Lisa Whanstall
Biography
Lisa Whanstall is the British Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.
Lisa joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1995. Prior to her arrival in Sri Lanka, she was Head of the Afghanistan Unit and latterly Deputy Head of South Asia Department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. Her previous diplomatic postings have been to Brazil and most recently as Political and Media Counsellor in Athens, 2008-2012. Her roles in London have included Deputy Head of Counter-Terrorism Department; working on the Organisation for Security Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe; Iraq; and media and events management. Lisa was born in Leicester. She graduated with a degree in English from York University and has an MA in Global Diplomacy (South Asia) from SOAS.
Lisa is keen to learn to speak some Sinhala and Tamil during her posting. She is interested in the arts and theatre, walking and the outdoors. She plays tennis, badly.
British Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka
The Deputy High Commissioner is a senior diplomat and typically a key advisor to the High Commissioner. The Deputy is responsible for the daily management of an overseas Embassy or High Commission. They will represent the UK’s interests in the absence of the Ambassador as Chargé d’Affaires. A senior ranking Deputy may also take the title Minister. Smaller missions may not have a Deputy Head.
Previous roles in government
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Acting British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka
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British Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka