John Virgoe
John Virgoe | |
|---|---|
 Virgoe in 2024 | |
| 19th British High Commissioner to Brunei | |
| Assumed office August 2020 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Richard Lindsay |
| Succeeded by | Alexandra McKenzie |
| Personal details | |
| Spouse | Tuti Suwidjiningsih |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
John Leonard Pencavel Virgoe is a diplomat and was the British High Commissioner to Brunei from 2020 to 2024. He has expertise in economic diplomacy, climate change,[1] and Southeast Asia.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Virgoe pursued a Master of Public Policy (MPP) at the Woodrow Wilson School of International Affairs Princeton University from 2006 to 2007.[3][4] Additionally, he holds a Master of Arts degree (MA) in Theology and Religious Studies from the University of Cambridge, which he earned from 1988 to 1991.[5]
Diplomatic career
[edit]Earlier postings include Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme and UN-Habitat in Nairobi from 2002 to 2006, and various roles at the FCO from 1999 to 2002, including Head of the Crisis Management Section in the Counter-Terrorism Policy Department and subsequently Head of the China Section in the China Hong Kong Department. He also served as Second Secretary for Political Affairs in Jakarta from 1995 to 1999.[3]
Since 2017, Virgoe has held the position of Head of the South-East Asia Department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).[6] Prior to this, from 2015 to 2017, he served as the Head of the Joint Anti-Corruption Unit at the Cabinet Office, and in 2015, he held the role of deputy director in the Spending Review at the Finance Directorate of the FCO. From 2013 to 2015, he was Joint Head of the Policy Unit at the FCO. His previous assignments include serving as First Secretary for Economic and Climate Change in Canberra from 2009 to 2013, and as Director for South-East Asia at the International Crisis Group from 2007 to 2009 (on leave from the FCO).[7][3] He has been deployed four times abroad, most recently to Jakarta, Nairobi, and Canberra.[8]
Virgoe was named the UK's nominee high commissioner to Brunei by the FCO in July 2020. He would succeed Richard Lindsay, who has been in Brunei since 2017, who is moving on to a different diplomatic posting.[8] Brunei is the UK's "closest friend in the region," according to Virgoe, as their bilateral relations have been stronger over the last year, also expressing gratitude to Brunei for helping the UK become the eleventh conversation partner of ASEAN.[9]
On 7 February 2023, Virgoe accompanied Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Minister of State for Indo-Pacific, during her visit to Brunei.[10] Following Virgoe, Alexandra McKenzie has been named as the successor and will begin her position in August 2024.[11][12]
Virgoe was succeeded by Alexandra McKenzie, who took up her appointment in August of 2024.
Personal life
[edit]His full name is John Leonard Pencavel Virgoe, is married to Tuti Suwidjiningsih, and they have two children together.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ Committee, Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology (18 March 2010). The regulation of Geoengineering: fifth report of session 2009–10, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence. The Stationery Office. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-215-54491-9.
- ^ a b "John Virgoe". GOV.UK. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ a b c "Change of British High Commissioner to Brunei: August 2020". GOV.UK. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ Virgoe, John (2008). "IMPUNITY RESURGENT: THE POLITICS OF MILITARY ACCOUNTABILITY IN INDONESIA, 1998–2001". Asian Affairs. 39 (1): 95–108. doi:10.1080/03068370701804353. ISSN 0306-8374. S2CID 154382264.
- ^ Cambridge, University of (1998). Cambridge University List of Members. Cambridge University Press. p. 813. ISBN 978-0-521-59762-3.
- ^ "ANNUAL REPORT 2017/18" (PDF). www.lse.ac.uk. 2018. p. 1. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "Jakarta to accept blame for East Timor". www.etan.org. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ a b Scoop, The (10 June 2020). "UK announces new envoy for Brunei". The Scoop. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ Scoop, The (17 June 2021). "UK envoy hails strong bilateral ties with Brunei". The Scoop. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN AND YANG DI-PERTUAN OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM RECEIVES IN AUDIENCE UNITED KINGDOM MINISTER OF STATE (INDO-PACIFIC)". www.mfa.gov.bn. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "Alexandra McKenzie Appointed as New UK High Commissioner to Brunei". Mirage News. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "PolicyMogul". policymogul.com. Retrieved 8 February 2024.