Veronica Sutherland was born on 25 April 1939, the daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Maurice George Beckett, and of Constance Mary Cavenagh-Mainwaring. She was educated at the Royal School, Bath, studied German at London University and took a further degree at Southampton University. In 1981 she married Alex James Sutherland.

Sutherland joined the Diplomatic Service in 1965, and her career included the following posts: 2nd, later 1st Secretary, Copenhagen [Denmark] (1967-70); Foreign and Commonwealth Office (1970-75); 1st Secretary, New Delhi [India] (1975-78); FCO (1978-80); Counsellor (1981); Permanent UK Delegate to UNESCO (1981-84); Counsellor, FCO (1984-87); Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire (1987-90); Assistant Under-Secretary of State (Personnel), FCO (1990-95); Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland (1995-99).