Lisa Chesney
Biography
Lisa Chesney MBE took up her position as the British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone in August 2021. She has most recently served in London in the Home Office as Gold Command for the Crime, Policing and Fire Group’s response to and recovery from COVID-19. From 2018, Lisa led the UK’s Counter-Extremism Unit.
Security and Defence has been a theme throughout Lisa’s career, she has worked with a range of countries, multilateral partners and government departments on this agenda. In the FCO, she served as Deputy Head Security Policy, leading on strategic security issues and delivery of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review. Lisa has also headed the Prevent Team within the Counter-Terrorism Department. She has previously been posted to Mogadishu, as Deputy Head of Mission, re-establishing a UK embassy in Somalia and to Helmand Province, as UK Head of Politics and Strategic Communications in the Provincial Reconstruction Team. Lisa has also held corporate services leadership and change management roles.
She worked internationally in marketing in the private sector prior to joining the diplomatic service. Lisa studied at St Andrews University and the Institute of Management Development. She received an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list in 2014.
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British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone
The High Commissioner is the UK government’s representative in a Commonwealth nation. They are responsible for the direction and work of the High Commission and its Deputy High Commissions and/or Consulates, including political work, trade and investment, press and cultural relations, and visa and consular services.