By Emeka Blast 
First Woman Takes Helm at MI6: Blaise Metreweli Appointed
Blaise Metreweli has been appointed as the first female head of MI6, the United Kingdom’s foreign intelligence service. She is set to succeed Richard Moore, who is retiring this autumn. Metreweli, 47, currently serves as MI6’s Director General for Technology and Innovation, a role akin to the fictional “Q” in the James Bond series. She joined MI6 in 1999 and has held various operational roles across the Middle East and Europe. Additionally, she has worked in MI5, the UK’s domestic security agency. Metreweli holds a degree in anthropology from Pembroke College, Cambridge, and was a member of the crew that won the Women’s Boat Race in 1997 .
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described her appointment as “historic,” emphasizing the importance of leadership in the face of growing global threats from countries like Russia, China, and Iran . Metreweli’s selection aligns MI6 with MI5 and GCHQ, which have already had female leaders. Her appointment is seen as a significant step toward greater diversity and modernization within the UK’s intelligence community .
