Simon Smith (diplomat)

Simon John Meredith Smith CMG (born 14 January 1958) is a British diplomat who is ambassador to the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

His Excellency Simon Smith CMG
British Ambassador to South Korea
Incumbent
Assumed office March 2018
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Theresa May Boris Johnson
Preceded by	Charles Hay
British Ambassador to Ukraine
In office 2012–2015
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	David Cameron
Preceded by	Leigh Turner
Succeeded by	Judith Gough
British Ambassador to Austria
In office 2007–2012
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Gordon Brown David Cameron
Preceded by	John Macgregor
Succeeded by	Susan le Jeune d'Allegeershecque
Personal details
Born	Simon John Meredith Smith 14 January 1958 Wegberg, Germany
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	Sian Stickings
Children	2 daughters
Education	Clifton College
Alma mater	Wadham College, Oxford

Early life

Smith attended the Triple C School in Grand Cayman, then Clifton College. From Wadham College, Oxford, he gained a BA in Modern Languages in 1980.

Career

From 1981–86 Smith worked at the Department of Employment. He joined Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service in 1986 and has held positions in London, Tokyo, and as Counsellor (Economic/Commercial) in Moscow 1998–2002.[1]

Ambassador

From 2007 to 2012 Smith served as Ambassador to Austria, based in Vienna, and as the UK's representative to many UN and international organisations in Vienna, including as the UK's Governor on the Board of the International Atomic Energy Agency.[1] His transfer to Kiev as Ambassador to Ukraine was announced on 13 October 2011[1] and he took up the appointment in 2012.[2] He was replaced in 2015.[3] After a brief spell in London and Korean language training, he was appointed Ambassador to South Korea[2] and took up the post in March 2018.[4]

Personal life

Smith married Sian Stickings in 1984. She was appointed MBE "for services to the local and British communities in Russia" in the 2003 New Year Honours,[5] following Smith's service in Moscow. They have two daughters.

References

• SMITH, Simon John Meredith, Who's Who 2012, A & C Black, 2012; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2011, accessed 27 Aug 2012

1. "Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Ukraine". press release. Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 13 October 2011. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011.
2. "Change of Her Majestys Ambassador to the Republic of Korea". Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 3 February 2017.
3. Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Ukraine, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 26 March 2015
4. "New U.K. Ambassador No Stranger to Korea". The Chosun Ilbo. 22 March 2018.
5. "No. 56797". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2002. p. 25.

Video clips

• IAEA in September 2010
• Green roof on the embassy in June 2010