Sam Pass
Biography
Sam Pass arrived in August 2020 as the British Deputy High Commissioner to New Zealand. Prior to arriving in New Zealand she worked in London for six years on international and national security issues, including as Deputy Head of the Counter Proliferation Department where she helped co-ordinate the UK’s response to the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Her previous overseas postings have been to the UK Mission to the United Nations in New York, Ottawa and most recently Islamabad (2012-2014) where she was Head of Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations. Sam has worked in London and overseas on issues as diverse as climate change, export controls, the Middle East Peace Process and implementation of the Investigatory Powers Act.
Deputy High Commissioner, British High Commission New Zealand
The Deputy Head of Mission is a senior diplomat and typically a key advisor to the Ambassador or High Commissioner. The Deputy is responsible for the daily management of an overseas Embassy or High Commission. They will represent the UK’s interests in the absence of the Ambassador as Chargé d’Affaires. A senior ranking Deputy may also take the title Minister. Smaller missions may not have a Deputy Head.