Sir Andrew Burns | |
---|---|
United Kingdom Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues | |
In office June 2010 – September 2015 | |
Prime Minister | David Cameron |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Eric Pickles |
British High Commissioner to Canada | |
In office 2000–2003 | |
Preceded by | Anthony Goodenough |
Succeeded by | David Reddaway |
British Consuls-General to Hong Kong | |
In office November 1997 – June 2000 | |
Preceded by | Francis Cornish |
Succeeded by | James Hodge |
British Ambassador to Israel | |
In office 1992–1995 | |
Preceded by | Mark Elliott |
Succeeded by | Sir David Manning |
Personal details | |
Born | Robert Andrew Burns 21 July 1943 England |
Education | Highgate School |
Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge (MA) |
Sir Robert Andrew Burns KCMG (born 21 July 1943) is a British former diplomat in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Burns was born on 21 July 1943 and educated at Highgate School.[1] He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge, with a Master of Arts (MA).[2]
Burns served with the Diplomatic Service between 1965 and 2003, beginning his career as an Urdu and Hindi speaker at the British High Commission in New Delhi in the 1960s.[3] Serving in New Delhi between 1967 and 1971, the later returned to London where he served as the United Kingdom's Delegate to the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe between 1975 and 1981.[2] He later became Head of South Asia Department between 1986 and 1988.[3]
He held the office of Ambassador to Israel between 1992 and 1995.[4] He was later appointed as British Consul-General to Hong Kong and Macau, serving between 1997 and 2000.[5] He then became British High Commissioner to Canada, serving from 2000 to 2003.[3]
In June 2005, Burns was appointed to the BBC's Board of Governors as International Governor, replacing Dame Pauline Neville-Jones.[5]
In June 2010, he was appointed the United Kingdom's first Envoy for post-Holocaust issues.[6] He held this post until September 2015.[7] He was succeeded in the role by Sir Eric Pickles.[8]
He was Chair of Council of Royal Holloway, a constituent college of the University of London.[1] He was appointed to succeed Lady Deech as the chair of the Bar Standards Board from 1 January 2015.[9]
Burns was also previously Chairman of the China Association between 2008 and 2014 and is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce (RSA).[1]