Katrina Williams
Biography
Katrina joined Defra on 7 June 2021 in a new role of Director General (DG) for International and Borders.
She joins Defra from the Scottish government, where she was DG for External Affairs. Before this, she was Defra’s Deputy Ambassador to the EU from 2017.
Katrina has held DG roles before at:
- Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
- Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC)
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
She has also worked for the Department of Trade and Industry, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Cabinet Office.
Katrina has served twice in the UK’s Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels.
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Director General for International and Borders
The Director General for International and Borders is responsible for the strategic leadership and development of Defra group’s international objectives.
The role leads across our significant responsibilities for trade, climate, and environmental standards. It will operate in the context of the UK’s G7 Presidency and the UK’s hosting of COP26, preparing to advance these agendas well beyond 2021.
The role includes some international facing work, for example on marine and sanitary and phytosanitary standards.
Previous roles in government
- Deputy Ambassador to the EU
- Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU
- Director General, International and Growth, BEIS
- Director General International, Science and Resilience Group, DECC
- Director General, Strategy, Evidence and Customers, Defra