Michael Nevin

Michael Nevin has been appointed as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Iceland. He is expected to take up the role during September 2016.

History of employment and secondment to RICU

Nevin joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1993 where he acted as an assistant desk officer in the China and Taiwan Section until 1995. In 1995 he undertook temporary duties as an entry clearance officer in Saudi Arabia and as a United Nations (UN) conference officer for the UK Mission to the UN (New York). Between 1996 and 2000, Nevin worked as a management officer in Japan, before acting both as the second secretary political affairs officer and the press and public affairs officer in Malawi until 2003. Nevin next worked for the FCO as an Arab reform officer for the Middle East North Africa Directorate (2003-2004), as the policy team leader for the Engaging with the Islamic World programme (2004-2006) and as the Counter Terrorism Prevent Communications team leader (2006-2007).

In 2007-2008, Nevin undertook a secondment to the British Home Office’s Research, Information and Communications Unit (RICU). A 2008 FCO report on 'The Language of Counter-Terrorism' quoted Nevin as stating: “Too often have governments tried to push out their message, without putting the audience first and seeing how the objectives of the message can best resonate with them.” The report suggested that – consistent with RICU’s recommendations – Government officials had begun to modify their language to avoid alienating Muslim communities.

Following his secondment to RICU, Nevin worked as a political counsellor in Nairobi (2008-2012), before acting as British High Commissioner in Malawi until 2016.