Baroness Amos, LG, CH, PC, is a distinguished British Labour Party politician and diplomat whose career has been marked by groundbreaking achievements and a steadfast commitment to humanitarian causes.
Baroness Amos [Photo: Katherine Anne Rose]
FORMATIVE YEARS
Born on 13 March 1954 in British Guiana – now Guyana – Baroness moved to Great Britain with her family in 1963. She attended Bexley Technical High School for Girls, where she excelled as the first black deputy head girl.
Her academic pursuits led her to the University of Warwick, where she earned a degree in Sociology. This was followed by a Master’s Degree in cultural studies at the University of Birmingham. She furthered her education at the University of East Anglia, studying education.
Work of Amos
Furthermore, her career in public service began in local government, where she worked in Equal Opportunities, Training, and Management Services in London boroughs. In 1989, she became Chief Executive of the Equal Opportunities Commission, a position she held until 1994.
A cricket enthusiast, Baroness’ commitment to social justice extended beyond her professional roles. She co-founded the consultancy firm Amos Fraser Bernard and advised the South African government on public service reform, human rights, and employment equity.
Valerie Amos, Baroness Amos arrives in Parliament Square ahead of the coronation of King Charles [Photo: Guyanese Girl Rock]
As a matter of fact, she served as a Government Whip and held various ministerial positions. Some of these posts include Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs.
Trailblazing – from first Black, Asian, and minority ethnic to Secretary of State
In May 2003, she made history as the first Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) woman to serve as a Cabinet minister when she was appointed Secretary of State for International Development.
She later became Leader of the House of Lords, making her tenure as Secretary of State brief but impactful.
Furthermore, this trailblazer’s international contributions continued to grow as she took on the role of British High Commissioner to Australia in 2009. In 2010, she was appointed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. She held this position until 2015.
Honorary degrees – University of Warwick
Throughout her career, Baroness has received numerous accolades for her service and leadership. She has been awarded honorary degrees and fellowships from prestigious institutions. Among the institutions are the University of Warwick, the University of Leicester, and the University of London.
In 2016, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) for her services to the United Nations and emergency relief.
Oxford – first black head
Additionally, in January 2021, Baroness made history once again. She became the first woman and the first black head of an Oxford college. In this role, she served as the Master of University College, Oxford.
Her achievements reflect her dedication to advancing equality, social justice, and humanitarian causes on a global scale. Her legacy continues to shape and influence the world of politics, diplomacy, and education.
References
- https://www.wits.ac.za/news/latest-news/graduations/2018/wits-honours-baroness-valerie-amos-with-an-honorary-doctorate-in-literature.html
- https://web.archive.org/web/20110514145320/http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=35284&Cr=appoint&Cr1=ban+ki-moon
- https://web.archive.org/web/20170126133357/https://www.soas.ac.uk/news/newsitem103350.html
- https://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/jul/18/valerie-amos-black-university-professors
- https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2019-08-02-baroness-valerie-amos-appointed-master-university-college
