includes representing the UK in the Security Council and Economic and Social Council, and working on issues such as security and conflict, human rights, sustainable development and climate change. The DPR is also responsible for the daily management of the Mission.
Previous roles in government
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British Ambassador to Somalia