Gill Lever OBE has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office announced today.
Mrs Lever will succeed Peter Vowles, who is transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. The department said she will take up the Zimbabwe post during September 2026.
The appointment follows a career in the Foreign Office and overseas postings. Mrs Lever served as Deputy High Commissioner in Abuja from 2023 to 2026 and as Deputy Head of Mission in Juba from 2022 to 2023.
Before those roles, she was Head of Overseas Health and Welfare at the FCDO between 2018 and 2022. From 2014 to 2018, she was in Vietnam, where she was President of Hanoi International Women’s Club and manager of the Hue Help Drowning Prevention Programme.
Her previous departmental work included Deputy Head of South-East Asia Department from 2009 to 2011 and HR Business Partner for Africa, Asia, Europe and Global Issues from 2006 to 2009.
Mrs Lever also served in Tokyo as First Secretary Management from 2001 to 2006. Earlier appointments included work in the FCO’s UN Department on the Africa Peacekeeping Team from 1997 to 2001, and as Entry Clearance Officer in Mumbai from 1994 to 1997.
The published career history said she joined the FCO in 1989 after work in the Research and Analysis Department’s Asia Pacific Section. She later served in the Hong Kong Department’s Administration Section and as Third Secretary Political in Bucharest.