Nicola Brewer
Encyclopedia
Dame Nicola Mary Brewer DCMG
is a British diplomat, currently serving as the British High Commissioner to South Africa.
Nicola Brewer joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1983, and has worked overseas in India, France and Mexico. She served as the FCO's Director for Global Issues from 2001 to 2002, and then as Director-General for Regional Programmes at the Department for International Development (DfID), the DfID board member supervising the UK's overseas bilateral aid programmes.
In 2004, she was appointed Director-General for Europe at the FCO, where she was the FCO Board member responsible for European matters. She led the FCO's contribution to the UK's 2005 Presidency of the EU, and advised the Foreign Secretary and Minister for Europe on EU and other European policy issues.
In December 2006, Nicola Brewer was appointed by open competition as the first Chief Executive of the newly established Equality and Human Rights Commission, the successor body to the Commission for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission. She took up her new position in March 2007, standing down in May 2009 to succeed Paul Boateng as British High Commissioner to South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho.
Nicola Brewer was educated at the Belfast Royal Academy
, and read English at the University of Leeds
, graduating with a BA in 1980, then taking a Doctorate in linguistics in 1988 there. Leeds also granted her an Honorary Doctorate of Laws in 2009. She was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2003 New Year Honours and Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (DCMG) in the 2011 Birthday Honours
. She is married to former diplomat Geoff Gillham: they have two children. Her father, Trevor Brewer
, played international rugby for Wales
in the 1950s.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
is a British diplomat, currently serving as the British High Commissioner to South Africa.
Nicola Brewer joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1983, and has worked overseas in India, France and Mexico. She served as the FCO's Director for Global Issues from 2001 to 2002, and then as Director-General for Regional Programmes at the Department for International Development (DfID), the DfID board member supervising the UK's overseas bilateral aid programmes.
In 2004, she was appointed Director-General for Europe at the FCO, where she was the FCO Board member responsible for European matters. She led the FCO's contribution to the UK's 2005 Presidency of the EU, and advised the Foreign Secretary and Minister for Europe on EU and other European policy issues.
In December 2006, Nicola Brewer was appointed by open competition as the first Chief Executive of the newly established Equality and Human Rights Commission, the successor body to the Commission for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission. She took up her new position in March 2007, standing down in May 2009 to succeed Paul Boateng as British High Commissioner to South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho.
Nicola Brewer was educated at the Belfast Royal Academy
Belfast Royal Academy
The Belfast Royal Academy is the oldest school in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is a co-educational, non-denominational voluntary grammar school situated in north Belfast. The Academy is one of eight Northern Irish schools whose Headmaster is a member of the Headmasters' and...
, and read English at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, graduating with a BA in 1980, then taking a Doctorate in linguistics in 1988 there. Leeds also granted her an Honorary Doctorate of Laws in 2009. She was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2003 New Year Honours and Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (DCMG) in the 2011 Birthday Honours
2011 Birthday Honours
The Birthday Honours 2011 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 7 June 2011 in New Zealand and 11 June 2011 in United Kingdom to celebrate the Queen's Birthday of 2011.-Privy Councillors:...
. She is married to former diplomat Geoff Gillham: they have two children. Her father, Trevor Brewer
Trevor Brewer
Trevor John Brewer is a former Welsh rugby union international player. He played for the Wales national rugby union team on three occasions, once in 1950 and twice in 1955.-Life and rugby career:...
, played international rugby for Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
in the 1950s.