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<div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Head of the Commonwealth Secretariat</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1257001546">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><table class="infobox"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above" style="font-size: 125%;">Secretary-General of the <br /> Commonwealth of Nations</th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data"><div style="padding-bottom:0.4em; border-bottom:solid 1px #ccd2d9; line-height:1.4em;"><div style="padding-bottom:0.4em;"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Patricia_Scotland_2018.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Patricia_Scotland_2018.jpg/200px-Patricia_Scotland_2018.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="280" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Patricia_Scotland_2018.jpg/300px-Patricia_Scotland_2018.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Patricia_Scotland_2018.jpg/400px-Patricia_Scotland_2018.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1690" data-file-height="2367" /></a></span></div><div style="display:inline;font-weight:bold;">Incumbent<br /><a href="/wiki/Patricia_Scotland" title="Patricia Scotland">The Baroness Scotland of Asthal</a><br /></div>since 1 April 2016</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Style_(form_of_address)" title="Style (form of address)">Style</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Excellency" title="Excellency">Her Excellency</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Official_residence" title="Official residence">Residence</a></th><td class="infobox-data">Garden House</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Appointer</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/List_of_Commonwealth_Heads_of_Government" class="mw-redirect" title="List of Commonwealth Heads of Government">Commonwealth Heads of Government</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Term_of_office" title="Term of office">Term length</a></th><td class="infobox-data">Four years<br /><small>renewable once</small></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Inaugural holder</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Arnold_Smith" title="Arnold Smith">Arnold Smith</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Website</th><td class="infobox-data"><span class="url"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://thecommonwealth.org/secretary-general-patricia-scotland">thecommonwealth<wbr />.org<wbr />/secretary-general-patricia-scotland</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The <b>Commonwealth secretary-general</b>, formally the <b>secretary-general of the Commonwealth of Nations</b>, is the head of the <a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Secretariat" title="Commonwealth Secretariat">Commonwealth Secretariat</a>, the central body which has served the <a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations" title="Commonwealth of Nations">Commonwealth of Nations</a> since its establishment in 1965, and responsible for representing the Commonwealth publicly.<sup id="cite_ref-Role_of_the_Secretary-General_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Role_of_the_Secretary-General-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Commonwealth secretary-general should not be confused with the <a href="/wiki/Head_of_the_Commonwealth" title="Head of the Commonwealth">head of the Commonwealth</a>. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Role">Role</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Commonwealth_Secretary-General&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Role"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The position was created, along with the Secretariat itself, after <a href="/wiki/1965_Commonwealth_Prime_Ministers%27_Conference" title="1965 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference">the fourteenth</a> <a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Prime_Ministers_Conference" class="mw-redirect" title="Commonwealth Prime Ministers Conference">Commonwealth Prime Ministers Conference</a> in London in 1965, issued a memorandum describing the role of the Secretary-General: </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1244412712">.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 32px}.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;margin-top:0}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{padding-left:1.6em}}</style><blockquote class="templatequote"><p>Both the Secretary-General and his/her staff should be seen to be the servants of Commonwealth countries collectively. They derive their functions from the authority of <a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Heads_of_Government" class="mw-redirect" title="Commonwealth Heads of Government">Commonwealth Heads of Government</a>; and in the discharge of his/her responsibilities in this connection the Secretary-General should have access to Heads of Government...<sup id="cite_ref-Role_of_the_Secretary-General_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Role_of_the_Secretary-General-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></p></blockquote> <p>The headquarters of the secretary-general, as with the Secretariat generally, is <a href="/wiki/Marlborough_House" title="Marlborough House">Marlborough House</a>, a former royal residence in London, which was placed at the disposal of the Secretariat by Queen <a href="/wiki/Elizabeth_II" title="Elizabeth II">Elizabeth II</a>, who was the <a href="/wiki/Head_of_the_Commonwealth" title="Head of the Commonwealth">head of the Commonwealth</a>. However, as the building cannot house all of the Secretariat's staff in London, additional space is rented elsewhere in London.<sup id="cite_ref-Doxey_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Doxey-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> From this operational base, a large part of the Secretary-General's work involves travelling around the Commonwealth keeping in personal contact with those at the heart of the governments of member states.<sup id="cite_ref-Doxey_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Doxey-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The secretary-general receives a salary of nearly £160,000 (2015) and a four‑storey mansion, Garden House, in <a href="/wiki/Mayfair" title="Mayfair">Mayfair</a> as an official residence.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Staff_and_responsibility">Staff and responsibility</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Commonwealth_Secretary-General&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Staff and responsibility"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The secretary-general leads the Commonwealth Secretariat, and all Secretariat staff are responsible and answerable to them. They are supported by three <a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Deputy_Secretary-General" title="Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General">deputy secretaries-general</a>, which are elected by the <a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_heads_of_government" class="mw-redirect" title="Commonwealth heads of government">Commonwealth heads of government</a> via the members' <a href="/wiki/High_Commissioner_(Commonwealth)" class="mw-redirect" title="High Commissioner (Commonwealth)">high commissioners</a> in London.<sup id="cite_ref-Doxey_2-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Doxey-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Currently, the three deputy secretaries-general are Deodat Maharaj, Gary Dunn and Josephine Ojiambo. Until 2014, only two deputy secretaries-general were appointed along with an assistant secretary-general for corporate affairs. The secretary-general may appoint junior staff at their own discretion, provided the Secretariat can afford it, whilst more senior staff may be appointed only from a shortlist of nominations from the heads of government.<sup id="cite_ref-Doxey_2-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Doxey-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In practice, the Secretary-General has more power than this; member governments consult the secretary-general on nominations, and the secretary-general has also at times submitted nominations of his own.<sup id="cite_ref-Doxey_2-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Doxey-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Formally, the secretary-general is given the same rank as a high commissioner or ambassador. However, in practice, their rank is considerably higher.<sup id="cite_ref-Doxey_2-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Doxey-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> At CHOGMs, they are the equal of the heads of government, except with preference deferred to the longest-serving head of government. At other ministerial meetings, they are considered <i><a href="/wiki/Primus_inter_pares" title="Primus inter pares">primus inter pares</a></i>.<sup id="cite_ref-Doxey_2-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Doxey-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> For the first three years of the job's existence the <a href="/wiki/Foreign,_Commonwealth_and_Development_Office" title="Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office">Foreign Office</a> refused to invite the secretary-general to the Queen's annual diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace, much to <a href="/wiki/Arnold_Smith" title="Arnold Smith">Arnold Smith</a>'s irritation, until in 1968 this refusal was over-ridden by the Queen herself.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The Secretary-General was originally required to submit annual reports to the Heads of Government, but this has since been changed to reporting at biennial <a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Heads_of_Government_Meeting" title="Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting">Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings</a> (CHOGM).<sup id="cite_ref-Doxey_2-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Doxey-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Secretary-General is held responsible by the Commonwealth's Board of Governors in London.<sup id="cite_ref-Role_of_the_Secretary-General_1-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Role_of_the_Secretary-General-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Between 2016 and 2019, the staff of the Commonwealth secretariat declined in number, from 295 to 223.<sup id="cite_ref-Landale_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Landale-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Election">Election</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Commonwealth_Secretary-General&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Election"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Since the 1993 CHOGM, it has been decided that the secretary-general is elected to a <a href="/wiki/Term_limit" title="Term limit">maximum</a> of two four-year terms.<sup id="cite_ref-Role_of_the_Secretary-General_1-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Role_of_the_Secretary-General-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The election is held by the assembled heads of government and other ministerial representatives at every other CHOGM. Nominations are received from the member states' governments, who sponsor the nomination through the election process and are responsible for withdrawing their candidate as they see fit.<sup id="cite_ref-Role_of_the_Secretary-General_1-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Role_of_the_Secretary-General-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The election is held in a Restricted Session of the CHOGM, in which only heads of government or ministerial representatives thereof may be present. The chair of the CHOGM (the head of government of the host nation) is responsible for ascertaining which candidate has the greatest support, through the conduct of negotiations and <a href="/wiki/Secret_ballot" title="Secret ballot">secret</a> <a href="/wiki/Straw_poll" title="Straw poll">straw polls</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Role_of_the_Secretary-General_1-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Role_of_the_Secretary-General-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Secretaries-general seeking a second term in office are often elected unopposed.<sup id="cite_ref-Landale_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Landale-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Although this practice was occasionally deemed to be a <a href="/wiki/Convention_(norm)" title="Convention (norm)">convention</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> it was broken by a <a href="/wiki/Zimbabwe" title="Zimbabwe">Zimbabwe</a>-backed bid for Sri Lankan <a href="/wiki/Lakshman_Kadirgamar" title="Lakshman Kadirgamar">Lakshman Kadirgamar</a> to displace New Zealand's <a href="/wiki/Don_McKinnon" title="Don McKinnon">Don McKinnon</a> in 2003. At the vote, however, Kadirgamar was easily defeated by McKinnon, with only 11 members voting for him against 40 for McKinnon.<sup id="cite_ref-Editorial:_CHOGM_2003_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Editorial:_CHOGM_2003-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In March 2019, the 53 high commissioners, meeting in London, confirmed the unwritten rule allowing secretaries-general to be challenged for a second term.<sup id="cite_ref-Landale_5-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Landale-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>At the <a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Heads_of_Government_Meeting_2011" class="mw-redirect" title="Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2011">2011 CHOGM</a>, India's <a href="/wiki/Kamalesh_Sharma" title="Kamalesh Sharma">Kamalesh Sharma</a> was re-elected to his second term unopposed. Sharma had won the position at the <a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Heads_of_Government_Meeting_2007" class="mw-redirect" title="Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2007">2007 CHOGM</a>, when he defeated <a href="/wiki/Malta" title="Malta">Malta</a>'s <a href="/wiki/Michael_Frendo" title="Michael Frendo">Michael Frendo</a> to replace McKinnon, who had served the maximum two terms. </p><p>At the <a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Heads_of_Government_Meeting_2015" class="mw-redirect" title="Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2015">2015 CHOGM</a>, <a href="/wiki/Patricia_Scotland" title="Patricia Scotland">Patricia Scotland</a>, a former British cabinet minister, was nominated for Commonwealth secretary-general by her native country of <a href="/wiki/Dominica" title="Dominica">Dominica</a> and defeated <a href="/wiki/Antigua_and_Barbuda" title="Antigua and Barbuda">Antiguan</a> diplomat Sir <a href="/wiki/Ronald_Sanders_(diplomat)" title="Ronald Sanders (diplomat)">Ronald Sanders</a> and former <a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Deputy_Secretary-General" title="Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General">deputy secretary-general for political affairs</a> <a href="/wiki/Mmasekgoa_Masire-Mwamba" title="Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba">Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba</a> of <a href="/wiki/Botswana" title="Botswana">Botswana</a> to become the 6th Commonwealth secretary-general and the first woman to hold the post. She took office on 1 April 2016.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Lady Scotland's re-election to a second term was challenged at the <a href="/wiki/2022_Commonwealth_Heads_of_Government_Meeting" title="2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting">2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting</a> but she won a second term, reportedly defeating Jamaican foreign minister <a href="/wiki/Kamina_Johnson_Smith" title="Kamina Johnson Smith">Kamina Johnson Smith</a> by a margin of 27 votes to 24. As the CHOGM had been delayed by two years due to the <a href="/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic" title="COVID-19 pandemic">COVID-19 pandemic</a>, Scotland agreed to only serve for two additional years.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>At the <a href="/wiki/2024_Commonwealth_Heads_of_Government_Meeting" title="2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting">2024 CHOGM</a>, <a href="/wiki/Ghana" title="Ghana">Ghanian</a> foreign minister <a href="/wiki/Shirley_Ayorkor_Botchwey" title="Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey">Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey</a> was elected to succeed Baroness Scotland. She will begin her tenure as 7th Secretary-General on 1 April 2025.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="List_of_secretaries-general">List of secretaries-general</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Commonwealth_Secretary-General&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: List of secretaries-general"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th width="2%"><abbr title="Number">No.</abbr> </th> <th width="80px">Portrait </th> <th>Name </th> <th>Country </th> <th>Term start </th> <th>Term end </th> <th width="40%">Background </th> <th><a href="/wiki/Head_of_the_Commonwealth" title="Head of the Commonwealth">Head</a><br />(Tenure) </th></tr> <tr> <th style="text-align:center">1 </th> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Commonwealth_Icon2.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Commonwealth_Icon2.svg/100px-Commonwealth_Icon2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="100" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Commonwealth_Icon2.svg/150px-Commonwealth_Icon2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Commonwealth_Icon2.svg/200px-Commonwealth_Icon2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="57" data-file-height="57" /></a></span> </td> <th style="text-align:center"><a href="/wiki/Arnold_Smith" title="Arnold Smith">Arnold Smith</a> </th> <td><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Flag_of_Canada_%28Pantone%29.svg/23px-Flag_of_Canada_%28Pantone%29.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="12" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Flag_of_Canada_%28Pantone%29.svg/35px-Flag_of_Canada_%28Pantone%29.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Flag_of_Canada_%28Pantone%29.svg/46px-Flag_of_Canada_%28Pantone%29.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Canada" title="Canada">Canada</a> </td> <td>1 July 1965 </td> <td>30 June 1975 </td> <td><small>Canadian <a href="/wiki/Canada%E2%80%93Egypt_relations" title="Canada–Egypt relations">ambassador to</a> <a href="/wiki/Egypt" title="Egypt">Egypt</a> (1958–1961)<br />Canadian <a href="/wiki/Canada%E2%80%93Soviet_Union_relations" title="Canada–Soviet Union relations">ambassador to</a> the <a href="/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union">USSR</a> (1961–1963)</small> </td> <th rowspan="5" style="border-style: solid solid none solid ;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Elizabeth_II_in_Berlin_2015_(cropped).JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Elizabeth_II_in_Berlin_2015_%28cropped%29.JPG/100px-Elizabeth_II_in_Berlin_2015_%28cropped%29.JPG" decoding="async" width="100" height="132" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Elizabeth_II_in_Berlin_2015_%28cropped%29.JPG/150px-Elizabeth_II_in_Berlin_2015_%28cropped%29.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Elizabeth_II_in_Berlin_2015_%28cropped%29.JPG/200px-Elizabeth_II_in_Berlin_2015_%28cropped%29.JPG 2x" data-file-width="1167" data-file-height="1544" /></a></span><br /><a href="/wiki/Elizabeth_II" title="Elizabeth II">Elizabeth II</a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(1952–2022)</span> </th></tr> <tr> <th style="text-align:center">2 </th> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Shridath_Ramphal.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Shridath_Ramphal.JPG/100px-Shridath_Ramphal.JPG" decoding="async" width="100" height="123" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Shridath_Ramphal.JPG/150px-Shridath_Ramphal.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Shridath_Ramphal.JPG/200px-Shridath_Ramphal.JPG 2x" data-file-width="251" data-file-height="308" /></a></span> </td> <th style="text-align:center">Sir <a href="/wiki/Shridath_Ramphal" title="Shridath Ramphal">Shridath Ramphal</a> </th> <td><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Flag_of_Guyana.svg/23px-Flag_of_Guyana.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="14" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Flag_of_Guyana.svg/35px-Flag_of_Guyana.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Flag_of_Guyana.svg/46px-Flag_of_Guyana.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1000" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Guyana" title="Guyana">Guyana</a> </td> <td>1 July 1975 </td> <td>30 June 1990 </td> <td><small><a href="/wiki/Ministry_of_Foreign_Affairs_(Guyana)" title="Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Guyana)">Foreign Minister of Guyana</a> (1972–1975)</small> </td></tr> <tr> <th style="text-align:center">3 </th> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Commonwealth_Icon2.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Commonwealth_Icon2.svg/100px-Commonwealth_Icon2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="100" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Commonwealth_Icon2.svg/150px-Commonwealth_Icon2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Commonwealth_Icon2.svg/200px-Commonwealth_Icon2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="57" data-file-height="57" /></a></span> </td> <th style="text-align:center"><a href="/wiki/Emeka_Anyaoku" title="Emeka Anyaoku">Emeka Anyaoku</a> </th> <td><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Flag_of_Nigeria.svg/23px-Flag_of_Nigeria.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="12" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Flag_of_Nigeria.svg/35px-Flag_of_Nigeria.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Flag_of_Nigeria.svg/46px-Flag_of_Nigeria.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Nigeria" title="Nigeria">Nigeria</a> </td> <td>1 July 1990 </td> <td>31 March 2000 </td> <td><small><a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Deputy_Secretary-General" title="Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General">Deputy Secretary-General</a> for <a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Deputy_Secretary-General#Political_Affairs" title="Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General">Political Affairs</a> (1977–1990)</small> </td></tr> <tr> <th style="text-align:center">4 </th> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Don_McKinnon_2012.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Don_McKinnon_2012.jpg/100px-Don_McKinnon_2012.jpg" decoding="async" width="100" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Don_McKinnon_2012.jpg/150px-Don_McKinnon_2012.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Don_McKinnon_2012.jpg/200px-Don_McKinnon_2012.jpg 2x" data-file-width="580" data-file-height="782" /></a></span> </td> <th style="text-align:center"><a href="/wiki/Don_McKinnon" title="Don McKinnon">Don McKinnon</a> </th> <td><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Flag_of_New_Zealand.svg/23px-Flag_of_New_Zealand.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="12" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Flag_of_New_Zealand.svg/35px-Flag_of_New_Zealand.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Flag_of_New_Zealand.svg/46px-Flag_of_New_Zealand.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/New_Zealand" title="New Zealand">New Zealand</a> </td> <td>1 April 2000 </td> <td>31 March 2008 </td> <td><small><a href="/wiki/Deputy_Prime_Minister_of_New_Zealand" title="Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand">Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand</a> (1990–1996)<br /><a href="/wiki/Minister_of_Trade_(New_Zealand)" title="Minister of Trade (New Zealand)">Minister of Trade</a> (1990–1996)<br /><a href="/wiki/Minister_of_Foreign_Affairs_(New_Zealand)" title="Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand)">Minister of Foreign Affairs</a> (1990–1999)</small> </td></tr> <tr> <th style="text-align:center">5 </th> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Kamalesh_Sharma_January_2015.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Kamalesh_Sharma_January_2015.jpg/100px-Kamalesh_Sharma_January_2015.jpg" decoding="async" width="100" height="126" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Kamalesh_Sharma_January_2015.jpg/150px-Kamalesh_Sharma_January_2015.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Kamalesh_Sharma_January_2015.jpg/200px-Kamalesh_Sharma_January_2015.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1098" data-file-height="1387" /></a></span> </td> <th style="text-align:center"><a href="/wiki/Kamalesh_Sharma" title="Kamalesh Sharma">Kamalesh Sharma</a> </th> <td><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_India.svg/23px-Flag_of_India.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_India.svg/35px-Flag_of_India.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_India.svg/45px-Flag_of_India.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/India" title="India">India</a> </td> <td>1 April 2008 </td> <td>31 March 2016 </td> <td><small><a href="/wiki/Permanent_Representative_of_India_to_the_United_Nations" title="Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations">Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations</a> (1997–2002)<br /><a href="/wiki/List_of_High_Commissioners_of_India_to_the_United_Kingdom" class="mw-redirect" title="List of High Commissioners of India to the United Kingdom">Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom</a> (2004–2008)</small> </td></tr> <tr> <th rowspan="2" style="text-align:center">6 </th> <td rowspan="2"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Patricia_Scotland_2013_(cropped).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Patricia_Scotland_2013_%28cropped%29.jpg/100px-Patricia_Scotland_2013_%28cropped%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="100" height="140" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Patricia_Scotland_2013_%28cropped%29.jpg/150px-Patricia_Scotland_2013_%28cropped%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Patricia_Scotland_2013_%28cropped%29.jpg/200px-Patricia_Scotland_2013_%28cropped%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="416" data-file-height="581" /></a></span> </td> <th rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"><a href="/wiki/Patricia_Scotland" title="Patricia Scotland">Patricia Scotland<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Baroness Scotland of Asthal</b></span></a> </th> <td rowspan="2"><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Flag_of_Dominica.svg/23px-Flag_of_Dominica.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="12" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Flag_of_Dominica.svg/35px-Flag_of_Dominica.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Flag_of_Dominica.svg/46px-Flag_of_Dominica.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Dominica" title="Dominica">Dominica</a><br /><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="12" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/35px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/46px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/United_Kingdom" title="United Kingdom">United Kingdom</a> </td> <td rowspan="2">1 April 2016 </td> <td rowspan="2"><i>Incumbent</i> </td> <td rowspan="2"><small><a href="/wiki/Attorney_General_for_England_and_Wales" title="Attorney General for England and Wales">Attorney General for England and Wales and Northern Ireland</a> (2007–2010)<br /> UK <a href="/wiki/Minister_of_State" title="Minister of State">Minister of State</a> (<a href="/wiki/Home_Office" title="Home Office">Home Office</a>; 2003–2007)<br /> <a href="/wiki/Parliamentary_Under-Secretary_of_State" class="mw-redirect" title="Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State">UK Parliamentary Secretary</a> (<a href="/wiki/Lord_Chancellor%27s_Department" title="Lord Chancellor's Department">Lord Chancellor's Department</a>; 2001–2003)<br /> <a href="/wiki/Under-Secretary_of_State_for_Foreign_Affairs" class="mw-redirect" title="Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs">UK Under-Secretary of State</a> at the <a href="/wiki/Foreign_and_Commonwealth_Office" class="mw-redirect" title="Foreign and Commonwealth Office">Foreign and Commonwealth Office</a> (1999–2001)<br /> <a href="/wiki/House_of_Lords" title="House of Lords">UK House of Lords</a> (1997–present)</small> </td> <td style="background:#eaecf0 ; border-style: none solid solid solid ;"> </td></tr> <tr> <th rowspan="2"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:King_Charles_III_(July_2023).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/King_Charles_III_%28July_2023%29.jpg/100px-King_Charles_III_%28July_2023%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="100" height="141" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/King_Charles_III_%28July_2023%29.jpg/150px-King_Charles_III_%28July_2023%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/King_Charles_III_%28July_2023%29.jpg/200px-King_Charles_III_%28July_2023%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="727" data-file-height="1025" /></a></span><br /><a href="/wiki/Charles_III" title="Charles III">Charles III</a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(2022–present)</span> </th></tr> <tr> <th style="text-align:center">7 </th> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Shirley_Ayorkor_Botchway.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Shirley_Ayorkor_Botchway.jpg/100px-Shirley_Ayorkor_Botchway.jpg" decoding="async" width="100" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Shirley_Ayorkor_Botchway.jpg/150px-Shirley_Ayorkor_Botchway.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Shirley_Ayorkor_Botchway.jpg/200px-Shirley_Ayorkor_Botchway.jpg 2x" data-file-width="937" data-file-height="1129" /></a></span> </td> <th style="text-align:center"><a href="/wiki/Shirley_Ayorkor_Botchwey" title="Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey">Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey</a> </th> <td><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Flag_of_Ghana.svg/23px-Flag_of_Ghana.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Flag_of_Ghana.svg/35px-Flag_of_Ghana.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Flag_of_Ghana.svg/45px-Flag_of_Ghana.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Ghana" title="Ghana">Ghana</a> </td> <td><i>Designate</i> </td> <td> </td> <td><small><a href="/wiki/Minister_for_Foreign_Affairs_(Ghana)" title="Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ghana)">Minister for Foreign Affairs</a> for <a href="/wiki/Ghana" title="Ghana">Ghana</a> (2017–)</small> </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Commonwealth_Secretary-General&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-Role_of_the_Secretary-General-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Role_of_the_Secretary-General_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Role_of_the_Secretary-General_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Role_of_the_Secretary-General_1-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Role_of_the_Secretary-General_1-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Role_of_the_Secretary-General_1-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Role_of_the_Secretary-General_1-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20071029114459/http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Internal/169940/role_of_the_commonwealth_secretary_general/">"Role of the Secretary-General"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Secretariat" title="Commonwealth Secretariat">Commonwealth Secretariat</a>. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">5 April</span> 2008</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Role+of+the+Secretary-General&rft.pub=Commonwealth+Secretariat&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecommonwealth.org%2FInternal%2F169940%2Frole_of_the_commonwealth_secretary_general%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACommonwealth+Secretary-General" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Doxey-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Doxey_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Doxey_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Doxey_2-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Doxey_2-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Doxey_2-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Doxey_2-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Doxey_2-6"><sup><i><b>g</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Doxey_2-7"><sup><i><b>h</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDoxey1979" class="citation journal cs1">Doxey, Margaret (January 1979). 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">27 November</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Times+of+Malta&rft.atitle=Commonwealth+elects+first+woman+secretary+general&rft.date=2015-11-27&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesofmalta.com%2Farticles%2Fview%2F20151127%2Flocal%2Fcommonwealth-elects-first-woman-secretary-general.593722&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACommonwealth+Secretary-General" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/nov/24/lady-scotland-vying-next-commonwealth-secretary-general">"Lady Scotland vies to be next Commonwealth secretary general"</a>. <i>The Guardian</i>. 24 November 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">24 November</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Guardian&rft.atitle=Lady+Scotland+vies+to+be+next+Commonwealth+secretary+general&rft.date=2015-11-24&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fpolitics%2F2015%2Fnov%2F24%2Flady-scotland-vying-next-commonwealth-secretary-general&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACommonwealth+Secretary-General" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/australian-backed-candidate-fails-in-bid-to-topple-commonwealth-boss-patricia-scotland-20220624-p5awhl.html">"Australian-backed candidate fails to topple Commonwealth boss Patricia Scotland"</a>. 24 June 2022.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Australian-backed+candidate+fails+to+topple+Commonwealth+boss+Patricia+Scotland&rft.date=2022-06-24&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.smh.com.au%2Fworld%2Feurope%2Faustralian-backed-candidate-fails-in-bid-to-topple-commonwealth-boss-patricia-scotland-20220624-p5awhl.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACommonwealth+Secretary-General" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.barrons.com/news/commonwealth-announces-ghana-foreign-minister-as-new-secretary-general-bd700cd7">"Commonwealth Announces Ghana Foreign Minister As New Secretary General"</a>. <i>Barron's</i>. Agence France Presse. 26 October 2024<span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Anyaoku">Anyaoku</a><sup>†</sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Don_McKinnon" title="Don McKinnon">McKinnon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kamalesh_Sharma" title="Kamalesh Sharma">Sharma</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Patricia_Scotland" title="Patricia Scotland">Scotland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shirley_Ayorkor_Botchwey" title="Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey">Botchwey</a> (incoming)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div><sup>†</sup> Previously served as <a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Deputy_Secretary-General" title="Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General">Deputy Secretary-General</a>.</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Commonwealth_of_Nations_topics" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible 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Commonwealth">Head of the Commonwealth</a> (<a href="/wiki/Charles_III" title="Charles III">Charles III</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Secretariat" title="Commonwealth Secretariat">Secretariat</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Secretary-General</a> (<a href="/wiki/Patricia_Scotland" title="Patricia Scotland">Patricia Scotland</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Deputy_Secretary-General" title="Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General">Deputy Secretaries-General</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Marlborough_House" title="Marlborough House">Marlborough House</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Youth_Programme" title="Commonwealth Youth Programme">Commonwealth Youth Programme</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/List_of_Commonwealth_heads_of_government" title="List of Commonwealth heads of government">Heads of government</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Heads_of_Government_Meeting" title="Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting">Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Chair-in-Office" title="Commonwealth Chair-in-Office">Chair-in-Office</a> (<a href="/wiki/Paul_Kagame" title="Paul Kagame">Paul Kagame</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Ministerial_Action_Group" title="Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group">Ministerial Action Group</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Family" class="mw-redirect" title="Commonwealth Family">Commonwealth Family</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Association_of_Commonwealth_Universities" title="Association of Commonwealth Universities">Association of Commonwealth Universities</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Business_Council" title="Commonwealth Business Council">Commonwealth Business Council</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Foundation" title="Commonwealth Foundation">Commonwealth Foundation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Games" title="Commonwealth Games">Commonwealth Games Federation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_Parliamentary_Association" title="Commonwealth Parliamentary Association">Commonwealth Parliamentary Association</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Commonwealth_War_Graves_Commission" title="Commonwealth War Graves Commission">Commonwealth War Graves Commission</a><br /><a href="/wiki/British_Empire_and_Commonwealth_Museum" title="British Empire and Commonwealth Museum">BECM</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Commonwealth_Association_of_Planners&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Commonwealth Association of Planners (page does not exist)">CAP</a></li> <li><a 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title="Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan">CSFP</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/English-Speaking_Union" title="English-Speaking Union">ESU</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Institute_of_Commonwealth_Studies" title="Institute of Commonwealth Studies">ICS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Commonwealth_Ex-Services_League" title="Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League">RCEL</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Commonwealth_Society" title="Royal Commonwealth Society">RCS</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Royal_Over-Seas_League" title="Royal Over-Seas League">ROSL</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sound_Seekers" title="Sound Seekers">SSI</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Member_states_of_the_Commonwealth_of_Nations" title="Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations">Members</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a 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