Paul Rennie OBE
Biography
Paul Rennie is British Consul General. Based in Los Angeles, he is the senior representative of the UK government in Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii, and the US Territories of American Samoa, Guam and Northern Mariana Islands.
His role includes the promotion of trade and investment, scientific cooperation, tackling climate change, creative and media collaborations and educational partnerships between the UK and the US Southwest. He also oversees delivery of essential consular services to a 600,000-strong British resident community and British visitors.
Paul previously served at the British Embassy in Washington DC, leading the Trade and Global Issues Group. Prior to that, and in addition to his London roles, he has had postings at the United Nations (New York), Brazil, India and Malaysia, as well as working on secondment to the Cabinet Office and the Department for International Development.
Paul is a professional economist and was the first Diplomatic Service Economist recruited in 2001. He has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Heriot-Watt University for services to UK education overseas. He was appointed Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for services to UK-India relations.
Paul speaks English, Portuguese, Dutch, French, Hindi, and is learning Spanish.
Informal Biography
My greatest passion is exploration. Exploring new countries and new places, to remind myself how amazing and fragile our planet is. Exploring new peoples and cultures, to remind myself there is more that unites us than separates us; and to explore new ideas and concepts, to remind myself we must never stop learning or challenging ourselves.
A diplomatic career has given me the opportunity to full realise that passion, but doing so in a way that puts public service at its core - engaging with new countries and cultures to directly support the British people: enabling their prosperity; ensuring their safety and security; and promoting the best of the UK to a global audience.
It has also given me the chance to put so much of what I have seen in context and think more deeply about the role the UK can play in solving the global challenges that confront all of us; as well as taking the fullest advantage of all the amazing new opportunities.
Curriculum vitae
| 2020 to 2024 | Head of Global Issues, British Embassy Washington |
| 2018 to 2020 | Director Diplomacy 20:20, Change and Networks, Foreign & Commonwealth Office |
| 2014 to 2018 | Deputy High Commissioner, Malaysia |
| 2011 to 2014 | Head of the Political Department, British High Commission, India |
| 2009 to 2010 | Senior Programme Manager, Department for International Development, India |
| 2008 to 2009 | Head of G8/G20 Team, Cabinet Office |
| 2006 to 2008 | Private Secretary to the Cabinet Secretary, Lord O’Donnell |
| 2003 to 2006 | Head of the Economic Department, British Embassy, Brazil |
| 2002 | Temporary duty, UK Mission to the United Nations, New York |
| 2001 to 2002 | Desk Officer, Economic Policy Department of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office |
Social media
British Consul General in Los Angeles
The Consul General is the senior UK official in a Consulate General, which is a subordinate office to the Embassy or High Commission, usually located in another major city. The Consul General represents the UK government and is typically responsible for consular, visa and trade activities in their city or region.
Counsellor for Global Issues, USA
The Counsellor for Global Issues leads the UK government’s prosperity policy agenda in the USA, including trade, economic, energy/environment, transport, technology policy and science and innovation policy.
The counsellor provides direction, strategic insight, clarity and coherence on prosperity across eight teams, the Embassy, and the whole of the US Network. The counsellor also engages and deliberates with US Administration, Congressional, business and civil society figures