UNC Clean Tech Speaker
Paul Rennie
Biography
Paul Rennie is the Head of the Global Economy Group at the British Embassy, Washington DC, leading the UK’s climate and energy, economic and trade, and science and technology networks across the United States. Prior to that, he led the Foreign Office’s strategic transformation programme, focused on delivering a 21st century Diplomatic Service.
Paul was born in Edinburgh and educated at George Heriot’s School, before going on to graduate with an MA in Economics and Politics (Edinburgh University) and an MSc in Economics (York University).
He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2001 as the first of a new group of Diplomatic Service Economists. He has served at the United Nations (New York), Brazil, India and Malaysia, as well as working on secondment to the Cabinet Office and the Department for International Development.
Paul is a professional economist, with a particular expertise the analysis of emerging markets and the international education sector, presenting on the future of education at several international conferences. In 2019 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Heriot-Watt University in recognition of his ‘expertise and contributions to the development and strategic positioning of UK education overseas’.
He was appointed Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s 2015 New Year’s Honours List for services to UK-India relations.
Away from work and family, Paul writes blogs on leadership, plays tennis, and tries to read as many history and politics books as his spare time will allow. He speaks English, Portuguese, Dutch, French and Hindi.