Oriel Petry
Biography
Oriel was Director for UK Trade and Investment (now Department for International Trade) France at the British Embassy in Paris from August 2015 to August 2019.
Prior to this role, she has had a varied career across Whitehall as a British civil servant. Most recently she led advanced manufacturing, financial services and innovation teams in UK Trade and Investment in London working closely with international business leaders to contribute to the increase of UK foreign direct investment.
Among other responsibilities, Oriel organised the Prime Minister’s flagship Global Investment Conference to kick off the 2012 Olympic Games, has advised Ministers on European better regulation, shepherded a highly controversial Bill through Parliament to Royal Consent and worked on public spending at the Treasury. For 3 and a half years she advised the House of Lords European Union Committee on financial services, the internal market and social affairs.
Oriel studied Modern Languages at St. John’s College Oxford and has a Masters in European Politics from the University of Reading. She has lived and worked in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium and continues to maintain a strong interest in these countries. She is married with a son.
Previous roles in government
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Director, Department for International Trade France