Jennifer Oldfield, who worked as a speechwriter for government ministers and later became director of external relations at the United Nations Foundation in New York, has died of cancer aged 46.
Career in the civil service
Oldfield began her career at the Department for Education, serving as assistant private secretary to three schools ministers: Stephen Twigg, Jacqui Smith and Jim Knight. She then became a speechwriter for the junior education minister Lord Adonis from 2006 to 2007.
She moved to the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, where she served as head of digital engagement and senior speechwriter for science and innovation minister Ian Pearson and secretary of state for innovation, university and skills John Denham.
Move to 10 Downing Street and the UN
From 2011 to 2013, Oldfield was news and content manager at the prime minister's office, overseeing the No 10 website and Twitter account. She left the civil service in April 2013 to work as a communications specialist at the United Nations in New York, a city she had fallen in love with during visits.
In 2017, she joined the United Nations Foundation, travelling across Africa and South America in her role as director of external relations. She remained there until shortly before her death.
Personal life and legacy
Born in Liverpool, Oldfield attended Rainhill High School and earned a BA (2001) and MA (2002) in English literature from King’s College London. She married Guy Oldfield in 2015, and they settled in Morningside Heights on Manhattan's Upper West Side. They had a son, Levon, in 2017.
Described as warm, charismatic and humorous, Oldfield volunteered at the Gatehouse Community Garden and for her housing co-op even during her illness. Her mother, Julia (née Boyle), predeceased her in 2013. She is survived by her husband, son, father, and siblings Claire and Andrew.
