Dr Huw Llewellyn is set to receive the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for his remarkable diplomatic service
Newport: Dr Huw Llewellyn, 65, is about to be honored with the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG). This award recognizes his outstanding work in foreign and diplomatic service.
Throughout his impressive career, Dr Llewellyn has held various prestigious positions across the globe. He served as a UK Government agent at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and worked with the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs in New York.
Now, he calls Switzerland home with his wife, Alexandra von Willisen, and their two daughters, Mari and Anna. Despite living abroad, he has a deep connection to his roots.
His sister-in-law, Denise Llewellyn, shared that Dr Llewellyn feels a surge of pride whenever he crosses the Severn River, a testament to his Welsh heritage.
While the exact date of the award ceremony is still under wraps, it’s clear that this honor is well-deserved. Dr Llewellyn grew up in Brynglas, Newport, where he attended primary school before moving to The Woodlands in Malpas and later Newport High School.
He was raised alongside his two brothers, Rhys and Gwyn. After finishing school, he pursued a law degree at Southampton University, earning his LLB Honours.
Following that, he attended The College of Law in Guildford, where he passed the Solicitors Final Examinations. His journey took him to the Netherlands for a PhD in International Law at the University of Leiden.
After completing his PhD, he returned to the UK and worked as a solicitor in London for five years. He then joined the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office as a Legal Advisor, where he spent over a decade.
During his time there, he held several key roles, including Legal Advisor at the UK Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva and the Agent of the UK Government in human rights cases before the European Court of Human Rights.
From 2007 until his retirement in September 2024, Dr Llewellyn worked with the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs in New York. He led the International Criminal Tribunals team and served as the Director of the Codification Division.
In retirement, he continues to contribute as a Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the Centre for International Law at the University of Singapore. A proud Welshman, Dr Llewellyn is also a huge rugby fan.
