Colin Roberts (diplomat)
Colin Roberts | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Governor of the Falkland Islands Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | |
| In office 29 April 2014 – 12 September 2017 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Chief Executive | Keith Padgett Barry Rowland |
| Preceded by | Nigel Haywood |
| Succeeded by | Nigel Phillips |
| Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory and the British Antarctic Territory | |
| In office 23 June 2008 – 17 October 2012 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Leigh Turner |
| Succeeded by | Peter Hayes |
| British Ambassador to Lithuania | |
| In office 2004–2008 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Jeremy Hill |
| Succeeded by | Simon Butt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 31 July 1959 |
| Spouse | Camilla |
| Children | Oliver (b. 2002), Alexander (b.2004) |
Colin Roberts CVO (born 31 July 1959)[1] is a British diplomat and the former Governor of the Falkland Islands and former Commissioner of the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.[2][3]
Biography
[edit]_(Colin_Roberts_cropped).jpg)
Roberts was born on 31 July 1959. He was educated at Winchester College, then an all-boys independent boarding school in Winchester, Hampshire. He studied English literature at King's College, Cambridge, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree: as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Cantab) degree. He then studied at The Courtauld Institute of Art, completing a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in 1982.[4]
He previously served as British Ambassador to Lithuania,[5] from 2004 to 2008, Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory and the British Antarctic Territory from 2008 to 2012[6] and Director of the FCO Eastern Europe and Central Asia Directorate from 2012 to 2014.[2] Roberts also held diplomatic service posts in Japan and France.[2]
In April 2010, Roberts, acting on the instructions of David Miliband[7]—established a marine nature reserve around the Chagos Islands known as the Chagos Marine Protected Area.[8] The designation proved controversial as the decision was announced during a period when the UK Parliament was in recess.[9][10]
In December 2012 it was announced that Roberts had been appointed Governor of the Falkland Islands and Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, to take up office in April 2014.[2] Alicia Castro, Argentina's ambassador to the United Kingdom, criticised Roberts's appointment as a "provocation" and said he was "not the person to encourage dialogue between nations".[11]
In June 2017 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office announced that Roberts would be leaving the Falklands, to be replaced as Governor and Commissioner by Nigel Phillips in September 2017.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Colin Roberts, CVO". Debrett's. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Change of Governor of the Falklands Islands". gov.uk. 21 December 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
- ^ "Falklands Governor Colin Roberts takes office next Tuesday 29 April". MercoPress. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
- ^ "Roberts, Colin, (born 31 July 1959), HM Diplomatic Service, retired; Senior Adviser (EU Exit), UK Governance Group, Cabinet Office, 2017–19". Who's Who 2023. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "FCO Daily Bulletin Wednesday 14 January 2004". gov-news.org. 14 January 2004. Archived from the original on 7 September 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
- ^ "British Indian Ocean Territory". Worldstatesmen.org. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
- ^ Press Association (11 June 2013). "Chagos Islands marine park is compatible with law, high court rules". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ "Welcome to the Chagos Conservation Trust | Chagos Conservation Trust". Protectchagos.org. Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ Rincon, Paul (1 April 2010). "BBC News - UK sets up Chagos Islands marine reserve". BBC News. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
- ^ "Mauritius to reiterate its conditions for renewed talks with UK on Chagos". Archived from the original on 23 December 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ Castro, Alicia (3 March 2014). "Britain's new 'governor of the Falkland islands' is a provocation". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
- ^ "Change of Governor of the Falklands Islands". gov.uk. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
- 1959 births
- Living people
- People educated at Winchester College
- Alumni of King's College, Cambridge
- Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Lithuania
- Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order
- Commissioners for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- Commissioners of the British Antarctic Territory
- Commissioners of the British Indian Ocean Territory
- Governors of the Falkland Islands