UK names David Concar as Chile ambassador, March 2026
The UK has named David Concar as the next British ambassador to Chile, with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office confirming he will take up the post in March 2026. He will succeed Louise de Sousa, who is moving to another diplomatic role, according to the FCDO notice.
If you teach or study politics, this is a neat real‑world case to learn what ambassadors actually do. An ambassador leads the embassy, represents the UK to the host government, and is the senior voice on issues from trade and climate to culture and security. Day to day, that means advising ministers in London, meeting Chilean officials, supporting British nationals in emergencies, and helping UK businesses and researchers build partnerships.
How do these appointments happen? In the UK system, the FCDO runs a competitive process, the host country must signal its agreement (a step called agrément under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations), and the ambassador receives a formal appointment on behalf of His Majesty. Ahead of departure there is pre‑posting preparation, including language training and briefings on local politics, economics and consular risks.
Why Chile, and why now? Chile is a stable democracy with strong institutions and a technology‑ready economy. It is a leading copper producer with significant lithium reserves used in batteries, and it is building a reputation in green hydrogen and clean energy. For the UK, that means obvious links across science, climate policy, renewable energy, and responsible mining-areas where diplomacy, trade and research intersect.
Concar’s CV is unusually accessible for students of science and diplomacy. Before joining the Foreign Office in 2004, he worked as a BBC News correspondent and later served as Deputy Editor at New Scientist. He then moved into government roles in Beijing focused on science, innovation, climate change and energy-experience that maps directly onto Chile’s strengths in research, critical minerals and clean tech.
He later headed the International Organisations Department and served as Commonwealth Envoy, giving him multilateral experience that matters for climate negotiations and UN work. Stints as Acting Director of Protocol and Head of the British Indian Ocean Territory Unit added practical knowledge of how the diplomatic system functions, from ceremonies to complex sovereignty issues.
Concar has also led through challenging postings. He was the UK’s ambassador in Mogadishu from 2017 to 2019 and then High Commissioner in Dar es Salaam from 2020 to 2024. If you’re new to the term, High Commissioners are the equivalent of ambassadors between Commonwealth countries; the title changes, but the senior leadership responsibilities are similar.
What might land on his desk in Santiago? Expect work on UK‑Chile climate cooperation, green technology and research exchanges; support for fair, safe trade in minerals needed for the energy transition; and education links between British and Chilean universities. There will also be the core consular task of helping British nationals and coordinating during crises such as natural disasters.
Media literacy tip: government appointment notices are short by design. Look for three signals-who is replacing whom, the start date, and the CV highlights that hint at policy priorities. Here, the science and climate strand in Concar’s background points to a posting where research diplomacy will be front and centre.
Timeline check: the FCDO says Concar will take up the role in March 2026 after pre‑posting and language training during 2025. Until then, embassy work in Santiago continues under current leadership, and we’ll keep an eye on any updates from the FCDO if timings shift.