Director General, Africa, the Americas and Overseas Territories

Harriet Mathews CMG OBE

Biography

Harriet Mathews is Director General, Africa, the Americas and Overseas Territories at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Harriet was previously Deputy Political Director from January to July 2023 and Director General, Geopolitics and Security from March to September 2022. She was acting Political Director from September 2022 to January 2023. Before that, Harriet was Deputy Political Director and Multilateral, Sanctions and Strategic Engagement Director from January 2021 to March 2022. Harriet was Director for Africa from September 2018 to December 2020.

Harriet joined the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1997. She is an Africa specialist and has held several positions related to Africa, including the Head of East and West Africa Department. Harriet was awarded the OBE in 2005 for her work on West Africa. Harriet was awarded the CMG in 2017 for services to Diplomacy, International Peace and Security and the UK response to the Ebola crisis.

Harriet went on to serve as the first female Ambassador in Mogadishu. Harriet has also been Head of Energy in the FCO and has worked in Brazil, Israel and Afghanistan. She also oversaw the policy delivery of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting hosted in London in 2018.

Curriculum vitae

Dates Role
2022 to 2023 Director General, Geopolitics and Security
2021 to 2022 Deputy Political Director and Multilateral, Sanctions and Strategic Engagement Director
2018 to 2021 Director for Africa
2016 to 2018 Director of Policy for Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018, Commonwealth Summit Unit
2015 to 2016 British Ambassador to Somalia
2014 to 2015 FCO, Head of Ebola Task Force
2012 to 2014 FCO, Head of East & West Africa Department
2009 to 2011 FCO, Head Energy, Climate Change and Energy Department
2008 to 2009 FCO, Head, Rule of Law Afghanistan
2005 to 2008 Tel Aviv, Head of Political and Press Section
2003 to 2005 FCO, Head of West Africa Section, Africa Directorate
2003 FCO, Press Officer, Press Office
1999 to 2002 Brasilia, Second Secretary
1997 to 1998 FCO, Desk Officer for Central Africa, Africa Directorate

Director General, Africa, the Americas and Overseas Territories

The Director General is responsible for the delivery of UK policy on the geographical areas of:

  • Africa
  • the Americas
  • Caribbean
  • Overseas Territories and the Polar region
  • Small Island Developing States

As a board member, the Director General also gives corporate leadership to the FCDO by ensuring that the department meets the international policy priorities, Public Service Agreements targets and service delivery targets set by ministers.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office