BIOT Administration
BIOT Commissioner - Paul Candler
The Commissioner is overall responsible for the BIOT. His full time job is the Director of the OTD which encompasses 14 British Overseas Territories. His role as BIOT Commissioner occupies only a small part of his time.
Mr Candler (pictured left) was formerly at the Ministry of Justice for 12 years. He became Commissioner in June 2021. Paul.Candler@fcdo.gov.uk
RECENT FORMER COMMISSIONERS: Mr Colin Roberts July 2008 - 17 October 2012; Dr Peter Hayes 2012 - December 2016; Mr John Kittmer December 2016 - August 2017; Mr Ben Merrick August 2017 - June 2021
BIOT Deputy Commissioner - Nishi Dholakai
There is also a Deputy Commissioner (currently also Deputy Director of Overseas Territories Strategy in the Overseas Territories Directorate of the FCDO).
Nishi Dholakai joined in October 2023. He previously worked at the British Embassy in Bejing as Minister-Counsellor, Economic, Environment, and Trade Policy. He has been with the Foreign Office for 21 years. A graduate of both Cambridge University (MA Law 1997-2000) and the Open University (BSc Psychology/Sociology & Mathematics and Statistics). Nishi.Dholakia@fcdo.gov.uk. (Linked In Page)
RECENT FORMER DEPUTY COMMISSIONERS: Mr Alex Cameron - November 2017; Dr Bryony Mathew November 2017 - September 2018 - FCO Biography for Bryony Mathew; Mr Stephen Hilton September 2018 - March 2022 (Steve Hilton - Linked In page), Becky Richards April 2022 - September 2023 (Becky Richards LinkedIn page) .
The BIOT Administration
When the BIOT was first created in 1965 the Commissioner and Administrator were based in the British Colony of the Seychelles where they were also Governor and Deputy Governor of that colony respectively. In 1976 when the Seychelles gained independence the administration of the BIOT moved to the FCO (now FCDO) in London where it has been based to this day. Since then Administrators have had a 'split personality', at one moment supposedly representing the interests of the BIOT whilst at the same time being part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) machinery (part of the UK Government). This dual-hatted role was reflected in the joint title of Head of BIOT Section and BIOT Administrator. For a while the post also involved oversight of Pitcairn. For many years the BIOT Administration was little more than 'one man and his dog' but developments since 2010 have seen an expansion in the number of personnel.
In March 2016 the two functions of BIOT Administrator and Head of BIOT Section were split and since then the BIOT Administration has been responsible purely for the day-to-day administration of the territory. The staff are now seconded from the FCDO. Although it remains physically located in London within the FCDO on whom it relies for support (e.g., e-mail systems, office space, etc) it now claims to be constitutionally separate from the FCDO and thus beyond the reach of UK Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation. BIOT does not have its own FOI regime and the Administration did not respond to FOI requests for several years making it a 'secret' government which hides from all outside scrutiny. In 2024 however it has started to respond to FOI requests under 'the spirit' of UK FOI legislation but there is still no known functioning FOI mechanisms within the Territory.
Between July 2013 and March 2016 the Head of Section/ BIOT Administrator was Mr Tom Moody. He had formerly worked in the Ministry of Justice.
BIOT Administrator & Director of Fisheries
The current incumbent (since 5 April 2024) is Emily Ager (emily.ager@fcdo.gov.uk). Linked In Page:
RECENT FORMER ADMINISTRATORS: Ms Nicola Carnie: 31 March 2016 - March 2017; Ms Linsey Billing: July 2017 - January 2020; Mr Kit Pyman: January 2020 - April 2022; Balraj Dhanda: April 2022 - 5 April 2024.
BIOT Deputy Administrator
The current Deputy Administrator is unknown.
RECENT FORMER DEPUTY ADMINISTRATORS: Ms Ariella Combe: November 2017 - 2020; Mr Sam Bullen: 2020-May 2021; Mr Nathaniel Richman: May 2021-March 2023.
BIOT Assistant Administrator
In addition to the Deputy Administrator it is believed that there is also an Assistant Administrator, Ms Zoe Townsley, although this is likely to be out of date now.
Environment Officers
In early 2015 a new post, that of Environment Officer was also added. This was later expanded to two concurrent Environment Officers. Currently Ms Milly Fellows occupies one post. Again this information may well be out of date.
RECENT FORMER ENVIRONMENT OFFICERS: Ms Helen Stevens: 2015 - late 2017; Ms Harri Morrall: late 2017 - December 2019; Ms Nadine Atchison-Balmond: ? - mid 2021.
British Indian Ocean Territory Unit - Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
It is understood that the BIOT Unit is responsible for wider policy issues such as engagement with the US and Mauritius, the future of the BIOT with respect to resettlement and litigation.
Head of the BIOT Unit - Nishi Dholakai
In the summer of 2019 a separate post, that of Head of the British Indian Ocean Territory Unit was created. The first incumbent was David Concar, a former HM Ambassador to Somalia. The second was Ms Fionna Gibb, former Ambassador to Belarus until March 2022. Becky Richards served from April 2022 - September 2023.
Head of BIOT Policy Team - Nishi Dholakai
The 'BIOT Section' appears to have been re-branded the "BIOT Policy Team' in the summer of 2019. The Head, is also the Head of Strategic Projects and is Deputy Commissioner BIOT.
RECENT FORMER HEADS: Mr Tom Moody: to 4 July 2016; Dr Bryony Mathew: 4 July 2016 - 24 September 2018; Mr Stephen Hilton: 24 September 2018 - March 2022. Becky Richards served from April 2022 - September 2023.
Working for the Head is Paul Stokes (Desk Officer), and Ms Alison Cairns (Chagossian Support Package/ Policy Officer). There are further 'Senior Policy Officers'.
Diego Garcia
There a small Royal Navy/ Royal Marine detachment (approx 40 strong) stationed on the island of Diego Garcia, otherwise known as the Permanent Joint Operating Base (PJOB). The Commanding Officer is normally a Royal Navy Commander. The present appointee Commander Colvin Osborn RN took up his post in January 2022.
Cdr Osborn holds a degree fromUniversity of Aberystwyth (BSc(Econ) International Politics 1985-1988) and a MA in Defence Studies from King's College, London.
The Commanding Officer is also the resident British Representative for the Commissioner and fulfils a number of civil functions such as Magistrate. The detachment also carries out policing and customs and excise duties in the Territory, and is responsible for liaising with the US forces stationed on the island.
Chief Science Advisor
In November 2013 Dr Mark Spalding was appointed Chief Science Advisor to the BIOT. The post was first created in the early 1990s. In those days it was called the 'Conservation' or 'Environment' Adviser. Former Advisers were Cdr John Topp (RN retd) and then Dr Charles Sheppard, each for a period of about 10 years.
Mark is a graduate and post-graduate of Cambridge University (Clare College) and is currently a visiting fellow in the Department of Zoology and a Senior Marine Scientist on the Global Marine Team of the Nature Conservancy. He has been involved in scientific research in the Chagos since the 1990s, and is based in Siena, Italy where he lives.
Page last updated: 25 June 2024