Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Lindy Cameron Appointed First Woman to Lead UK Foreign Office
Lindy Cameron is the United Kingdom’s main diplomat in India.
She has now been chosen for a senior job running the United Kingdom’s foreign ministry.
She will be the first woman to hold this civil-service position.
Cameron will finish her work in India on 19 October.
Then she will move back to London and begin the new job.
The United Kingdom’s foreign secretary said she has wide experience in diplomacy, security and development.
Cameron previously led the National Cyber Security Centre and worked in several government roles.
She said she was proud of her achievements in India but excited about the new challenge.
Her appointment follows the removal of the previous permanent undersecretary, Olly Robbins.
Lindy Cameron, the United Kingdom’s High Commissioner to India, has been appointed Permanent Under Secretary of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
She will become the first woman to hold the FCDO’s top civil-service position, which oversees the ministry’s daily operations.
Cameron will remain in India until 19 October before returning to London for the new role, which is expected to last at least five years.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband praised her experience in diplomacy, development, national security and international leadership.
She succeeds interim official Nick Dyer after predecessor Olly Robbins was dismissed amid controversy over Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the United States.
- Who
- Lindy Cameron, the United Kingdom’s High Commissioner to India, has been appointed Permanent Under Secretary of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
- What
- She will become the first woman to hold the FCDO’s most senior civil-service position.
- When
- Cameron will remain in India until 19 October and then take up the London-based role.
- Where
- The new position is at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London; Cameron is currently serving in India.
- Why
- She was selected because of her experience in diplomacy, development, national security and leadership, following the dismissal of her predecessor.
- New position
- Permanent Under Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
- Current position
- United Kingdom High Commissioner to India
- Historic milestone
- First woman appointed to the FCDO’s Permanent Under Secretary role
- Transition date
- Cameron will remain in India until 19 October
- Expected tenure
- At least five years
- Previous security role
- Chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre from 2020 to 2024
- Predecessor
- Olly Robbins, who was dismissed earlier in the year; Nick Dyer served as interim Permanent Under Secretary