Robert Andrew Burns
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Andrew Burns, KCMG (born 21 July 1943) is a former diplomat
in the British
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
.
. He graduated from Trinity College
, Cambridge
with a Master of Arts (MA).
and Macau
between 1997 and 2000. He held the office of the British High Commissioner to Canada from 2000 to 2003.
, a constituent college of the University of London
. He is also Chair of the Committee of University Chairs.
In June 2010, he was appointed the United Kingdom’s first Envoy for post-Holocaust issues.
in 1992, and as a Knight
of the order in 1997. He was invested as a Fellow of the RSA in 1997.
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
in the British
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...
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...
.
Early life
He was born on 21 July 1943 and educated at Highgate SchoolHighgate School
-Notable members of staff and governing body:* John Ireton, brother of Henry Ireton, Cromwellian General* 1st Earl of Mansfield, Lord Chief Justice, owner of Kenwood, noted for judgment finding contracts for slavery unenforceable in English law* T. S...
. He graduated from Trinity College
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
with a Master of Arts (MA).
Diplomatic career
He was with the Diplomatic Service between 1965 and 2003. He held the office of Ambassador to Israel between 1992 and 1995 and later held the office of Consul-General to Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
between 1997 and 2000. He held the office of the British High Commissioner to Canada from 2000 to 2003.
Subsequent career
He is the Chairman of the Council of Royal HollowayRoyal Holloway, University of London
Royal Holloway, University of London is a constituent college of the University of London. The college has three faculties, 18 academic departments, and about 8,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from over 130 different countries...
, a constituent college of the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. He is also Chair of the Committee of University Chairs.
In June 2010, he was appointed the United Kingdom’s first Envoy for post-Holocaust issues.
Honours and decorations
He was invested as a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St GeorgeOrder of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in 1992, and as a Knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
of the order in 1997. He was invested as a Fellow of the RSA in 1997.