Giles Paxman
Encyclopedia
H.E. Timothy Giles Paxman, LVO
(born November 15, 1951) is the current Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Spain.
Giles Paxman was educated at Malvern College
and New College, Oxford
. Before becoming the Ambassador to Mexico
, Paxman served in several other diplomatic positions in France
, Italy
, and Belgium
.
between 1974 and 1978.
From 1978 to 1979, he attended the esteemed École nationale d'administration
in Paris
, the same school as Jacques Chirac
, among many other famous alumni. Afterwards, he worked for the Department of Transport
, until 1980.
Between 1980-1984, Paxman served as the United Kingdom
's Permanent Representative to the EC for Environment, Consumer Affairs and the Internal Market in Brussels
.
During the mid-eighties, Paxman worked for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
, first in the European Community Department (External) between 1984-1986, then in the Southern European Department, between 1986-1988.
In 1988, he was appointed Head of Chancery for the British Embassy in Singapore, a position he held until 1991, when he took a position as Deputy Head of the Assessments Staff in the Cabinet Office
, until 1993.
Between 1994-1998, Giles Paxman was the Counsellor of Economic and Commercial Affairs in Rome
.
Between 1999-2002, Paxman worked with the UK Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels
, after which, in 2002, he was appointed Minister and Deputy Head of the Mission at the UK Embassy in Paris
and Counsellor of Political and Institutional Affairs.
On June 16, 2005, the UK Government announced that Paxman had been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to The United Mexican States (Mexico
). He moved to Mexico and assumed his role as the Ambassador on October 3, 2005. Only weeks later, on October 25, he travelled to Cancún
to oversee the evacuation of British nationals affected by Hurricane Wilma
.
Paxman became Her Majesty's Ambassador to Spain on October 19, 2009.
Giles Paxman is married to Ségolène Cayol. He is a Lieutenant in the Royal Victorian Order
.
He has three daughters, Julia, Lauren and Alice, born in 1982, 1984 and 1988.
His older brother Jeremy
is a journalist for the BBC
.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(born November 15, 1951) is the current Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Spain.
Giles Paxman was educated at Malvern College
Malvern College
Malvern College is a coeducational independent school located on a 250 acre campus near the town centre of Malvern, Worcestershire in England. Founded on 25 January 1865, until 1992, the College was a secondary school for boys aged 13 to 18...
and New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
. Before becoming the Ambassador to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Paxman served in several other diplomatic positions in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Career
Giles Paxman worked in the Department of the EnvironmentSecretary of State for the Environment
The Secretary of State for the Environment was a UK cabinet position, responsible for the Department of the Environment . This was created by Edward Heath as a combination of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Public Building and Works on 15...
between 1974 and 1978.
From 1978 to 1979, he attended the esteemed École nationale d'administration
École nationale d'administration
The École Nationale d'Administration , one of the most prestigious of French graduate schools , was created in 1945 by Charles de Gaulle to democratise access to the senior civil service. It is now entrusted with the selection and initial training of senior French officials...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, the same school as Jacques Chirac
Jacques Chirac
Jacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the...
, among many other famous alumni. Afterwards, he worked for the Department of Transport
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
, until 1980.
Between 1980-1984, Paxman served as the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Permanent Representative to the EC for Environment, Consumer Affairs and the Internal Market in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
.
During the mid-eighties, Paxman worked for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
, first in the European Community Department (External) between 1984-1986, then in the Southern European Department, between 1986-1988.
In 1988, he was appointed Head of Chancery for the British Embassy in Singapore, a position he held until 1991, when he took a position as Deputy Head of the Assessments Staff in the Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
, until 1993.
Between 1994-1998, Giles Paxman was the Counsellor of Economic and Commercial Affairs in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
Between 1999-2002, Paxman worked with the UK Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, after which, in 2002, he was appointed Minister and Deputy Head of the Mission at the UK Embassy in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Counsellor of Political and Institutional Affairs.
On June 16, 2005, the UK Government announced that Paxman had been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to The United Mexican States (Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
). He moved to Mexico and assumed his role as the Ambassador on October 3, 2005. Only weeks later, on October 25, he travelled to Cancún
Cancún
Cancún is a city of international tourism development certified by the UNWTO . Located on the northeast coast of Quintana Roo in southern Mexico, more than 1,700 km from Mexico City, the Project began operations in 1974 as Integrally Planned Center, a pioneer of FONATUR Cancún is a city of...
to oversee the evacuation of British nationals affected by Hurricane Wilma
Hurricane Wilma
Hurricane Wilma was the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Wilma was the twenty-second storm , thirteenth hurricane, sixth major hurricane, and fourth Category 5 hurricane of the record-breaking 2005 season...
.
Paxman became Her Majesty's Ambassador to Spain on October 19, 2009.
Giles Paxman is married to Ségolène Cayol. He is a Lieutenant in the Royal Victorian Order
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
.
He has three daughters, Julia, Lauren and Alice, born in 1982, 1984 and 1988.
His older brother Jeremy
Jeremy Paxman
Jeremy Dickson Paxman is a British journalist, author and television presenter. He has worked for the BBC since 1977. He is noted for a forthright and abrasive interviewing style, particularly when interrogating politicians...
is a journalist for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
External links
- Mexican Foreign Relations office
- Debrett's biography of HE Mr Giles Paxman, LVO.
- Our Ambassador. Office website of the British Embassy in Madrid.
- Jeremy Paxman's younger brother set to be UK Ambassador in Spain. Coastal Rader. Issue 132/4. September 2009. Pp 1.
- British Ambassador, Giles Paxman, presents his credentials to King Juan Carlos. SpanishVida. January 11 2010.