Melanie Hopkins OBE
Biography
As of November 2024, Melanie Hopkins is Acting Consul General at the British Consulate General in New York. Previously, she was Deputy Consul General in New York.
Prior, Melanie served as Deputy Head of Mission in Brazil from July 2021 to July 2024. Between February and November 2022, she took on the role of Chargé d’Affaires (Acting Ambassador).
Her previous role was as British High Commissioner to Fiji (and non-resident Ambassador/High Commissioner to a number of other Pacific countries) and Head of the UK’s network of 5 diplomatic missions. Previously she has worked on multilateral and bilateral policy (including security policy), programme management and finance. She joined the Civil Service in 2002 after beginning her career in Management Consultancy.
Curriculum vitae
Full name: Melanie Hopkins
| Date | Role |
|---|---|
| December 2022 to June 2024 | Deputy Head of Mission, Brasilia |
| March to November 2022 | Chargé d’Affaires (Acting Ambassador), Brasilia |
| 2021 to March 2022 | Deputy Head of Mission, Brasilia |
| 2016 to 2020 | British High Commissioner, Fiji |
| 2014 to 2016 | Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) Deputy Head (European Security), Security Policy Dept |
| 2012 to 2014 | FCO, Head of Australasia and Pacific, Asia Pacific Department |
| 2012 | FCO, Head of Common Security & Defence Policy, Europe Directorate |
| 2008 to 2011 | UK Mission to the UN Geneva, Second Secretary |
| 2004 to 2007 | Havana, Head of Political Section and Press & Public Affairs |
| 2004 | Secondment to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| 2003 to 2004 | FCO, Desk Officer for Turkey, Europe Directorate |
| 2002 to 2003 | FCO, Desk Officer, Capital Unit, Finance Directorate |
| 2002 | Joined FCO |
| 1997 to 2002 | Private sector |
British Consul General in New York
The Consul General is the senior UK official in a Consulate General, which is a subordinate office to the Embassy or High Commission, usually located in another major city. The Consul General represents the UK government and is typically responsible for consular, visa and trade activities in their city or region.
The Consul General leads the government’s work promoting UK economic, commercial, political and consular interests in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Fairfield County, Connecticut.