Brigadier Nigel Best OBE
Biography
Brigadier Best has served for 30 years in the British Army. During his career he has deployed many times on operations, including Cyprus, Bosnia, East Timor, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and South Sudan.
Educated at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, he was commissioned into the 17th/21st Lancers in 1992. He also served at regimental duty with The Black Watch, which included the handover of Hong Kong in 1997, and with the 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles as part of the International Force East Timor in 1999. He commanded a squadron (2007-9) and then his regiment (2011-13) – both included operational deployments in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. He has worked extensively with the UN, either on operations or at staff. His last UN deployment was as the Force Chief of Staff in UNMISS (South Sudan) – the UN’s largest mandated peacekeeping operation.
Brigadier Best’s staff appointments have been split between the Army Headquarters and the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ). He was the Military Assistant to the Commander Field Army, and a Deputy Chief of Staff J5 in PJHQ, where he was responsible for UK operational planning for Africa. He served as the Head of Plans in the Army’s Ground Manoeuvre Capability Branch, with responsibility for all Infantry, Armour, Engineer, and Artillery capability. He was also the deputy leader of a Ministry of Defence team to review the UK’s acquisition process. Brigadier Best has attended the UK’s Advanced Command and Staff Course (2003-5), the Project Leadership Programme with Cranfield University (2017-8), the Royal College of Defence Studies (2019-20), and the Defence and Strategic Studies Course in Australia (2022). He has a MA in Defence Technology, MA in International Relations, and a PG Diploma in Security and Strategy for Global Leaders.
Brigadier Best was awarded a Task Force Commander’s Commendation in 2008, made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2013, and awarded a Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in 2017. All were awarded for operational service.
Defence Advisor, Australia
A defence advisor is a member of the armed forces who serves in an embassy as a representative of their country’s defence establishment abroad. The defence advisor is usually responsible for bilateral military and defence relations.
Ministry of Defence and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office