Barbara Woodward

Barbara Woodward
Woodward in 2014
Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations
In office
6 August 2020 – 3 October 2025
MonarchsElizabeth II
Charles III
Prime MinisterBoris Johnson
Liz Truss
Rishi Sunak
Keir Starmer
Preceded byDame Karen Pierce
Succeeded byTo be announced
British Ambassador to China
In office
19 February 2015 – 6 August 2020
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Theresa May
Boris Johnson
Preceded bySir Sebastian Wood
Succeeded byDame Caroline Wilson
Personal details
BornBarbara Janet Woodward
(1961-05-29) 29 May 1961
Gipping, Suffolk, England
Alma materUniversity of St Andrews
Yale University
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Dame Barbara Janet Woodward GCMG OBE (born 29 May 1961) is a British diplomat and China expert. She served as Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations from 2020 to 2025, having previously been the British Ambassador to China from 2015 to 2020, the first woman to hold that position. She currently serves as a Deputy National Security Adviser to the United Kingdom, responsible for international affairs.