Development Director, Myanmar

Rurik Marsden CMG OBE

Biography

Dr Rurik Marsden is the Development Director at the British Embassy Yangon. He was also the UK government’s Chargé D’Affaires ad Interim to Myanmar from August 2022 to February 2023.

Before coming to Myanmar in 2019, Rurik was Head of the Department for International Development Office (DFID) in Nepal. Before that he worked in DFID’s research and evidence division, as Deputy Director with responsibility for oversight of development research.

Rurik worked for DFID in Myanmar (2004 to 2008), South Sudan (2011 to 2014), Nepal (2017 to 2019) as well as at the UK delegation to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and at DFID’s headquarters in London and Glasgow. He studied at Cambridge and Sheffield universities before joining the UK Civil Service, and recently completed a Masters in Public Administration at the London School of Economics (LSE).

In 2009 Rurik was awarded an OBE for his work in Myanmar. He is married with one daughter.

Development Director, Myanmar

The Development Director in a country has overall responsibility for the running of the the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office development work there, and its programmes.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Previous roles in government

  • Chargé d'Affaires ad Interim to Myanmar
  • Head of DFID Myanmar
  • Head of DFID Nepal