Catriona Laing

Catriona Laing

British Ambassador to Zimbabwe

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1st July 2012 Harare, Zimbabwe

Catriona Laing

by Catriona Laing

British Ambassador to Zimbabwe

Digging Deep

In the run up to the Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan I have invited members of the PRT to use my blog to talk about their work. The first has been written by Mary Thida-Lun from the PRT’s Socio-Economic Development Team.  51…52…53…54…55…56…57…58…59… Why do those last 10 seconds on the treadmill always stretch out for an eternity? […]

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23rd May 2012 Harare, Zimbabwe

Catriona Laing

by Catriona Laing

British Ambassador to Zimbabwe

"Green on blue" in Helmand – what the international media don’t tell you

So Chicago has come and gone and the outcome has ensured the international community’s commitment post 2014. The funding pledges for Afghan security forces have been made; the international community has signalled it is with Afghanistan for the long-term but reminded their public of why we are here; “ to stop it becoming a haven […]

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21st May 2012 Harare, Zimbabwe

Catriona Laing

by Catriona Laing

British Ambassador to Zimbabwe

Reflections on a newly elected Nahr-E-Saraj District Community Coucil

While I was away, the District Community Council elections took place in Nahr-e-Saraj.  Read the guest blog from our ‘man on the ground’, Jim Haggerty. At first glance it might appear to be business as usual for the residents of Malgir following the District Community Council elections in Nahr-e-Saraj District. Seven incumbent Councillors re-elected to […]

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12th April 2012 Harare, Zimbabwe

Catriona Laing

by Catriona Laing

British Ambassador to Zimbabwe

Injecting the civilian element into military training for Helmand

Transition in Helmand is not limited to Afghans taking the lead.  Change is a constant factor for international civilians and military too. Over the last month we have all been acutely aware of this transition known as the Relief in Place (RiP), where some of the outgoing and incoming soldiers are in theatre at the […]

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31st March 2012 Harare, Zimbabwe

Catriona Laing

by Catriona Laing

British Ambassador to Zimbabwe

A New Dawn for Sangin?

Its not often in recent years that there has been a carnival type atmosphere in the Helmand district of Sangin. Internationally Sangin is known for the large number of ISAF casualties – 100 British, and many US Marine deaths since they took over the battlefield in 2010.   But this week saw a unique event […]

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About Catriona Laing

I was born in Cardiff but brought up in South London. I studied economics and joined the civil service through the Government Economic Service after 2.5 years working for the…

I was born in Cardiff but brought up in South London. I studied
economics and joined the civil service through the Government Economic
Service after 2.5 years working for the Government of Botswana as an
infrastructure economist.
I was posted to Kenya to advise on the government’s development
programmes in East Africa, and then seconded to the United Nations
Mission in Somalia heading the UN Development Office.
I spent five years working for Prime Minister Tony Blair in his
strategy unit, and was later posted to head the DFID office in Sudan
running a £116 million programme and addressing the drivers of conflict.
Most recently I have been working for the Ministry of Justice to
establish the new international function with responsibility for
European and international justice.
I live with my partner – Clive Bates and our Sudanese dog – in
Balham. My hobbies are yoga, dog and mountain walking and cooking.