Laura Clarke
OBE
Clarke in 2018
Governor of Pitcairn
In office
25 January 2018[1] – 7 July 2022
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded byRobin Shackell
Succeeded byIona Thomas
British High Commissioner to New Zealand
In office
25 January 2018 – 7 July 2022
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Boris Johnson
Preceded byJonathan Sinclair
Succeeded byIona Thomas
Personal details
Born (1978-06-03) 3 June 1978
Alma materUniversity of Cambridge
London School of Economics[2]
Occupation
  • Diplomat
  • CEO

Laura Mary Clarke OBE (born 3 June 1978) is the CEO of ClientEarth[3] a global non-profit environmental law organisation. She is a former British diplomat, who served as the British High Commissioner to New Zealand, and the Governor of Pitcairn.

Biography

Clarke is the CEO of ClientEarth, having taken over from founding-CEO James Thornton.

Clarke took up her role as High Commissioner to New Zealand, and Governor of the Pitcairn Islands in January 2018. Her previous role was as the UK Government's India Co-ordinator and Head of the South Asia Department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. While serving in these roles she was ranked as one of the most influential people in UK-India relations.[4] Other roles included Political Counsellor in Pretoria, South Africa, Chief of Staff to the Minister for Europe, and roles in the Ministry of Justice, British Parliament and European Commission.[5]

Clarke served as non-Resident British High Commissioner to Samoa from March 2018 to December 2019, when the British Government established a Resident High Commission in Samoa.[6]

In her role as High Commissioner to New Zealand, Clarke placed an emphasis on strengthening relations with Māori of New Zealand.[7] In November 2018 the British High Commission employed its first Maori adviser and also a language teacher for Clarke.[8] In October 2019 Clarke expressed regret, on behalf of the British Government, for the killing of 9 Māori during the first encounters with the crew of James Cook’s Endeavour.[9][10]

In July 2020, Clarke launched UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement Negotiations alongside PM Jacinda Ardern and NZ Trade Minister David Parker.[11]

Clarke hosted the British High Commission podcast, ‘Tea with the High Commission’, with guests including Jacinda Ardern,[12] actor Sam Neill[13] and comedian Eddie Izzard.[14]

As Governor of Pitcairn, Clarke had oversight of governance and economic support for the Pitcairn Islands. She and her husband made a film of her first visit.[15]

Clarke is married to Toby Fisher, a New Zealander, and they have three children.[16]

She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to British foreign policy.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Pitcairn Islands Government 2019". theodora.com. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  2. ↑ Laura Clarke - LinkedIn
  3. ↑ "ClientEarth announces Laura Clarke OBE as its new CEO". www.clientearth.org. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  4. ↑ IndiaInc (2017). "100 Most Influential in UK-India Relations" (PDF).
  5. ↑ "Ms Laura Clarke". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  6. ↑ The Asian Independent (26 October 2018). "UK & Samoa – A historic relationship set to become stronger".
  7. ↑ The Guardian (2 January 2020). "Here's why the UK wants to strengthen its relationship with New Zealand Māori". TheGuardian.com.
  8. ↑ Ainge Roy, Eleanor (5 November 2018). "UK high commission in New Zealand to recruit Māori adviser and te reo teacher". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  9. ↑ The Gisborne Herald (3 October 2019). "Iwi respond to British 'regret'".
  10. ↑ New Zealand Herald (23 October 2019). "Laura Clarke, the British diplomat who made history".
  11. ↑ Radio New Zealand. "NZ begins free trade talks for 'comprehensive' deal with UK". Radio New Zealand.
  12. ↑ Tea with the High Commission. "Jacinda Ardern". ukinnz.podbean.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  13. ↑ Tea with the High Commission. "Sam Neill". ukinnz.podbean.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  14. ↑ Tea with the High Commission. "Eddie Izzard". ukinnz.podbean.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  15. ↑ "The Governor of Pitcairn Island Laura Clarke's first journey to the remote islands - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  16. ↑ Harris, Dominic (26 October 2019). "Chef hopes beer-shout offer if England beat ABs isn't a half-baked idea". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  17. ↑ "No. 63218". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2020. p. N26.
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