Nicola Brewer
Dame Nicola Mary Brewer is a former British diplomat and university administrator. From 2014 to 2020, she was Vice-Provost at University College London, she was British High Commissioner to South Africa from 2009 to 2013, and the first Chief Executive of Britain's Equality and Human Rights Commission from 2007 to 2009.
Education
Brewer was educated at the Belfast Royal Academy, and read English at the University of Leeds, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1980, then taking a Doctorate in linguistics in 1988 there.Career
Brewer joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1983, completing overseas postings in South Africa, India, France and Mexico. She served as the FCO's Director for Global Issues from 2001 to 2002, and then as Director-General for Regional Programmes at the Department for International Development, the DfID board member supervising the UK's overseas bilateral aid programmes.In December 2006, Brewer was appointed by open competition as the first Chief Executive of the newly established Equality and Human Rights Commission, the successor body to the Commission for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission.
In May 2014, she was appointed Vice-Provost at University College London, standing down in 2020.
Other activities
- Iberdrola, Independent Member of the Board of Directors
- Weir Group, Independent Member of the Board of Directors