STORY
Jemima Gordon-Duff has been appointed as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said Gordon-Duff will succeed Melanie Barlow, who is transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Gordon-Duff will take up the role in August 2026.
Gordon-Duff joins the post after serving as Deputy Director for International Climate Change in the Scottish Government from 2022 to 2026. Her previous diplomatic and international development roles include work in Accra, Jerusalem, Maputo, Islamabad, Quito and Kathmandu.
She was Head of Social Sectors in Accra from 2018 to 2021 and Head of Governance and Security in Jerusalem from 2016 to 2018. Earlier in her career, she worked as a governance adviser in Mozambique and Pakistan, Deputy Head of Mission in Quito, and Second Secretary Political in Kathmandu.
Gordon-Duff joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2003, initially working as a desk officer for Serbia and Montenegro. She later served as Head of Human Rights and Democracy in the Human Rights Department.
The ambassadorial role in Laos covers the UK’s diplomatic relationship with the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, including political engagement, development, climate, trade and regional issues. The FCDO said the appointment had been made in succession to Barlow, who has served as ambassador to Laos since 2021.