Dame Sarah MacIntosh DCMG
Biography
Dame Sarah MacIntosh DCMG was appointed British High Commissioner to Australia and Head of the United Kingdom’s Oceania Network in April 2025. Previously she has served as Deputy National Security Adviser and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs from 2022 to 2024, and as the United Kingdom’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to NATO from 2017 to 2022.
Sarah joined the FCDO in 1991. Previous appointments include Director General, Defence and Intelligence (2014-2017); Director, Defence and International Security (2011-2014); Director, Strategic Finance (2009-2010); Her Majesty’s High Commissioner to Sierra Leone and Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Liberia (2006-2008); and the Strategy Co-ordinator for the UN Mission in Kosovo (2004-2005).
Sarah has also been posted to the UK Mission to the United Nations at New York; the UK Mission to the International Atomic Energy Agency at Vienna; and the British Embassy Madrid.
Social media links
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Ambassador and Permanent Representative, UK Mission to the UN, New York
The Ambassador’s role is to represent the UK within an international organisation, engaging with every other country or organisation that belongs to or observes the body. The Ambassador is also responsible for the direction and work of the Mission. Ambassadors to multilateral missions are often referred to as ‘Permanent Representatives’.
Previous roles in government
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British High Commissioner to Australia
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UK Permanent Representative to NATO
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Director General, Consular and Security