Nigel Baker
Nigel Marcus Baker OBE MVO (born 9 September 1966) is a British diplomat, who was formerly Ambassador to Bolivia and Ambassador to the Holy See. He was Head of the Latin America department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 2016 to 2019, and in August 2020 took up his appointment as British Ambassador to Slovakia.[1]
Nigel Baker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| British Ambassador to Slovakia | |
| Assumed office August 2020 | |
| Monarchs | Elizabeth II Charles III |
| Prime Minister | Boris Johnson Liz Truss Rishi Sunak |
| Preceded by | Andrew Garth |
| British Ambassador to the Holy See | |
| In office 2011–2016 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Francis Campbell |
| Succeeded by | Sally Axworthy |
| British Ambassador to Bolivia | |
| In office 2007–2011 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | Peter Bateman |
| Succeeded by | Ross Denny |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 September 1966 Birmingham, England |
| Spouse | Alexandra (Saša) Baker |
| Children | Benjamin James Baker |
| Alma mater | Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
Early life and education
Baker was born on 9 September 1966. He educated at Dulwich College, an all-boys private boarding school in London. He studied history at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, graduating with a first class honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1988: as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Cantab) in 1992.[2]
Career
After a brief period as researcher in the Conservative Research Department he joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1989. After early overseas postings in Prague and Bratislava he took a research sabbatical in Verona (from 1996–97) studying Italian and European history.
Returning to the FCO, he was Head of the European Defence Section in the Security Policy Department between 1998–2000. He was then assistant Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales 2000–03, Deputy Head of Mission, Havana, 2003–06 and Ambassador to Bolivia 2007–11 before being appointed to the Holy See.[3] He presented his credentials to Pope Benedict XVI on 9 September 2011. In 2016, he returned to the FCO as Deputy Director for the Americas and Head of the South America Department. He became Deputy Director and Head of the Latin America Department in 2018.
Baker was appointed MVO in 2003 for services to the Prince of Wales, and OBE in 2010.[4]
In 2013 he edited Britain and the Holy See: A Celebration of 1982 and the Wider Relationship, which set out the proceedings of the 2012 Rome Colloquium on the relationship between Britain and the Holy See. Contributors include Professor Eamon Duffy, Professor Judith Champ, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien, and Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor.
In August 2020 he became Ambassador to Slovakia, succeeding Andrew Garth.
Notes
- "Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Slovakia: August 2020" (Press release). Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- "Baker, Nigel Marcus, (born 9 Sept. 1966), HM Diplomatic Service; Ambassador to Slovakia, since 2020". Who's Who 2021. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- "Nigel Baker OBE MVO - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
- "Nigel Baker OBE MVO - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
References
- BAKER, Nigel Marcus, Who's Who 2012, A & C Black, 2012; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2011, accessed 19 March 2012
- Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 15 April 2011
- Our Ambassador, British Embassy to the Holy See
- Nigel Baker is ambassador to the Holy See, The Telegraph, London, 15 Apr 2011