The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office announced on 14 August 2026 that Ms Louise Cantillon had been appointed British High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor of the Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands. She was to succeed Ms Iona Thomas OBE, who had transferred to another Diplomatic Service appointment. The announcement said Ms Cantillon would take up the appointment during August 2026.

According to the published curriculum vitae, Ms Cantillon served from 2021 to 2026 as British Consul General in Sydney and Deputy Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific (Australia and New Zealand). Before that she held posts at the British Consulate in Shanghai, including Minister Counsellor for Creative, Consumer and Education from 2020 to 2021 and Head of Infrastructure and Creative Industries from 2018 to 2020. She also worked at the British Council, Gleeds UK, Polartech Ltd, Manchester Chamber of Commerce and the British Embassy in Beijing.