The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 August 2026.
Ms Mel Barlow has been appointed British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam. Ms Barlow will take up her appointment during September 2026.
Curriculum vitae
Full name: Melanie Barlow
| 2023 to present | Vientiane, His Majesty’s Ambassador |
| 2022 to 2023 | Kathmandu, Deputy Ambassador and Consul General |
| 2019 to 2022 | FCDO, Deputy Head, Consular Strategy and Network Department |
| 2018 to 2019 | FCO, Lead Trade Negotiator, Third Country Agreements Unit |
| 2018 | Illegal Wildlife Trade Joint Unit, Senior Manager, Private Sector Engagement |
| 2015 to 2018 | Seoul, Trade Policy and Economic Diplomacy Counsellor |
| 2013 to 2015 | FCO, Head, India and Nepal Team, South Asia Department |
| 2013 | FCO, Head, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Maldives Team, South Asia Department |
| 2011 to 2012 | FCO, Team Leader and Programme Manager, Conflict Department |
| 2009 to 2011 | Tokyo, Second Secretary (Trade) |
| 2006 to 2008 | Tokyo, Second Secretary (Political) |
| 2004 to 2005 | Japanese Language Training |
| 2003 | FCO, Project Manager, Department for Strategy and Innovation |
| 2003 | FCO, Desk Officer, Iraq Political Team |
| 2002 to 2003 | Trade Partners UK, Special Projects Manager Japan and China |
| 2002 | Joined FCO |
| 1996 | Private Sector |