Paul Madden (diplomat)

Paul Madden
CMG FRGS
British Ambassador to Japan
In office
January 2017 – February 2021
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Boris Johnson
Preceded bySir Tim Hitchens
Succeeded byJulia Longbottom
British High Commissioner to Australia
In office
2011–2015
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byBaroness Amos
Succeeded byMenna Rawlings
British High Commissioner to Singapore
In office
2007–2011
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterTony Blair
Gordon Brown
David Cameron
Preceded bySir Alan Collins
Succeeded byAntony Phillipson
Personal details
Born (1959-04-25) 25 April 1959 (age 65)
Devon, England
SpouseSarah
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Cambridge
Durham University
SOAS

Paul Damian Madden CMG FRGS (born 25 April 1959) is a retired[1] British diplomat, who was High Commissioner to Singapore and to Australia, and Ambassador to Japan between 2017 and 2021.

Education

Madden was educated at The King's School, Ottery St Mary, and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where he gained a BA degree in economic geography (later upgraded to MA). He has a Master of Business Administration degree from Durham University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

In 1983, Madden entered an essay contest sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was granted a study tour in Japan. He learned Japanese at the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies and the British Embassy's school in Kamakura.[2]

Career

Madden began his career in the Department of Trade and Industry where he was Private Secretary to the Minister 1984–86. He then studied Japanese at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and at Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan, before joining the Diplomatic Service. He served at the Embassy in Tokyo 1988–92, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), dealing with EU enlargement and Environmental issues, 1992–96, and at the Embassy in Washington, D.C. 1996–2000. He was Deputy High Commissioner in Singapore 2000–03, assistant director of Information at the FCO 2003–04, and managing director at UK Trade & Investment 2004–06. He was British High Commissioner in Singapore 2007–11 and High Commissioner to Australia 2011–15.[3][4]

Madden was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2013 Birthday Honours, for services to the UK and improving UK-Australian relations.[5]

In April 2016 Madden was appointed British Ambassador to Japan in succession to Tim Hitchens.[6] He took up his appointment in January 2017 as planned.[7]

As ambassador to Japan

British Ambassador to Japan Presentation Ceremony Bar at the Imperial Palace in Japan

On 18 January 2017, Madden completed the Ceremony of the Presentation of Credentials which was held at Tokyo Imperial Palace.[8]

Madden represented UK-Japan relations during a period in which the two countries had £32 billion in bilateral yearly trade. He oversaw regular visits to Japan by the Royal Navy during a period of increased tensions with China and North Korea. He also supported the creation of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in the aftermath of Britain's departure from the European Union and successfully lobbied the Japanese government to support the UK's application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.[2]

On 6 August 2017, Madden attended the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony held in Hiroshima City.[9]

In 2019, Madden accompanied the Prince of Wales to the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito and attended the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which was hosted by Japan.[2]

In February 2020, SARS-CoV-2 reached Japan on board the Japanese-built, British-registered Diamond Princess cruise ship. Madden worked with Japanese authorities to arrange evacuation from the ship.[2]

Madden retired in March 2021 and was replaced as Ambassador to Japan by Julia Longbottom.[1]

Bibliography

Books

  • Madden, Paul (2003). Raffles : lessons in business leadership. Singapore: WhosWho Publishing.

Plays

Madden wrote a play, "Alternate Serve",[10] that was played at the Sydney Short and Sweet Theatre Festival, on 28 January 2015.[citation needed]

Book reviews

Date Review article Work(s) reviewed
April 2013 Madden, Paul (April 2013). "Raffles' prize". Australian Book Review. 350: 46. Glendinning, Victoria (2012). Raffles and the golden opportunity, 1781-1826. London: Profile Books.

References

  1. ^ a b "Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Japan: Julia Longbottom". GOV.UK. Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
  2. ^ a b c d Madden, Paul (22 February 2021). "Farewell to Japan". Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  3. ^ "His Excellency Paul Madden CMG". gov.uk.
  4. ^ "Change of British High Commissioner to Australia". Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 20 November 2014.
  5. ^ "No. 60534". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 June 2013. p. 3.
  6. ^ "Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Japan". Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 7 April 2016.
  7. ^ "British Ambassador to Japan: His Excellency Paul Madden CMG". GOV.UK. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  8. ^ "駐日英国大使の信任状捧呈" [The Presentation of Credentials from The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]. MOFA, Japan. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  9. ^ "平成29年(2017年)度の平和記念式典参列大使" [List of attendees as ambassador to "The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony in 2017"]. Hiroshima City Office (in Japanese). 21 October 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Paul Madden's Tweet about his Play". Paul Madden. 29 January 2015.
  • MADDEN, Paul Damian, Who's Who 2013, A & C Black, 2013; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2012
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by British High Commissioner to
Singapore
2007–2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by British High Commissioner to
Australia
2011–2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by British Ambassador to
Japan
2017–2021 		Succeeded by