As British High Commissioner to Malawi, my role is to represent Britain in all aspects of our relations with the Malawian Government and people. I present and explain British policy to the Malawian Government and to Malawians; and report Malawian policy to the British Government.

I work closely with the Head of the office of the Department for International Development (DFID) in Lilongwe and with the Director of the British Council Malawi. I am fortunate to be serving in a country with which Britain has such wide-ranging official and non-governmental links, and one which is a close partner of Britain's in so many areas.

I am conscious that this is a crucial moment in Malawi's development, as its leadership work hard to consolidate the progress that has been made in strengthening governance and economic management, and further enlarging the democratic space. This is an indispensable component in the process of keeping Africa at the top of the international agenda and delivering on the major commitments made to Africa by the international community in 2005, and in particular at the Gleneagles Summit, at which President Mutharika was present.

My team and I are committed to doing everything we can to support all that the Malawian Government are doing in this area.