Dr David Ellis
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-05)

Dr David Ellis was British Ambassador to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from December 2021 to February 2025. Previous roles 2016 to 2020: Minister and Deputy Head of Mission to Japan. Responsibilities included advancing UK-Japan relations on political and security issues and oversaw consular, visa and corporate operations. 2011 to 2015: Minister-Counsellor (Political), British Embassy Beijing. Responsibilities included leading political teams covering Chinese domestic politics, human rights, and foreign and security policy. 2007 to 2011: Director of Corporate Services and Consul-General, British Embassy Tokyo. Responsibilities included consular, security, corporate change programmes. 2004 to 2007: Deputy Head of Afghanistan Group, Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) London. Responsibilities included planning and delivery of the UK’s security policy for Southern Afghanistan. 2002 to 2004: Deputy Head of Far Eastern Department, FCO London. Responsibilities included China-EU relations, Cross-Straits relations, East Asian security, Human Rights and UK-China bilateral relations. 1999 to 2002: First Secretary (Political), British Embassy, Beijing. Responsibilities included reporting and analysis of domestic politics, analysis of senior leadership policies and ideological developments. 1996 to 1999: Joined the FCO. Research Officer, then Senior Research Officer, North East Asia and Pacific Research Group, Research Analysts. Specialised in Chinese politics and East Asian security. David holds a MA (Hons) in Chinese and a PhD in 17th century Chinese literature, both from the University of Edinburgh. Follow David on X: @DavidEllisFCDO .

Dr David Ellis was British Ambassador to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from December 2021 to February 2025.

Previous roles

2016 to 2020: Minister and Deputy Head of Mission to Japan. Responsibilities included advancing UK-Japan relations on political and security issues and oversaw consular, visa and corporate operations.

2011 to 2015: Minister-Counsellor (Political), British Embassy Beijing. Responsibilities included leading political teams covering Chinese domestic politics, human rights, and foreign and security policy.

2007 to 2011: Director of Corporate Services and Consul-General, British Embassy Tokyo. Responsibilities included consular, security, corporate change programmes.

2004 to 2007: Deputy Head of Afghanistan Group, Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) London. Responsibilities included planning and delivery of the UK’s security policy for Southern Afghanistan.

2002 to 2004: Deputy Head of Far Eastern Department, FCO London. Responsibilities included China-EU relations, Cross-Straits relations, East Asian security, Human Rights and UK-China bilateral relations.

1999 to 2002: First Secretary (Political), British Embassy, Beijing. Responsibilities included reporting and analysis of domestic politics, analysis of senior leadership policies and ideological developments.

1996 to 1999: Joined the FCO. Research Officer, then Senior Research Officer, North East Asia and Pacific Research Group, Research Analysts. Specialised in Chinese politics and East Asian security.

David holds a MA (Hons) in Chinese and a PhD in 17th century Chinese literature, both from the University of Edinburgh.

Follow David on X: @DavidEllisFCDO (https://x.com/davidellisfcdo).