Nigel Baker Explained

Honorific-Prefix:His Excellency
Nigel Baker
Office:British Ambassador to Slovakia
Term Start:August 2020
Primeminister:Boris Johnson
Liz Truss
Rishi Sunak
Predecessor:Andrew Garth
Office1:British Ambassador to the Holy See
Term Start1:2011
Term End1:2016
Predecessor1:Francis Campbell
Successor1:Sally Axworthy
Monarch1:Elizabeth II
Primeminister1:David Cameron
Office2:British Ambassador to Bolivia
Term Start2:2007
Term End2:2011
Predecessor2:Peter Bateman
Successor2:Ross Denny
Monarch2:Elizabeth II
Birth Date: df=y 9 September 1966
Birth Place:Birmingham, England
Nationality:British
Alma Mater:Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Occupation:Diplomat
Spouse:Alexandra (Saša) Baker
Children:Benjamin James Baker

Nigel Marcus Baker (born 9 September 1966) is a British diplomat, who was formerly Ambassador to Bolivia and Ambassador to the Holy See. He was Head of the Latin America department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 2016 to 2019, and in August 2020 took up his appointment as British Ambassador to Slovakia.[1]

Early life and education

Baker was born on 9 September 1966. He educated at Dulwich College, an all-boys private boarding school in London. He studied history at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, graduating with a first class honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1988: as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Cantab) in 1992.[2]

Career

After a brief period as researcher in the Conservative Research Department he joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1989. After early overseas postings in Prague and Bratislava he took a research sabbatical in Verona (from 1996–97) studying Italian and European history.

Returning to the FCO, he was Head of the European Defence Section in the Security Policy Department between 1998–2000. He was then assistant Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales 2000–03, Deputy Head of Mission, Havana, 2003–06 and Ambassador to Bolivia 2007–11 before being appointed to the Holy See.[3] He presented his credentials to Pope Benedict XVI on 9 September 2011. In 2016, he returned to the FCO as Deputy Director for the Americas and Head of the South America Department. He became Deputy Director and Head of the Latin America Department in 2018.

Baker was appointed MVO in 2003 for services to the Prince of Wales, and OBE in 2010.[4]

In 2013, he edited Britain and the Holy See: A Celebration of 1982 and the Wider Relationship, which set out the proceedings of the 2012 Rome Colloquium on the relationship between Britain and the Holy See. Contributors include Professor Eamon Duffy, Professor Judith Champ, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien, and Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor.

In August 2020, he became Ambassador to Slovakia, succeeding Andrew Garth.

References

Notes and References

  1. Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Slovakia: August 2020. Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 22 May 2020. 17 June 2020.
  2. Web site: Baker, Nigel Marcus, (born 9 Sept. 1966), HM Diplomatic Service; Ambassador to Slovakia, since 2020 . . Oxford University Press . 21 April 2021 . en . 1 December 2020.
  3. Web site: Nigel Baker OBE MVO - GOV.UK. www.gov.uk. en. 2019-04-01.
  4. Web site: Nigel Baker OBE MVO - GOV.UK. www.gov.uk. en. 2019-04-01.