Dame Veronica Evelyn Sutherland, DBE

Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...

, CMG

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....

 (born 25 April 1939) is a former British career diplomat who served in government from 1965 until 1999, including a stint as Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

. After retiring from HM Diplomatic Service, she was appointed President of the Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge

Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge

Lucy Cavendish College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is a women-only college, which admits only postgraduates and undergraduates aged 21 or over....

from 2001 until 2008.

Background

Born to Lt Col Maurice Beckett and Constance Cavenagh-Mainwaring, Veronica Evelyn Sutherland was appointed Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General with responsibility for economic and social affairs. She was the first woman to hold this post and to serve the Commonwealth at such a high rank.

She took up her Commonwealth post in February 1999, succeeding Sir Humphrey Maud, KCMG, who was retiring. She said at the time

"During the course of my lifetime the Commonwealth has left behind its imperial past and grown into a mature and dynamic, modern organisation of 54 equal and sovereign nations. I am excited by the prospect of making an active contribution to the Commonwealth as an increasing force for good in the world."

External links

• http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/reporter/current/special/03/16.html
• http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Andes/9522/latest.htm&date=2009-10-25+09:41:38
• http://www.thecommonwealth.org/press/34582/140830/first_woman_commonwealth_deputy_secretary_general.htm
• http://www.irish-association.org/archives/veronica_sutherland04_04.html