PRESS RELEASE : Change of Governor of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha: Belinda Lewis [June 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 June 2026.

Ms Belinda Lewis has been selected to become the next Governor of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha in succession to Mr Nigel Phillips CBE, who will be retiring from the Diplomatic Service. Ms Lewis will take up her appointment during September 2026.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Belinda Lewis 

2025 to 2026FCDO, Director Special Projects and pre-posting preparation  
2021 to 2025Kuwait City, His Majesty’s Ambassador  
2018 to 2021FCO, Deputy Director, Human Resources (followed by maternity leave)  
2016 to 2018Karachi, Deputy High Commissioner and Trade Director for Pakistan (followed by maternity leave)  
2014 to 2016Baghdad, Deputy Head of Mission  
2012 to 2014Lashkar Gah, Director Rule of Law and Operations, later Head of Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team  
2010 to 2012MoJ, Deputy Director, International Justice Policy  
2009 to 2010MoJ, Deputy Director, Information Rights Policy  
2008 to 2009Immigration Service, Border Security and Visa Policy 
2007Washington, Secondment to US Department of Homeland Security 
2006 to 2007MoJ, Head of EU and International Data Policy  
2005 to 2006MoJ, Team Leader, Information Rights Department  
2003 to 2005DCMS, Fast Stream policy roles  
2001 to 2003Edinburgh, Milan and London, HSBC Bank