ISLAMABAD/LONDON: Fouzia Younis, a British Pakistani diplomat, has made history once again as she has been appointed as His Majesty’s British Consul General to Toronto.
Fouzia Younis, currently in Islamabad working as a senior British diplomat, will soon leave for Canada to take up her new job.
She said on Twitter: “Privileged to be appointed as His Majesty’s British Consul General to Toronto. Special moment as we think it’s the first time (but do not have data) that a British Muslim woman has been appointed Head of a Diplomatic Post. I won’t be the last.
To my aba who used to drop me at Digbeth Coach Station at 4 am so I could get to my work interviews, & my late ama who stood up for 18 year old me to go to uni & waited at bus stops to walk me home through dark streets. You went without for our today. Shukriya
— Fouzia Younis CG 🇬🇧🇨🇦 (@YounisFouzia) March 24, 2023
“To the girls who look like me, who are battling prejudice, sexism and racism from within communities and outside, who are told they cannot do it, or that they do not sound or look the part. Do not let anyone dim your power. You can change the world. Shout out to my colleagues and old/new bosses for your every word of advice and challenge to help me find my voice. We serve and represent the United Kingdom of today, we represent all of us, and we shape all our futures I cannot wait to get cracking in Toronto to do just that!”
Shout out to my colleagues & old/new bosses for your every word of advice & challenge to help me find my voice.
We serve & represent the 🇬🇧 of today, we represent all of us ✊🏼, we shape all our futures 🌍
I can't wait to get cracking in Toronto to do just that!
— Fouzia Younis CG 🇬🇧🇨🇦 (@YounisFouzia) March 24, 2023
Fouzia made history first when she was appointed director of communications at the British High Commission (BHC) in Islamabad over three years back, becoming the first Pakistani-origin diplomat to have been appointed in this role.
Fouzia, who was born in Birmingham to Pakistani parents, is a fluent Punjabi and Urdu speaker. She passed graduation and master’s from the University of Birmingham and the University of Cambridge before joining the United Kingdom Foreign Service.
Fouzia paid tribute to her father, who used to drop her at the coach station at 4 am for her work interviews, and her late mother, who backed her decision to go to university and would walk her house through the dark streets of Birmingham.
She has said her mother, Zohra Begum, who recently passed away after suffering from covid, was a strong advocate of girls’ education and raised four successful children.
She was the communication director for the Pakistan Network and previously the co-chair of the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office Race Network leading a world network of over 300 staff.
Fouzia’s previous diplomatic assignments
Her previous diplomatic assignments included: leading United Kingdom strategic efforts across the Gulf Cooperation Council region, supporting United Kingdom security and humanitarian efforts in Bangladesh, and serving in Sri Lanka during the tussle period.
In Islamabad, Fouzia worked on the Royal Visit, two English cricket, and many other initiatives.
Fouzia was seconded to 10 Downing Street and has led main corporate reform programmes for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Her work has been nominated for many awards, including for innovation and expertise, and she is a passionate advocate for inclusion.
