Keith Shannon
Biography
Born in Edinburgh in Scotland, Keith was educated at Craigmount High School and at the University of St Andrews, from which he graduated with an MA (Honours) degree in Modern History with International Relations.
Keith joined the Diplomatic Service in 1988. Before his first posting overseas as Third Secretary (Aid/Commercial) at the British Embassy Maputo (1991-1994), Keith worked at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London as an Assistant Desk Officer in European Community Department (Internal) (1989-1990), and then as a Desk Officer in Latin America Department (1990-1991).
After serving in Mozambique, Keith was posted to the British Embassy Paris as Second Secretary (Technology) (1995-1999), covering energy, transport and environmental issues. Keith then returned to the FCDO as a First Secretary and worked as a Head of Section in Drugs and International Crime Department (1999-2002), and subsequently as a Head of Section in Financial Planning and Performance Department (2002-2003).
Keith has also worked as Deputy Director of Foreign Policy in the National Security Secretariat at the Cabinet Office (2013) and as Deputy Director in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Directorate at the FCDO (2014-2017).
Keith’s most recent overseas postings include Lithuania as Deputy Head of Mission and Her Majesty’s Consul (2004-2008), Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Moldova (2009-2013) and and Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Latvia (2017-2021).
Social media links
Previous roles in government
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British Ambassador to Latvia
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British Ambassador to Moldova