London, September 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron has been appointed the new Permanent Under-Secretary (PUS) at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), becoming the first woman to hold the top civil service position at the department.
The appointment was announced by the FCDO on Thursday. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said Cameron brought extensive experience in diplomacy, development and national security, along with a strong record of leadership in postings around the world.
“I am delighted that Lindy Cameron has been appointed as Permanent Under Secretary of the FCDO. Lindy brings enormous experience across the fields of diplomacy, development and national security, and a reputation for dynamic leadership in postings across the world, most recently as High Commissioner in India,” Miliband said.
He said Cameron would lead an FCDO committed to advancing British values and interests by drawing on the expertise of its staff. Miliband also thanked Nick Dyer for his work as Interim Permanent Under-Secretary.
Cameron said she was proud to have the opportunity to lead Britain’s diplomats and development professionals in her new role.
“Having served at home and abroad with both DFID and FCO since joining the Civil Service in 1998, I couldn’t be prouder to have the opportunity to lead our amazing diplomats and development professionals as Permanent Secretary of the FCDO,” she said.
Reflecting on her tenure in India, Cameron said she had witnessed the impact Britain could make across the UK and abroad, including through its partnership with India.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved in India, and I will be sad to leave, but I can’t wait to get started on this new challenge,” she added.
Cameron’s appointment followed an external recruitment exercise chaired by the independent First Civil Service Commissioner. The FCDO said arrangements for appointing her successor as British High Commissioner to India would be announced in due course.
Cameron has served as Britain’s High Commissioner to India since April 2024. Before that, she was CEO of the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre from 2020 to 2024, following more than two decades of experience in international development, national security policy and crisis management.
She previously served as Director-General at the Northern Ireland Office and Director General for Country Programmes at the Department for International Development (DFID).
Her earlier roles included leading DFID’s humanitarian, conflict and Middle East policy following the Arab Spring, working at the Cabinet Office during the financial crisis, heading the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan’s Helmand, undertaking senior staff courses with the Ministry of Defence, and serving as head of the cross-government Stabilisation Unit.
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