Who is Blaise Metreweli, first female head of Britain’s MI6?

The M16 chief reports directly to the foreign secretary [Handout/United Kingdom Foreign Office via AP]

The British government on Sunday appointed Blaise Metreweli as the country’s first woman to serve as chief of the UK’s foreign spy service MI6.

But though she will be the first woman to lead the agency, Britain – and the world – have long had women play leading roles in espionage.