Victoria Jane Bowman CMG (née Robinson; born 12 June 1966) is a British former diplomat who served as UK Ambassador to Myanmar between 2002 and 2006.[1] She has been Director of the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB) since July 2013.[1]

Vicky Bowman
UK Ambassador to Myanmar
In office
2002–2006
MonarchCharles III
Prime MinisterRishi Sunak
Preceded bySir John Jenkins (diplomat)
Succeeded byMark Canning
Personal details
Born
Victoria Jane Robinson

(1966-06-12) 12 June 1966 (age 57)
NationalityBritish
SpouseHtein Lin
Children1
Parent
RelativesAndrew Robinson (brother)
EducationOxford High School
Alma materPembroke College, Cambridge (BA Hons, Natural Sciences - Pathology)

She was educated at The Dragon School, Oxford High School, Pembroke College, Cambridge and the University of Chicago.[2]

"Bowman " is the family name of her first husband. Bowman first served as a junior diplomat in what was then called Burma in 1990.[3]

On 24 August 2022, she was detained at her home in Yangon along with her second husband Htein Lin, a prominent artist and former political prisoner, and charged with immigration offences.[4][5][6] In September 2022, she was sentenced to one year in prison for staying at an address different to the one she had registered under.[7]

On 17 November 2022, the Myanmar military released Bowman along with 6,000 prisoners to mark Myanmar National Day, she was subsequently deported.[8]

She was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2023 Birthday Honours.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Vicky Bowman". Pembroke College, Cambridge. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Bowman, Victoria Jane, (Vicky), (born 12 June 1966), Director, Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business, since 2013." WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 1 Dec. 2007
  3. ^ "Vicky Bowman: UK former ambassador jailed in Myanmar". BBC News. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Britain's former Myanmar envoy detained in Yangon-sources". Reuters. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Vicky Bowman: UK ex-ambassador to Myanmar arrested". BBC News. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  6. ^ "UK's former Myanmar ambassador arrested in Yangon, report says". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi imprisoned for three more years as former UK ambassador to Myanmar Vicky Bowman also jailed". Sky News. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  8. ^ "Vicky Bowman: Former UK ambassador among prisoners to be freed in Myanmar". BBC News. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  9. ^ "Outstanding contributions to human rights recognised on Overseas and International Honours List". Gov.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2023.