Chris retired in summer 2023 after a 42-year career in public service, with a strong focus on UK-China relations. Joining the then FCO in 1981, Chris entered full-time language training in Chinese in 1982, and was seconded to the Hong Kong Government from 1984-1987 as Assistant Political Adviser, working on the UK-China negotiations on Hong Kong’s future status, which he continued for 2 further years in London. He then worked for 2 years on counter-terrorism policy and later (2007-08) was the FCO’s Director for the Americas. Further China related work was as Consul-General Guangzhou (2003-6); Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Beijing (2008-12); Director, British Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei (2013-16); Deputy Head, EU Delegation to China for the European External Action Service (2016-19); and Consul-General Shanghai (2019-2023), including during China’s period of extended Covid lockdowns.

Chris also worked at the Department of the Environment (from May 1997 Department of the Environment, Transport & the Regions) (1992-1998), including as Private Secretary to three successive Ministers of State, latterly for the incoming Labour government in 1997. From 1998-2002, Chris also served as Deputy Director for Economic Affairs in the Economic & Domestic Secretariat of the Cabinet Office; and worked closely with John Prescott MP as head of his international and central policy team in the Cabinet Office and then the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. 

Chris has an MA in Modern & Medieval Languages.