By Staff Reporter

BRITAIN has appointed Gill Lever OBE as new ambassador to Zimbabwe, replacing Peter Vowles, who has been transferred Nigeria.

Lever will take up her appointment in September.

She moves to Harare from Nigeria where she was deputy high commissioner.

Lever is a career diplomat with extensive experience across Africa, Asia and Europe.

Her overseas postings have included Romania, India, Japan and South Sudan, where she served as Deputy Head of Mission in Juba.

She has held a diverse range of roles at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, including Head of Overseas Health and Welfare, Deputy Head of South East Asia Department, Human Resources Business Partner for Europe, Africa and Asia and on the Africa Peacekeeping policy desk in the UN Department.

In 2021, Gill was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her service to Health and Welfare and British Nationals while working on front line Covid-19 pandemic response.

Beyond her diplomatic career, Gill has worked in the voluntary sector, establishing child drowning prevention programmes and raising funds for women’s and children’s projects across the world.

She is a qualified swimming teacher, open water swimmer, and a strong advocate for women’s leadership and political participation.