Iona Thomas OBE
Biography
Her Excellency Ms Iona Thomas OBE was appointed the British High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor of the Pitcairn Islands in August 2022.
Before commencing her role in Wellington, Iona was Political Counsellor at the British High Commission in Islamabad where she was responsible for domestic and regional politics, counter terrorism and justice and home affairs. Prior to this she held the post of Additional Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the then Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. She served as Deputy Head of Mission in Tripoli from 2015 to 2017 and was responsible for re-establishing the UK’s permanent presence in Libya, for which she was awarded an OBE. From 2012-2015 she was Spokesperson at the UK Mission to the United Nations in New York.
Iona has served in Afghanistan, New York and Pakistan. Previous roles in London include Private Secretary to Baroness Warsi and Head of the Afghan Political Team.
Before joining the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Iona worked at the Department for Communities and Local Government as Private Secretary to the Secretary of State and on Counter Terrorism.
Iona received a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a bachelor’s in literae humaniores from Oxford University.
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British High Commissioner to New Zealand
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.