Hamish Cowell
Biography
Hamish joined the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1987, and has spent much of his career on Middle East and North African issues. Most recently he was Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Oman and before that he was Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Tunisia. He was head of the FCO’s Libya Crisis Unit from July 2011 and the North Africa Department until 2013.
Hamish has also served as Deputy Head of Mission in Tehran and Head of Chancery in Cairo. He was responsible for North African and Middle East issues when posted to the UK Representation to the EU in Brussels and then the British Embassy in Paris. He speaks French, Arabic and Persian.
Among his positions in London, he has served as the Foreign Secretary’s Speechwriter, as Private Secretary to a Minister of State, and in the Prime Minister’s Press Office.
Career
| Years | Role |
|---|---|
| 2017 to 2021 | British Ambassador to Oman |
| 2013 to 2017 | British Ambassador to Tunisia |
| 2012 to 2013 | Head, North Africa Department, FCO |
| 2011 to 2012 | Head, Libya Crisis Unit, FCO |
| 2009 to 2011 | Private Secretary, Minister of State |
| 2004 to 2009 | British Embassy, Paris |
| 2001 to 2004 | UK Representation to the EU, Brussels |
| 2000 | Prime Minister’s Press Office |
| 1999 | Foreign Secretary’s Speechwriter |
| 1996 to 1999 | British Embassy, Cairo |
| 1994 to 1996 | Europe Directorate, FCO |
| 1992 to 1994 | British Embassy, Tehran |
| 1989 to 1992 | British High Commission, Colombo |
| 1988 | UK Mission to UN, New York |
| 1987 to 1988 | Middle East Department, FCO |
British Ambassador to Lebanon
The Ambassador represents His Majesty The King and the UK government in the country to which they are appointed. They are responsible for the direction and work of the embassy and its consulates, including political work, trade and investment, press and cultural relations, and visa and consular services.