Simon Smith (diplomat) explained

Honorific-Prefix:His Excellency
Simon Smith
Office:British Ambassador to South Korea
Primeminister:Theresa May
Boris Johnson
Term Start:March 2018
Term End:2022
Predecessor:Charles Hay
Successor:Colin Crooks
Office2:British Ambassador to Ukraine
Monarch2:Elizabeth II
Primeminister2:David Cameron
Term Start2:2012
Term End2:2015
Predecessor2:Leigh Turner
Successor2:Judith Gough
Office3:British Ambassador to Austria
Monarch3:Elizabeth II
Primeminister3:Gordon Brown
David Cameron
Term Start3:2007
Term End3:2012
Predecessor3:John Macgregor
Successor3:Susan le Jeune d'Allegeershecque
Birth Name:Simon John Meredith Smith
Birth Date:1958 1, df=y
Birth Place:Wegberg, Germany
Nationality:British
Education:Clifton College
Alma Mater:Wadham College, Oxford
Spouse:Sian Stickings
Children:2 daughters

Simon John Meredith Smith (born 14 January 1958) is a British diplomat, most recently the ambassador (now retired) to the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

Early life

Smith attended the Triple C School in Grand Cayman, then Clifton College. From Wadham College, Oxford, he gained a BA in Modern Languages in 1980.

Career

From 1981 to 1986 Smith worked at the Department of Employment. He joined Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service in 1986 and has held positions in London, Tokyo, and as Counsellor (Economic/Commercial) in Moscow 1998–2002.

Ambassador

From 2007 to 2012 Smith served as Ambassador to Austria, based in Vienna, and as the UK's representative to many UN and international organisations in Vienna, including as the UK's Governor on the Board of the International Atomic Energy Agency. His transfer to Kyiv as Ambassador to Ukraine was announced on 13 October 2011[1] and he took up the appointment in 2012. He was replaced in 2015.[2] After a brief spell in London and Korean language training, he was appointed Ambassador to South Korea[3] and took up the post in March 2018.[4]

Personal life

Smith married Sian Stickings in 1984. She was appointed MBE "for services to the local and British communities in Russia" in the 2003 New Year Honours, following Smith's service in Moscow. They have two daughters.

References

Video clips

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Ukraine . Foreign & Commonwealth Office . press release . 13 October 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111015223526/http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?id=669483282&view=PressR . 15 October 2011.
  2. http://www.gov.uk/government/news/change-of-her-majestys-ambassador-to-ukraine--2 Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Ukraine
  3. Web site: Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of Korea . Foreign & Commonwealth Office . 3 February 2017.
  4. News: New U.K. Ambassador No Stranger to Korea . 22 March 2018 . The Chosun Ilbo.