ReflectiONs

institutions like the EU and UN; bilateral roles in Cyprus and Bulgaria; and mainstream foreign policy and development jobs on Africa and in New York. I love living in different countries and understanding the culture, language and history of a place and its people. Pompous as it might sound, I am as motivated as ever by public service and national duty.

In the New Year’s Honours List at the end of 2020, I was made Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George or CMG for services to British foreign policy. I went with my wife, my mother and my sister to receive the award from Prince William at Windsor Castle in November 2022.

headquartered there. My tour coincided with three years of President Trump, at a time when allegiances and old certainties were being tested by China’s growth and Russian muscular action in Syria. I was in the Security Council seat when we discussed the Salisbury attacks for the first time, going head to head with the Russian Ambassador. In March 2020, I took over as Acting Permanent Representative for nine months, in charge of the embassy and leading for the UK on Covid-19 at the UN.

We returned to the UK in summer 2021, where I took up a new role in the now Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in the national security area. 25 years after I started, I love the job as much as ever. I love the variety: 11 jobs across multilateral