Ruth Cocks returned to Wales last year to take up the Director Wales role for British Council, based in Cardiff.
After several years working for the British Council overseas with diplomatic postings in Afghanistan, East Asia and Egypt, Ruth has a wealth of international experience in cultural relations, international development and public diplomacy. She led policy and education work in Europe and the Middle East region and business development in South Asia. In East Asia and Afghanistan, Ruth set up education, culture and development programmes for the Ministry of Defence, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and EU, working most notably with Myanmar, Vietnam, China, Philippines, and Indonesia. As Deputy Director in Egypt, Ruth led the British Council’s work across the Arts, English and Education, as well as directing the British Council’s work on climate for COP27 with particular focus on youth voice and leadership.
Ruth studied Modern Foreign Languages at Nottingham University in the UK before embarking on an international career. She is proudly Welsh.