Student Q&A with HE Iona Thomas, British High Commissioner to New Zealand

HE Iona Thomas, British High Commissioner to New Zealand

Wednesday, 13 September 2023 4:05pm

Wellington

MCLT101, MacLaurin Building, Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn Campus, Wellington

The NZIIA Wellington Student Sub-Committee invites you to attend a talk and Q&A with Her Excellency Iona Thomas OBE, British High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor of the Pitcairn Islands.

Iona Thomas will discuss British foreign policy, the NZ-UK relationship, and the United Kingdom’s place in the global system. You will then have the opportunity to engage the British High Commissioner with questions and discussion about British foreign policy among other topics.

In August 2022, Iona was appointed the British High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor of the Pitcairn Islands. As the UK government’s representative in Aotearoa New Zealand, Iona is responsible for the direction and work of the High Commission, including political work, trade and investment, press and cultural relations, and visa and consular services.

Prior to her appointment, 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. Iona also 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.

Spaces are limited, so please register to confirm your attendance.

Contact the Wellington branch

GWEN LEVICK, MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY

nziia@vuw.ac.nz

The NZIIA Wellington Student Sub-Committee invites you to attend a talk and Q&A with Her Excellency Iona Thomas OBE, British High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor of the Pitcairn Islands.

Iona Thomas will discuss British foreign policy, the NZ-UK relationship, and the United Kingdom’s place in the global system. You will then have the opportunity to engage the British High Commissioner with questions and discussion about British foreign policy among other topics.

In August 2022, Iona was appointed the British High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor of the Pitcairn Islands. As the UK government’s representative in Aotearoa New Zealand, Iona is responsible for the direction and work of the High Commission, including political work, trade and investment, press and cultural relations, and visa and consular services.

Prior to her appointment, 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. Iona also 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.

Spaces are limited, so please register to confirm your attendance.

Membership

NZIIA membership is open to anyone interested in understanding the importance of global affairs to the political and economic well-being of New Zealand.