Minister , British Embassy Beijing
What was the occupation of Chris Wood (diplomat) from 2008 to 2012?
Chris Wood ( diplomat ) Christopher Terence Wood ( 19 January 1959 ) , is a British diplomat serving as the British Consul General to Shanghai since 2019 . His previous assignments included Representative , British Office Taipei from 2013 to 2016 , Minister , British Embassy Beijing ( 2008–2012 ) , Director for the Americas , Foreign and Commonwealth Office ( 2007–2008 ) and the British Consul-General to Guangzhou ( 2003–2006 ) . A native of West Midlands , England , Wood was educated in the county , and graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1981 , in which year he entered the FCO . In addition to the diplomatic service , Wood has also worked in other government departments including the Cabinet Office , the Department of Environment and on secondment to the Government of British Hong Kong . Wood undertook Chinese language training through the FCO in 1982–84 , and has worked variously in Hong Kong and in the British missions in Guangzhou and Beijing . Wood then served in Taiwan as the British head of mission there , dealing with the Taiwan–United Kingdom relations , during which time the British Trade and Cultural Office ( BTCO ) , predecessor of the British Office Taipei , was renamed . He currently serves as Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to China and Mongolia . Biography . Early years . Chris Wood was born in Wolverhampton , Staffordshire on 19 January 1959 . He was educated at Cotwall End Primary School and High Arcal Grammar School in the same county . When he was 16 , Wood took part in career advice planning , which encouraged him to consider entering the diplomatic service . In 1981 , Wood graduated with the degree of B.A . ( Hons ) in Modern and Medieval Languages from Fitzwilliam College , Cambridge , where he studied French and German . Career diplomat . Wood joined the FCO right after his graduation in 1981 , working initially as Desk Officer and Third Secretary in the Western European Department . Between 1982 and 1984 , he undertook language training in Chinese in both London ( at the School of Oriental and African Studies – SOAS ) and at the Ministry of Defence Chinese Language School in Hong Kong.He was then seconded to the Hong Kong Government as Assistant Political Adviser , taking part in the Sino-British Negotiations regarding the Transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong . After returning to the FCO in 1987 , he was assigned to the Hong Kong Department to head its Future Section , then he worked in the Security Co-ordination Department from 1989 to 1991 . From 1992 to 1998 , Wood worked in the Department of the Environment ( subsequently the Department of the Environment , Transport and the Regions ) , where his roles included head of the European Community Branch , head of the International Air Pollution Branch , and Private Secretary to the Ministers of State ( 1995–1998 ) . During his time in the Economic & Domestic Secretariat , Cabinet Office ( 1998–2001 ) , he served as secretary to several Cabinet Committees including those on Public expenditure , economic affairs , environmental issues , local government and welfare reform . From 2001 to 2002 , he became Head of International & Policy Team , Deputy Prime Minister’s Central Policy Group , Cabinet Office ( subsequently the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister . He returned to the FCO in 2003 , being posted as British Consul-General in Guangzhou from 2003–2006 and working as Director for the Americas in the FCO London from 2007–2008 . He returned to China as Minister and Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Beijing from 2009–2012 . He was Head of the British Trade & Cultural Office ( subsequently British Office ) in Taiwan from 2013 until 2016 . Wood was Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to China and Mongolia from September 2016 until March 2019 when British diplomats became no longer eligible to represent the EU .