Melinda Simmons was His Majesty’s Ambassador to Ukraine until August 2023. She was first appointed to this role in September 2019. She began her career in international sales and moved from there to work for an NGO specialising in conflict prevention and resolution in war torn countries. She progressed to the Civil Service and worked for the Department for International Development in several policy roles, including a tour overseas in South Africa as well as heading up the Middle East and the Europe Departments. Before taking up the role in Kyiv Melinda was head of Conflict Department, and among her work there campaigned for justice for crimes of sexual violence against women and girls in war torn countries. She also specialised in United Nations peacekeeping and peace building.