2021 Annual Lecture by the British Ambassador to Japan, Paul Madden CMG

2021 Annual Lecture by the British Ambassador to Japan, Paul Madden CMG



British Ambassador to Japan since 2017 , Paul Madden, completed his tour of duty at the end of February 2021. In his annual update for the Japan Society, Mr Madden looked back over his four years in Japan, as well as reflecting on the past eventful year in particular. This talk came at an important time during the COVID-19 global pandemic and in the wake of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and the recent US Presidential election. These might be expected to have significant influence over the economy and security, both globally and regionally, and make the Japan-UK partnership increasingly relevant. The event was chaired by Japan Society Chairman, Bill Emmott.

Paul Madden CMG became British Ambassador to Japan in January 2017. He was previously British High Commissioner to Australia (2011-15) and British High Commissioner to Singapore (2007-11). He was Additional Director for Asia Pacific at the FCO in 2015 and Managing Director at UK Trade and Investment (2005-7). As Assistant Director of Information at the FCO (2003-2004) he was responsible for public diplomacy policy, including managing the FCO funding of the BBC World Service, the British Council and the Chevening Scholarships programme.

He led the team responsible for the award winning UK pavilion at the Aichi Expo in Japan 2005. He has an MA in Economic Geography from Cambridge University, an MBA from Durham University, studied Japanese at London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies, and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

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