Robert Andrew Burns

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Sir Andrew Burns

| image = Andrew Burns 2012.jpg

| caption = Andrew Burns in 2012

| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|KCMG}}

| office = United Kingdom Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues

| primeminister = David Cameron

| term_start = 10 June 2010

| term_end = September 2015

| predecessor = Office established

| successor = Eric Pickles

| office3 = British Ambassador to Israel

| term_start3 = 1992

| term_end3 = 1995

| predecessor3 = Mark Elliott

| successor3 = Sir David Manning

| office2 = British Consuls-General to Hong Kong

| term_start2 = November 1997

| term_end2 = June 2000

| predecessor2 = Francis Cornish

| successor2 = James Hodge

| office1 = British High Commissioner to Canada

| term_start1 = 2000

| term_end1 = 2003

| predecessor1 = Anthony Goodenough

| successor1 = David Reddaway

| birth_name = Robert Andrew Burns

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|7|21|df=y}}

| birth_place = England

| education = Highgate School

| alma_mater = Trinity College, Cambridge (MA)

}}

Sir Robert Andrew Burns {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KCMG}} (born 21 July 1943) is a British former diplomat in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Early life

Burns was born on 21 July 1943 and educated at Highgate School.[http://www.debretts.com/people-of-today/profile/29306/(Robert)-Andrew-BURNS (Robert) Andrew BURNS], Debrett's People of Today He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge, with a Master of Arts (MA).

Diplomatic career

Burns served with the Diplomatic Service between 1965 and 2003, beginning his career as an Urdu and Hindi speaker at the British High Commission in New Delhi in the 1960s. Serving in New Delhi between 1967 and 1971, the later returned to London where he served as the United Kingdom's Delegate to the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe between 1975 and 1981.[https://books.google.com/books?id=sR4Ch1dMe8IC&q=%22sir+robert+andrew%22&pg=PA249 The International Who's Who 2004], Europa Publications, 2003, page 249 He later became Head of South Asia Department between 1986 and 1988.

He held the office of Ambassador to Israel between 1992 and 1995.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/politics/10276710.stm Sir Andrew Burns named as first post-Holocaust envoy], BBC News, 9 June 2010 He was later appointed as British Consul-General to Hong Kong and Macau, serving between 1997 and 2000. He then became British High Commissioner to Canada, serving from 2000 to 2003.[http://diplomaticsociety.co.uk/past-event-annoucements/sir-andrew-burns-kcmg/ Sir Andrew Burns KCMG], Diplomatic Society, Royal Holloway, University of London, 17 March 2013

Subsequent career

In June 2005, Burns was appointed to the BBC's Board of Governors as International Governor, replacing Dame Pauline Neville-Jones.[http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/06_june/08/burns.shtml New International Governor appointed], BBC, 8 June 2005

In June 2010, he was appointed the United Kingdom's first Envoy for post-Holocaust issues.[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm100609/wmstext/100609m0001.htm United Kingdom Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues], Hansard, Parliament written statements, HC Deb, 9 June 2010, c9WS He held this post until September 2015.[https://www.gov.uk/government/people/andrew-burns Sir Andrew Burns], Government of the United Kingdom He was succeeded in the role by Sir Eric Pickles.[https://www.gov.uk/government/people/eric-pickles United Kingdom Special Envoy for post-Holocaust issues The Rt Hon Sir Eric Pickles MP], Government of the United Kingdom

He was Chair of Council of Royal Holloway, a constituent college of the University of London. He was appointed to succeed Lady Deech as the chair of the Bar Standards Board from 1 January 2015.[http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/former-diplomat-to-head-bars-regulator/5042323.fullarticle Former diplomat to head bar's regulator], Law Gazette, 22 July 2014

Burns was also previously Chairman of the China Association between 2008 and 2014 and is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce (RSA).