Embassy Long Service Officer of the Year 2024

The Embassy Network introduces a new award at the Management Seminar to recognise the service of local staff

A finance officer who has worked at the New Zealand High Commission for more than half a century was voted winner of the inaugural Embassy Long Service Officer of the Year Award.

In a tight race between six regional finalists, diplomats and embassy staff chose Gary Matthews as their Long Service Officer of the Year – by a margin of one vote.

The Embassy Long Service Officer of the Year Award is an initiative by the Embassy Network to recognise the service of locally employed staff who are the institutional memory of their diplomatic missions. A shortlist of six regional winners from Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Oceania is selected by an Award Panel, who then compete for the overall title, which this year was won by Gary Matthews.

Gary, who turns 70 next year, started working at the New Zealand High Commission at the age of 18 in May 1973 –  the year when Britain joined the EEC, the Watergate Hearings began, and the UK was in the throes of the Oil Crisis, precipitated by the Yom Kippur War.

When Gary enroled at the High Commission, the personal computer had not even been invented. Since then he has managed the High Commission’s finances, from a cash-based operation to digital transactions, and has never been afraid to adopt new technology. Hailing from the South of England, Gary still catches the train to work at 06.45 to get to work on time, a mark of his unwavering dedication to the job.

Regional winners of the Embassy Long Service Officer of the Year (from left): Sumanaratne Moragoda (Cyprus), Griselda Avendano Garcia (Mexico), Gary Matthews (New Zealand), Olayinka Williams (Sierra Leone) and Ismail Haji Adenan (Brunei Darussalam)

Regional Finalists
His fellow regional finalists were all strong contenders. The Long Service Officer of the Year for Africa, Olayinka Williams, has worked as Confidential Secretary at the Sierra Leone High Commission for 29 years, and her service has been recognised by the  President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Dr Julius Maada Bio. The winner for the Americas, Griselda Avendano Garcia, is “the face” of the Mexican consulate, a much-admired visa officer, who has worked there for 20 years. The Long Service Officer for Asia was won by Ismail Haji Adenan, a respected Welfare Officer who has served at the Brunei Darussalam High Commission for 35 years. The Finalist from Europe was Sumanaratne Moragoda, the much-loved caretaker at the Cyprus High Commission, who kept his promise “never to leave the High Commission” and has served for 45 years. The contender from the Middle East was Maha Shehata, the heart and soul of the Embassy of Bahrain who has been in service for 48 years, and the private secretary to no fewer than 10 ambassadors.

On presenting the award, the Assistant Marshal of the Diplomatic of the Diplomatic Corps Alison MacMillan, praised all of the finalists for their dedication, saying: “This is a fantastic initiative to recognise the hard working staff at diplomatic missions on whom we, as diplomats who come and go, all depend so much. They are the backbone of the diplomatic community.”

At the Embassy Management Seminar, admin officers receive a briefing Annie McGee, the Head of Diplomatic Missions of FCDO Protocol Directorate

Briefings for management teams
The Long Service Officer of the Year Award concluded the Embassy Management Seminar 2024, attended by more than 150 administrative officers from 65 diplomatic  missions. The Seminar is a chance for those managing embassies to meet with UK authorities for an update on UK regulations and to share best practice with fellow diplomats on running a secure, compliant, cost-efficient mission.

Main Photo: Assistant Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps Alison MacMillan presents the Embassy Long Service Officer of the Year Award to Gary Matthews of the New Zealand High Commission