Roland Schilling took up his post as UNHCR Representative in London in July 2009.  He arrived in the UK after four years in Ankara as the Refugee Agency's Deputy Representative, where he oversaw refugee protection activities and supported the Turkish Government in establishing a national asylum system. 

As Senior Programme Officer for UNHCR in Sri Lanka from 1998-2002, Roland Schilling coordinated UN humanitarian work following the tsunami. He has also served for UNHCR as Deputy Representative in Germany, Head of Office in Moldova, and held positions in Hong Kong and Yemen.