Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to South Sudan: David Ashley
London, 2 January 2025
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) today announced that David Ashley will be the next British Ambassador to South Sudan, in succession to Chris Trott. David Ashley will take up his appointment in March 2025.
David Ashley joined the FCO in 1997. He has previously served in the former Yugoslavia, Brazil, the USA and the UK Mission to the UN in New York. His most recent posting was as Deputy Head of Mission at the UK Embassy in Moscow.
South Sudan is one of the world’s newest countries and faces a number of challenges, including conflict, poverty and food insecurity. David Ashley will work to strengthen the UK’s partnership with South Sudan and support the country’s efforts to build a more stable, prosperous and democratic future.
David’s family will accompany him to South Sudan. He speaks Portuguese, Spanish and Russian. David Ashley is married with two daughters.
Curriculum Vitae
Full name: David Ashley
Date and place of birth: 26 June 1971, London
Education:
- MA Hons in Modern Languages (French and Russian), University of Oxford, UK
- Postgraduate Diploma in Economics, University of London, UK
**Diplomatic career:
• 2022 – 2025 Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy Moscow • 2019 – 2022 Thematic lead on UN Security Council, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office • 2016 – 2019 Private Secretary to the Permanent Under Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office • 2013 – 2016 Counsellor (Political), UK Mission to the UN • 2010 – 2013 First Secretary, British Embassy Washington DC • 2007 – 2010 Desk Officer, Western Balkans, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office • 2003 – 2006 Second Secretary, British Embassy Brasilia • 2001 – 2003 Desk Officer, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office • 1997 – 2001 Third Secretary, British Embassy Belgrade
**Other Posts
• 2016 Secondment to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) • 2006 – 2007 Secondment to HM Treasury
Languages:
- English (native)
- French (fluent)
- Portuguese (fluent)
- Spanish (good)
- Russian (good)
Personal Interests:
- Reading
- Travel
- Music
- Hiking
- Photography
Awards and honours:
- 2005 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Head of Mission’s Award for Excellence (Serbia and Montenegro)
- 2008 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Head of Mission’s Award for Excellence (Brazil)
- 2019 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Departmental Award for Excellence
Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to South Sudan: David Ashley
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