KINGSTON, Jamaica — Alicia Herbert OBE has been appointed as the new British High Commissioner to Jamaica, replacing Judith Slater, and is set to officially assume her role in September 2025.

Herbert will make history as one of the first UK Heads of Mission born in the Caribbean to be posted to the region, a milestone noted during a send-off meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who wished her well as she transitioned from Scotland to Jamaica.

According to The Herald, the two met to acknowledge the significance of the appointment and discuss the shared historical ties between Scotland and Jamaica, which Herbert is hoping to represent during her time as commisioner.

“I feel like my life’s gone full circle,” said Herbert. “There aren’t many roles [that] could have persuaded me to leave Scotland, but having first come to the UK on a scholarship, I simply couldn’t resist going back to the region of my birth to represent the UK as high commissioner to Jamaica.”

Herbert, 57, brings extensive diplomatic experience to the role. She previously oversaw nearly 1,000 Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) staff in Scotland, based at Abercrombie House in East Kilbride, and has served as the UK’s Special Envoy for Gender Equality.

Her work has taken her across the globe and into some of the world’s most challenging environments. Herbert has tackled gender-based violence and extremism in Nigeria, faced the dangers of conflict in war-torn Sudan, and worked on HIV/AIDS intervention efforts in Mozambique.

Despite her deep affection for Scotland, Herbert shared that this new role is one she felt compelled to take.

“Having first come to the UK on a scholarship, I simply couldn’t resist going back to the region of my birth,” she reiterated.

Her appointment has been met with excitement, not only from her professional peers but also from her family, who are said to be “thrilled” about her new post as the UK’s top diplomat in Jamaica.