Frank Baker
 Frank Baker     (diplomat) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Francis Raymond Baker 27 January 1961 |
| Nationality | British |
| Citizenship | United Kingdom |
| Alma mater | Dartford Grammar School |
| Spouse | Maria Pilar Fernandez |
Francis Raymond "Frank" Baker is a British diplomat and civil servant who was Ambassador to Libya from February 2018 to April 2019.[1] He was Ambassador to Kuwait from 2010 to 2014, and Ambassador to Iraq from 2014 to 2017.[2][3]
Early life
Baker was born on 27 January 1961 to Raymond and Pamela Baker. He was educated at Dartford Grammar School, then an all-boys state grammar school in Dartford, Kent.[3]
Diplomatic career
Baker joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1981. For the first two years of his career, he worked in the Personnel Operations Department.[2] From 1983 to 1986, he undertook his first posting abroad as Third Secretary at the British Embassy in Panama City, Panama.[3] From 1986 to 1991, he was based at the British Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina; first he was Third Secretary, and later he was Second Secretary.[2] In 1991, he returned to England, and was a desk officer (ranking as a Second Secretary) in the Human Rights Policy Department of the FCO for two years.[2][3] From 1993 to 1996, he was First Secretary at the British Embassy in Ankara, Turkey;[2] he was awarded an OBE for this posting.[4]
From 1996 to 1998, Baker was on secondment to the US Government and was based in Washington, D.C.[2] In 1998, he was Head of the Iraq Section in the Middle East Department, FCO.[2] Then, from 1998 to 2000, he was Private Secretary to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.[3] From 2000 to 2003, he was Head of the Africa Department (Equatorial) in the FCO.[2] From 2003 to 2007, he was once more based in Washington, D.C.; first, between 2003 and 2004, as Counsellor (Political/Military), and then, between 2004 and 2007, as Counsellor (Foreign and Security Policy).[3] From 2002 to 2010, he was back working at the FCO, this time as Deputy Director Middle East.[2]
Baker took up his first ambassadorial appointment in 2010.[3] From February 2010 to July 2014, he was the British Ambassador to the State of Kuwait.[3][5][6] In August 2014, he was announced as the next British Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq. He took up the appointment in September 2014.[2] He was replaced in 2017 and took up the post of Ambassador to the State of Libya in February 2018.[1] He was replaced as Ambassador to Libya in April 2019.[7]
Personal life
Baker is married to Maria Pilar Fernandez. Together, they have two children; a boy and a girl.[8]
References
- ↑ a b https://www.libyaobserver.ly/inbrief/al-sarraj-receives-british-ambassador-libya-frank-baker
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j https://www.gov.uk/government/news/change-of-her-majestys-ambassador-to-iraq%7Cwebsite=GOV.UK
- ↑ a b c d e f g h http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U41895
- ↑ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/54794/supplement/24
- ↑ http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/british-ambassador-leaves-kuwait-after-news-of-infidelity
- ↑ http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20141203194007/http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/frankbaker/2014/07/16/he-ambassador-frank-baker-farewell-article/
- ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/change-of-her-majestys-ambassador-to-libya-april-2019
- ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/people/frank-baker
