Colin Evans (diplomat)
| Professor Colin Evans | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater |
Commando Training Centre Royal Marines Britannia Royal Naval College City & Guilds of London Institute University of Coimbra |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
Colin Evans (born 1964) is a trade diplomat.
Early life
Born in 1964 into a working-class family. He grew up in Birkenhead and swam and played rugby for his high school. He completed GCE Advanced Level education and a Gold Pass in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. Until 2001, the Gold Awards were presented to winners by the Duke of Edinburgh in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.[1]
Evans went on to represent Merseyside, Cheshire and his R.M.R. Unit at National Judo competitions.
He joined the Royal Marines Reserve in Merseyside a year after leaving school and was sent for Officer Cadet training at the University of Liverpool Officers Training Corps UOTC, where he attended the 'North West Reserve Officers Training Programme' in Preston, passing in top place.[2]
Military career
He attended the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines and was commissioned into the Royal Marines as a 2nd lieutenant in 1983. He then served as a troop commander in 45 Commando, where he was captain of the judo team and had the opportunity to serve as an honour guard subaltern to Queen Elizabeth II . He is trained in mountain and Arctic warfare. After qualifying as a weapon training officer, he then attended the Academic Professional Studies course at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. He then returned to the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, Lympstone, as an instructor, troop commander and company commander.[3] He also trained alongside Portuguese Special Forces at the Special Operations Troops Centre at Lamego in Portugal [4] where he was schooled in Unconventional Warfare.[5]
Private career
Following military service, he developed an interest in trade and commerce in which he became a private consultant. This led him into a career in freelance diplomacy, providing private confidential and strategic advice to trade delegations of various countries.
He has been contracted to numerous positions serving several countries and inter-governmental organisations, such as UNESCO. His posts have included trade commissioner, economic advisor, Commissioner for Oaths, senior trade delegate and special envoy.[6][7]
Besides his other roles, he currently serves the Inter-Governmental Organisation EUCLID as Commissioner for Economic Development and Trade Diplomacy.
Education and personal life
Evans qualified in Portuguese language and culture at Portugal's oldest university, University of Coimbra, and he holds a licentiateship (LCGI) and graduateship (GCGI) in leadership and management from the City and Guilds of London Institute, is fluent in English and Portuguese and has a working knowledge of French. His wife Elizabete is Portuguese.[8]
He also serves on the faculty of EUCLID (Euclid University) as adjunct professor of trade diplomacy. His subject specialisations are trade diplomacy, leadership and management and global affairs and development.[9] Evans also hold a place on the Academic Assessment Committee of the Intergovernmental Organisation EDU.[10]
Evans has three brothers, named Darren, Gary and Glen. They are also trade diplomats.[11]
Controversy
Evans was featured in an undercover documentary, unbeknownst to him, called The Ambassador. Danish filmmaker Mads Brügger goes undercover in the film to investigate the blood diamond trade in Central Africa and contacted Evans to help facilitate his journey.[12]
