Jenny Bates
Biography
Jenny Bates is Director General, Economics, Climate and Global Issues at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). In this role she is responsible for FCDO’s work on climate change and energy, science, technology, trade, investment and economic security.
Jenny is a member of the FCDO’s Management Board, Executive Committee, Development Committee and Financial Transactions Steering Board. She is the Board Champion for both Respectful and Kind Behaviours and a Non-Executive Director on the Board of FCDO Services.
Jenny joined the then Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in March 2020 as Director General, Europe, responsible for leading the FCO’s work on EU negotiations and wider strategic relationships with Europe. From September 2020 to January 2024, as Director General for Indo-Pacific, Jenny was responsible for FCDO strategy and engagement with the Indo-Pacific region and implementation of the UK’s Indo-Pacific strategic framework. Prior to that, Jenny was Director, EU Exit and Economic Partnerships and Chief Economist/Director of Analysis at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Jenny worked for 10 years in HM Treasury and led the Secretariat of the Smith Commission on the devolution of further powers to Scotland.
Jenny has an MA in International Relations from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University (Washington DC, USA) and a BA in Economics (first class) from Cambridge University (Clare College).
Director General, Economics, Climate and Global Issues
The Director General is responsible for the delivery of UK policy for the global themes and programmes on:
- economics and evaluation
- trade and economic security
- British Investment Partnerships
- technology and analysis
- research and evidence
- energy, climate and environment
As a board member, the Director General also gives corporate leadership to the FCDO by ensuring that the department meets the international policy priorities, Public Service Agreements targets and service delivery targets set by ministers.
Previous roles in government
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Director General, Indo-Pacific
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Director General, Europe