Deputy Consul General to New York

Melanie Hopkins OBE

Biography

Melanie Hopkins is Deputy Consul General to New York. From November 2024 until March 2025, Melanie was Acting Consul General.

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

Deputy Consul General to New York

The Deputy Consul General is a senior diplomat and a key advisor to the Consulate General. The Consul General office is subordinate to the Embassy or High Commission, usually located in another major city and is typically responsible for consular and trade activities in their city or region.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Previous roles in government

  • British Consul General to New York
    • 2024 to 2025
  • Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy Brasilia
    • 2022 to 2024
  • British Ambassador to Brazil
    • 2022 to 2022
  • Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy Brasilia
    • 2021 to 2022
  • British High Commissioner to Fiji
    • 2016 to 2020