Jump to content

Valerie Amos, Baroness Amos

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected fromValerie Amos)

The Right Honourable
The Baroness Amos
LGCHPC
Official portrait, 2013
United NationsUndersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
In office
1 September 2010 – 29 May 2015
Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon
Preceded byJohn Holmes
Succeeded byStephen O'Brien
British High Commissioner to Australia
In office
1 October 2009 – 1 September 2010
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterGordon Brown
David Cameron
Preceded byHelen Liddell
Succeeded byPaul Madden
Leader of the House of Lords
Lord President of the Council
In office
6 October 2003 – 27 June 2007
Prime MinisterTony Blair
Preceded byThe Lord Williams of Mostyn
Succeeded byThe Baroness Ashton of Upholland
Secretary of State for International Development
In office
12 May 2003 – 6 October 2003
Prime MinisterTony Blair
Preceded byClare Short
Succeeded byHilary Benn
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
In office
12 June 2001 – 12 May 2003
Prime MinisterTony Blair
Preceded byThe Baroness Scotland of Asthal
Succeeded byChris Mullin
Baroness-in-Waiting
Government Whip
In office
28 July 1998 – 11 June 2001
Prime MinisterTony Blair
Preceded byThe Baroness Gould of Potternewton
Succeeded byThe Lord Bassam of Brighton
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
Assumed office
24 September 1997
Life peerage
Personal details
Born
Valerie Ann Amos

(1954-03-13)13 March 1954(age 70)[1]
Georgetown,British Guiana(nowGuyana)
Political partyLabour
Alma materUniversity of Birmingham
University of Warwick
University of East Anglia

Valerie Ann Amos, Baroness Amos,LG,CH,PC(born 13 March 1954) is a BritishLabour Partypoliticiananddiplomatwho served as the eighth UNUnder-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.Before her appointment to theUN,she served asBritish High Commissioner to Australia.She was created alife peerin 1997, serving asLeader of the House of LordsandLord President of the Councilfrom 2003 to 2007.

When she was appointedSecretary of State for International Developmenton 12 May 2003, following the resignation ofClare Short,Amos became the firstBlack, Asian and minority ethnic(BAME) woman to serve as aCabinet minister.She left the Cabinet whenGordon BrownbecamePrime Minister.In July 2010,Secretary-General of the United NationsBan Ki-moonannounced Baroness Amos's appointment to the role ofUnder-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.[2]She took up the position on 1 September 2010 and remained in post until 29 May 2015. In September 2015, Amos was appointed Director ofSOAS, University of London,[3]becoming the first black woman to lead a university in the United Kingdom.[4]

Since September 2020, Amos has been Master ofUniversity College, Oxford,succeedingSir Ivor Creweand becoming the first-ever black head of anOxfordcollege, as well as the first woman to head that college.[5][6]

Early life[edit]

Amos was born in 1954 inBritish Guiana(nowGuyana) in South America and, after moving with her family to Great Britain in 1963,[7]she attended Bexley Technical High School for Girls (nowTownley Grammar School),Bexleyheath,where she was the first black deputy head girl. She completed a degree inSociologyat theUniversity of Warwick(1973–76), an MA incultural studiesat theUniversity of Birmingham(where the department was led byStuart Hall),[8]and studied education at theUniversity of East Anglia.

Charity career[edit]

After working in Equal Opportunities, Training and Management Services in local government in theLondon boroughsofLambeth,CamdenandHackney,Amos became Chief Executive of theEqual Opportunities Commissionin 1989, leaving the position in 1994.

In 1995, Amos co-founded the consultancy firm Amos Fraser Bernard and was an adviser to theSouth Africangovernment on public service reform, human rights and employment equity.

Amos during theWEF2013

Amos has also been deputy chair of theRunnymede Trust(1990–1998); a trustee of theInstitute for Public Policy Research;anon-executive directorof theUniversity College London Hospitals Trust;a trustee ofVoluntary Service Overseas;chair of the Afiya Trust; member of the board of the Sierra LeoneTitanium Resources Group;a director ofHampstead Theatre;chair of the Board of Governors of theRoyal College of NursingInstitute;and a trustee, now patron, of the Serious Trust.

House of Lords[edit]

Amos was elevated to thepeeragein August 1997 asBaroness Amos,ofBrondesburyin theLondon Borough of Brent.[9][10]In theHouse of Lords,she was a co-opted member of the Select Committee on European Communities Sub-Committee F (Social Affairs, Education and Home Affairs) from 1997 to 1998. From 1998 to 2001, she was aGovernment Whipin the House of Lords and also a spokesperson on Social Security, International Development and Women's Issues as well as one of the Government's spokespersons in the House of Lords on Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. Baroness Amos was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs on 11 June 2001, with responsibility forAfrica;Commonwealth;Caribbean;Overseas Territories; Consular Issues and FCO Personnel. She was replaced byChris Mullin.

International Development Secretary and Leader of the House of Lords[edit]

After previously threatening to resign as International Development Secretary in the lead-up to the2003 invasion of Iraq,Clare Shorteventually stood down in May 2003 over a draft UN resolution that she felt failed to give "the UN its promised central role in rebuilding Iraq". Baroness Amos, who had been serving as Foreign Office minister and as a spokesperson in the Lords for International Development was swiftly announced as Short's replacement.[11]Her appointment made her "the UK's first black woman cabinet minister" and was an unusual example of a government department being headed by a member of the House of Lords.[11]

Baroness Amos was appointedLeader of the House of Lordson 6 October 2003, following the death ofLord Williams of Mostyn,which meant that her tenure as Secretary of State for International Development lasted less than six months.

On 17 February 2005, theBritish Governmentnominated Lady Amos to head theUnited Nations Development Programme.[12]

Non-governmental roles[edit]

Baroness Amos left the cabinet when Gordon Brown took over as Prime Minister fromTony Blairin June 2007. Brown proposed her as theEuropean Unionspecial representative to theAfrican Union.[13]However,Belgiancareer diplomatKoen Vervaekewas appointed to this role instead. She was a member of theCommittee on Commonwealth Membership,which presented its report on potential changes inmembership criteriafor theCommonwealth of Nationsat theCommonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2007inKampala,Uganda.

On 8 October 2008, it was reported that Amos was to jointhe Football Association's management board for England's bid to host the2018 World Cup.This was described as a "surprise appointment", since she has no recorded interest in football (despite her interest in cricket) or any experience in similar work such as the2012 Olympics bid.[14]

British High Commissioner to Australia[edit]

On 4 July 2009, it was advised that Baroness Amos had been appointedBritish High Commissioner to Australiain succession toHelen Liddell(now Baroness Liddell).[15]Amos took up the position in October 2009.[16]

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator[edit]

In 2010, United Nations Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moonannounced Amos's appointment asUnder-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.[17]In March 2012, she visitedSyriaon behalf of the UN to press the Syrian government to allow access to all parts of Syria to help people affected by the2011–2012 Syrian uprising.[18]

In 2015,World Health Organization(WHO) Director GeneralMargaret Chanappointed Amos as member of the Advisory Group on Reform of WHO's Work in Outbreaks and Emergencies with Health and Humanitarian Consequences.[19]Since 2019, Amos has been serving on theCenter for Strategic & International Studies’ (CSIS) Task Force on Humanitarian Access, co-chaired byCory BookerandTodd Young.[20]

University career[edit]

In September 2015, she became the ninth director ofSOAS University of London,the first woman of African descent to be director of an institute of higher education in Great Britain.[3][4]In 2019, she co-led a report byUniversities (UUK)and theNational Union of Students (NUS)addressing the disparity between the proportion of "top degrees" (first or 2:1 degrees) achieved by white and black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) students.[21]

In January 2021, Amos left her position at SOAS to becomeMasterofUniversity College, Oxford,as both the first woman appointed to that post and the first black head of any Oxford college.[22]

Honours[edit]

Amos was awarded an Honorary Professorship atThames Valley Universityin 1995 in recognition of her work on equality and social justice. On 1 July 2010, she received an honorary doctorate (Hon DUniv) from theUniversity of Stirlingin recognition of her "outstanding service to our society and her role as a model of leadership and success for women today."[23]She has also been awarded thehonorary degreesofDoctor of Laws(Hon LLD) from theUniversity of Warwickin 2000[24]and theUniversity of Leicesterin 2006.[25]

At the University of Birmingham, where she studied as an undergraduate, theGuild of Studentshave named one of the committee rooms "The Amos Room" after her, in acknowledgement of her services to society.[26]

In 2013, Amos was made an honorary Doctor of Civil Law atDurham University.[27]

Amos was appointed a Member of theOrder of the Companions of Honour(CH) in the2016 Birthday Honoursfor services to the United Nations and emergency relief.[28][29]

In 2017, Amos was awarded anhonorary degreeatMiddlesex University,thereby "recognising achievement at the highest level as well as dedication to public duty and making a difference to others' lives."[30]

In July 2018, Amos received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from theUniversity of Bristol.[31]In December 2018, she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Literature by theUniversity of the Witwatersrand.[1]

She was elected to theAmerican Academy of Arts and Sciencesas an International Honorary Member in 2019.[32]

On 1 January 2022, the Queen appointed Amos aLady Companion of the Order of the Garter.[33][34]Amos's banner of arms was erected atSt George's Chapel, Windsoron 13 June. Amos is the first black "knight or lady companion" member of the order since its foundation (excluding theEmperor of EthiopiaHaile Selassie,who as a foreign monarch was a stranger knight companion of the order).[35][36]

In November 2022, Amos was awarded an honorary fellowship of theUniversity of London.[37][38]

In May 2023, Amos took part in theCoronation of Charles III,representing theOrder of the Garter.[39]

In November 2023, Amos was conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Law degree from theUniversity of Guyana.[40][41][42]

Coat of Arms[edit]

Coat of arms of Valerie Ann Amos, Baroness Amos, LG, CH, PC
Notes
Blazons here are taken from the banner and badge on display in St George's Chapel.
Coronet
Coronet of a Baroness
Escutcheon
On a lozenge,Per saltire Gules and Or four armillary spheres axes bendwise sinister counterchanged.
Orders
TheOrder of the Gartercirclet
Badge
A panther sejant Sable holding in its dexter paw an armillary sphere Gules.

Personal life[edit]

Amos is an enthusiast ofcricketand talked about her love of the game withJonathan AgnewonTest Match Specialduring the lunch break of the first day of theEnglandv.New Zealandtest matchatOld Traffordin May 2008.[43][44]

After resigning from the cabinet, Baroness Amos took up a directorship with Travant Capital, a Nigerian private equity fund launched in 2007.[45]In the House of Lords Register of Members Interests, she lists this directorship as remunerated.[46]

Amos was listed as one of "the 50 best-dressed over-50s" byThe Guardianin March 2013.[47]

References[edit]

  1. ^ab"2018 - Wits honours Baroness Valerie Amos with an honorary Doctorate in Literature".University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. 5 December 2018.Retrieved15 February2020.
  2. ^"New UN humanitarian chief among five senior officials appointed by Ban".UN News Centre.United Nations. 9 July 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 14 May 2011.Retrieved10 July2010.
  3. ^ab"Valerie Amos to be ninth Director of SOAS, University of London".SOAS University of London. 29 June 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 26 January 2017.Retrieved1 April2017.
  4. ^abWynne-Jones, Jonathan (19 July 2015)."Baroness Amos: I was taken aback when I found out I was the first black female head of a university".The Observer– via The Guardian.
  5. ^"Baroness Valerie Amos appointed as Master of University College – First-ever black College Head appointed at Oxford".University of Oxford. 2 August 2019.Retrieved5 August2019.
  6. ^"Valerie Amos appointed new Master".University College Oxford. August 2019.Retrieved5 August2019.
  7. ^Hennessey, Ted (31 December 2021)."Baroness Amos becomes first black person appointed by Queen to prestigious order".The Independent.
  8. ^Wilby, Peter (9 February 2016)."Interview | Valerie Amos: the coolest of cool to handle Soas's hot potato".The Guardian.
  9. ^The London Gazette.30 September 1997. p. 11015.
  10. ^Mosley, Charles, ed. (2003).Burke's Peerage & Baronetage(107 ed.). Burke's Peerage & Gentry. p. 89.ISBN0-9711966-2-1.OL8563686M.
  11. ^ab"Short launches broadside on Blair".BBC News.12 May 2003.Retrieved4 June2021.
  12. ^"Amos nominated for senior UN job".BBC News. 17 February 2005.
  13. ^"Amos leaves Government role for EU".Prime Minister's Office. 27 June 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 19 July 2007.
  14. ^Kelso, Paul (7 October 2008)."Surprise as Baroness Amos joins 2018 World Cup bid".The Telegraph.Archived fromthe originalon 11 October 2008.
  15. ^Colin Mackie (18 March 2014).British Diplomats Directory: Part 3 of 4.FCO Historians – via Issuu.
  16. ^"Change of British High Commissioner to Australia".British High Commission Canberra. 4 July 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 3 July 2009.
  17. ^"Secretary-General Appoints Valerie Amos of United Kingdom Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs".United Nations. 9 July 2010.
  18. ^Siddique, Haroon (9 March 2012)."Syria: opposition rejects call for dialogue - Friday 9 March".The Guardian.Retrieved9 March2012.
  19. ^"Members of the Advisory Group on Reform of WHO's Work in Outbreaks and Emergencies with Health and Humanitarian Consequences".World Health Organization. Archived fromthe originalon 18 September 2016.
  20. ^"CSIS Task Force on Humanitarian Access".Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS). Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2019.Retrieved13 March2019.
  21. ^"Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic student attainment at UK universities: #closingthegap".Universities UK. 2 May 2019.
  22. ^"Baroness Valerie Amos appointed the first-ever black College Head at Oxford University".Black History Month.5 August 2019.Retrieved1 January2022.
  23. ^"Happiness is University shaped at Stirling's summer graduations".University of Stirling. 9 June 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 27 April 2018.Retrieved12 February2020.
  24. ^"List of all Honorary Graduates and Chancellor's Medallists".warwick.ac.uk.Retrieved17 March2020.
  25. ^"University of Leicester - Leader of Lords Honoured by University".le.ac.uk.Retrieved17 March2020.
  26. ^"The First Lady"(PDF).The Birminngham magazine.No. 20. 2008–2009. p. 23.
  27. ^"Durham Uni to honour four former students".Evening Chronicle.22 December 2012.Retrieved7 November2023.
  28. ^The London Gazette.11 June 2016. p. B27.
  29. ^"Birthday Honours 2016: the Foreign Secretary's overseas list for the Order of the Companions of Honour, Knight Bachelor and British Empire"(PDF).Foreign and Commonwealth Office.Retrieved10 June2016– via GOV.UK.
  30. ^"Baroness Amos awarded honorary degree at Middlesex University".Middlesex University. 14 December 2017.
  31. ^"Honorary degrees awarded at the University of Bristol".bristol.ac.uk.19 July 2018.Retrieved17 March2020.
  32. ^"2019 Fellows and International Honorary Members with their affiliations at the time of election".members.amacad.org.Archived fromthe originalon 2 March 2020.
  33. ^"Blair becomes 'Sir Tony' and joins top royal order".BBC News.31 December 2021.Retrieved1 January2022.
  34. ^"New Appointments to the Order of the Garter announced".royal.uk.The British Monarchy. 31 December 2021.Retrieved1 January2022.In addition, The Queen has been graciously pleased to appoint The Right Honourable Valerie Ann, Baroness Amos C.H. to be a Lady Companion
  35. ^"Valerie Amos".Oxford University.Retrieved4 June2022.
  36. ^"Prince Andrew out of view as Tony Blair receives royal honour".BBC News.13 June 2022.Retrieved13 June2022.
  37. ^"University of London confers highest honours on exceptional individuals".University of London.Retrieved25 March2023.
  38. ^"Honorary Awardds at the University of London | Foundation Day 2022",University of London.
  39. ^"The Coronation Service - Order of Service".The Royal Family.6 May 2023.Retrieved6 May2023.
  40. ^"UG Press Release_Baroness Valerie Amos, Award-Winning Actress CCH Pounder Head Stellar List of Special Awardees for UG's Diamond (60th) Anniversary Convocation Ceremonies"(Press release). University of Guyana. 7 November 2023.Retrieved12 November2023.
  41. ^"Ten outstanding Guyanese to receive honorary degrees from UG".Guyana Chronicle.8 November 2023.Retrieved12 November2023.
  42. ^"Baroness Amos tells UG graduands to 'solve big problems around the world'".News Room Guyana.10 November 2023.Retrieved12 November2023.
  43. ^Mountford, Adam (20 May 2008)."TMS starts the series in style".BBC Sport.
  44. ^Mountford, Adam (7 July 2008)."From the Commons to Lord's".BBC Sport.
  45. ^"The Board".Travant Capital. Archived fromthe originalon 6 February 2011.
  46. ^"House of Lords - Register of Lords' Interests".publications.parliament.uk.Retrieved17 March2020.
  47. ^Cartner-Morley, Jess(28 March 2013)."The 50 best-dressed over-50s – in pictures".The Guardian.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toValerie Amos, Baroness Amos.
Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of State for International Development
2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Leader of the House of Lords
2003–2007 		Succeeded by
Lord President of the Council
2003–2007
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Labour Party in the House of Lords
2003–2007 		Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by British High Commissioner to Australia
2009–2010 		Succeeded by
Positions in intergovernmental organisations
Preceded by Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
2010–2015 		Succeeded by
Academic offices
Preceded by Master of University College, Oxford
2020–present 		Incumbent
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Valerie_Amos,_Baroness_Amos&oldid=1229114064"