19 March 2024, Saarbrücken, Saarland, Germany: The United Kingdom’s Deputy Ambassador Kieran Drake made his inaugural visit to Saarbrücken, capital of the western German federal state of Saarland, accompanied by Nick Russell, UK Consul-General responsible for the federal states of Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse.
Kieran Drake and Nick Russell met Head of the State Chancellery David Lindemann at the State Chancellery for discussions about opportunities for further strengthening the relationship between the UK and Saarland, building on the UK’s position as Saarland’s third largest trading partner.
Mr Drake and Mr Russell visited the Stahl-Holding-Saar steelworks in Dillingen to learn more about the plants transition to producing “Green Steel” from 2028. That transition will rely on hydrogen, with the UK primed to become a major hydrogen exporter to Germany in the coming years.
Finally, Mr Drake and Mr Russell visited the Gemeinschaftsschule Bellevue and spoke to a group of 15-19 year old female students to raise awareness of the UK government’s “Ambassador for a Day” programme. The scheme, which has been running since 2021, sees young women from across Germany spend a day in the British Embassy in Berlin with the Ambassador and senior staff for a day of training, mentoring and workshops.
Kieran Drake has been serving as Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Germany since August 2021. Kieran joined the UK Civil Service in 2005 and has held senior roles in a range of government departments including the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury, and the Department for Exiting the European Union. He holds a MA (Hons) in Geography from Cambridge University.
The Deputy Head of Mission is a senior diplomat and typically a key advisor to the Ambassador or High Commissioner. They represent the UK’s interests in the absence of the Ambassador in the capacity as Chargé d’affaires.
For further information
The Saarland: https://www.saarland.de/DE/home
UK Consulate General in Düsseldorf (covering Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse): https://www.gov.uk/government/people/nick-russell
