Elin Burns
Biography
Elin Burns took up her appointment as the Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Ireland in July 2021. She was previously the Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi and Director of Trade for Pakistan from October 2017 to July 2019.
Elin has worked in a range of government departments, with roles spanning EU policy and institutions, and international human resources. She oversaw global mobility and duty of care policies and developed the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s (FCO’s) regional HR teams based in 7 locations globally. Before this, she completed a mid-career Masters in Public Policy at Princeton University, focusing on international economics, leadership and negotiation.
Before this Elin was based in Brussels overseeing the UK government’s relationship with the European Parliament, and worked in a range of EU-focused roles including a short secondment in the House of Lords. She began her career in the Home Office after graduating from Jesus College Oxford in 2005. As well as native Welsh, Elin speaks Spanish, French and Urdu.
Deputy Head of Mission, Dublin, Ireland
The Deputy Head of Mission is a senior diplomat and typically a key 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.