Deputy High Commissioner to Namibia Ben Stride
Biography
Ben Stride became the UK Deputy High Commissioner to the Republic of Namibia in June 2024.
Ben joined the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in 2003, and has previously been posted to the British High Commission in Islamabad (2011-12) and the British Embassy in Ljubljana (2019-2024). He has also served as a worldwide floater (2008-09), during which time he worked in 13 overseas posts in 20 months. In London he has worked in HR (2003-2004), South Asia Department (2009-2011) and Europe Department (2017-2019) as well as spending two years working on the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme as Manager of the Government Diamond Office (2005-2007).
Between 2013-2017 Ben worked at the University of St Andrews, and also served as a Political Advisor to the NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Kabul (2016-17).
Deputy High Commissioner to Namibia
The Deputy High Commissioner is a senior diplomat and typically an important advisor to the Ambassador or High Commissioner. The Deputy is responsible for the daily management of an overseas Embassy or High Commission. They will represent the UK’s interests in the absence of the Ambassador as Chargé d’Affaires. A senior ranking Deputy may also take the title Minister. Smaller missions may not have a Deputy Head.