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Baroness Scotland, barrister at London’s Four Paper Buildings and former Attorney General under Gordon Brown, has become the first woman to be elected secretary general of the Commonwealth in its 66-year history. Patricia Scotland, 60, is also the first British citizen to hold the role. She became the first black woman to be made a Queen’s Counsel in 1991. Her election was announced at the leaders’ summit of 53 Commonwealth nations in Malta in November. She will take over the role from Kamalesh Sharma this year.
Baroness Scotland, barrister at London’s Four Paper Buildings and former Attorney General under Gordon Brown, has become the first woman to be elected secretary general of the Commonwealth in its 66-year history. Patricia Scotland, 60, is also the first British citizen to hold the role. She became the first black woman to be made a Queen’s Counsel in 1991. Her election was announced at the leaders’ summit of 53 Commonwealth nations in Malta in November. She will take over the role from Kamalesh Sharma this year.
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