New Zealand Ambassador to Russia

Ian Hill has been New Zealand Ambassador in Moscow since August 2009. He is also cross-accredited as New Zealand Ambassador to Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Immediately prior to his Moscow assignment, he served for five years as Deputy Chief of Mission at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington DC.

Born in 1955, Mr Hill was educated at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in History and Russian, and a Master of Arts (First Class Honours) in History.

Mr Hill joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1979, where he worked initially in the Asian Affairs Division and in the European Affairs Division. He also spent a year on secondment to the Department of Trade and Industry. From 1982 to 1984 Mr Hill served as Second Secretary (Political/Economic) in the New Zealand Embassy in Moscow. In 1984-1985 Mr Hill was US/Canada desk officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1985 to 1988 Mr Hill was Second, and then First, Secretary (Political) at the New Zealand High Commission in Suva, Fiji, and from 1988 to early 1993 he was First Secretary, and then Counsellor (Political) at the New Zealand High Commission in London. From 1993 to 1995 Mr Hill served as Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in Wellington. In 1995 Mr Hill was appointed New Zealand High Commissioner to Tonga. In 1998, Mr Hill returned to Wellington where he took up the position of Director of the Human Rights Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He served as Director of the CEO’s Office in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2002 until his appointment to the Washington Embassy in June 2004.

Mr Hill is married to Barbara, who is a lawyer and teacher. They have three children: Matthew, Emma and Andrew. Mr Hill’s interests include travel, sport, music and reading.