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Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Part of UK in Australia

11th September 2014

Employment Minister Esther McVey in Melbourne for G20

G20 brought another minister to Australia this week. Esther McVey MP, Minister of State for Employment, is in Melbourne attending the G20 Employment Ministers Meeting. As an MP on Merseyside, which has had its share of employment challenges, she is passionate about helping to give people the opportunity to work. Immediately before the meeting she shared a platform with host Senator Eric Abetz and US Labor Secretary Perez, in which she stressed the particular importance of improving participation rates for women and young people.

We have seen a significant improvement in unemployment rates in the UK as the economy returns to sustainable growth. But as Senator Abetz said, whatever the overall rates, if you’re out of work and struggling to find a job it’s a personal crisis. So this week’s meeting is a really good chance for countries to share experiences of what works, and help contribute to the overall G20 target of adding an extra 2% to economic growth.

Ms McVey also took the opportunity to meet local staff from Australia’s Job Services and to visit a private sector employment services provider, Sarina Russo, to see their operation in Fitzroy. The Russo group are also significant players in the UK market, making a valuable contribution to tackling unemployment there.

Employment ministers from around the world were also delighted to have the opportunity to meet some iconic Australian marsupials, at the opening event at the legendary Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Rt Hon Esther McVey, HE Paul Madden, Koalas
Rt Hon Esther McVey, HE Paul Madden, Koalas

About Paul Madden

Paul Madden has been the British Ambassador to Japan from January 2017. He was Additional Director for Asia Pacific at the FCO in 2015.He was British High Commissioner to Australia…

Paul Madden has been the British Ambassador to Japan from January 2017.

He was Additional Director for Asia Pacific at the FCO in 2015.He was British High Commissioner to Australia until February 2015. Prior to this he was British High Commissioner in Singapore from 2007-2011.

A career diplomat, he was previously Managing Director at UK Trade and Investment (2004-2006), responsible for co-ordinating and
implementing international trade development strategies to support
companies across a wide range of business sectors.

As Assistant Director of Information at the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office (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 was Deputy High Commissioner in Singapore from 2000-2003 and has
also served in Washington (1996-2000) and Tokyo (1988-92). Between
1992-96 he worked on EU enlargement and Environmental issues at the FCO
in London.

Before joining FCO he worked at the Department of Trade and Industry
(1980-87) on a range of industrial sectors and trade policy, including
two years as a minister’s Private Secretary.

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. His first book, Raffles: Lessons in Business
Leadership, was published in 2003.

Married to Sarah, with three children, he was born in 1959, in Devon.

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