STORY
Mel Barlow has been appointed as the new British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam and will take up the post in September 2026. The appointment was announced by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 3 August.
Barlow is currently His Majesty’s Ambassador in Vientiane, a position she has held since 2023. She previously served as Deputy Ambassador and Consul General in Kathmandu and as Deputy Head of the FCDO’s Consular Strategy and Network Department.
Her earlier diplomatic career has included roles covering trade policy, economic diplomacy and relations with countries across Asia. She joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2002 and has served in Tokyo and Seoul, as well as holding several positions within the department in London.