John Edwards 

   Director, Office for Investment, Department for Business and Trade

John Edwards was appointed as a Director at the Office for Investment in May 2024.

Prior to this, he was Director International Strategy and Trade Relations at the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). Prior to that, John was His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner to China and Hong Kong, one of nine Trade Commissioners appointed by the UK government to promote the UK in important global markets.

John has more than 30 years of experience working for the UK government, with 15 years spent in China including as HM Consul General in Shanghai and Minister Counsellor at the British Embassy (2012 to 2015).

Outside of China, John was the speechwriter for 3 Foreign Secretaries and was the Deputy Consul General in Jerusalem.