British High Commissioner to Rwanda
Alison Thorpe
Biography
Alison joined the Foreign Office in 1996, after completing a degree in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Hull and a Masters in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Westminster.
Previous roles
| April to August 2022 | Transformation Director, FCDO |
| June 2019 to April 2022 | Deputy Director Change and Engagement, Transformation Team |
| September 2019 to June 2020 | Deputy Director/Senior Responsible Officer for the £150 million Global Trade Prosperity Fund Programme |
| April 2018 to September 2019 | Head of the Cross Whitehall Joint Africa Unit |
| September 2014 to April 2018 | Head of Africa Strategy and Network Unit |
| January 2010 to August 2014 | Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Political Section, British Embassy Stockholm |
| June 2006 to Aug 2009 | Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy Skopje |
| January to September 2005 | Head of Al Qaeda, Middle East and Africa Section, Counter Terrorism Department |
| January 2003 to December 2004 | Assistant Private Secretary to Mr O’Brien/Mr Alexander (Minister for the Middle East and later Minister of Trade) |
| January 2002 to December 2002 | Private Secretary to the Political Director |
| August 1998 to October 2001 | Third Secretary Political, British Embassy Beirut |
British High Commissioner to Rwanda
The High Commissioner is the UK government’s representative in a Commonwealth nation. They are responsible for the direction and work of the High Commission and its Deputy High Commissions and/or Consulates, including political work, trade and investment, press and cultural relations, and visa and consular services.