From this month, July 2024, Nikesh Mehta (OBE) will take up his position as British High Commissioner to the Republic of Singapore. Nikesh’s mother was one of the many Hindus who restarted their lives in the UK after being expelled from Uganda.
Between 2022 and 2024, Nikesh served as the Director for Policy and Requirements in the UK’s National Security Community. Nikesh’s career with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office started in 2002. He has had postings in Iraq, Uganda, Malaysia and South Korea. In Uganda he reported on the 20-year conflict between the Government and the Lord’s Resistance Army and in Malaysia, he led the British response to the Malaysia Airlines disasters (2014 and 2015). Nilesh led the British Embassy in South Korea during the challenging period of Covid (2018 to 2022). A highlight of his time in South Korea was facilitating the K-pop band Blackpink to agree to work with the British government on climate action.
Back in 2014 the late Queen awarded Nikesh an OBE for his contribution to British foreign policy and diversity.