Louise Cantillon is to become Britain’s next High Commissioner to New Zealand, taking over the diplomatic post from Iona Thomas OBE later this month.
Cantillon has also been appointed Governor of the Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, extending her responsibilities across a group of British Overseas Territories in the Pacific.
The appointment was announced by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office on Friday, with Cantillon expected to take up her new position during August.
She succeeds Thomas, who is moving to another role within the Diplomatic Service.
Cantillon arrives in Wellington with extensive experience of Britain’s diplomatic, trade and commercial interests across the Asia-Pacific region. Most recently, she served in Sydney as British Consul General and Deputy Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, a position she held from 2021 to 2026.
Her career has included senior diplomatic and commercial assignments in China and Australia, giving her more than two decades of experience working on Britain's international trade, investment and diplomatic priorities in the region.
Before moving to Australia, Cantillon spent three years at the British Consulate in Shanghai, first as Head of Infrastructure and Creative Industries and later as Minister Counsellor for Creative, Consumer and Education affairs.
Her earlier career included seven years with the British Council, where she worked as Head of the Project Management Office and Senior Asset Manager for Asia. She also held commercial and construction-sector positions in the UK and China.
Cantillon began her diplomatic career in Beijing, serving as a Commercial Officer at the British Embassy between 1998 and 2002. She subsequently became China Trade Manager at the Manchester Chamber of Commerce before returning to China as Chief Representative for Polartech Ltd in Shanghai, Suzhou and Beijing.
Her appointment comes as Britain continues to strengthen its economic, diplomatic and security relationships across the Indo-Pacific, with New Zealand remaining one of the UK's closest partners in the region.
Cantillon's combination of diplomatic, trade and commercial experience is expected to place economic ties and regional engagement high on her agenda as she begins her tenure in Wellington.
Cantillon will formally begin her new assignment in August 2026.
