A break from Covid19.
I joined @foreignoffice 30 years ago today.
L: Berlin 1990. Indie singer-songwriter mood. Lots of hair.
R: Toronto 2020. Dad mood. Less hair & attempting a WFH beard.
A
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐งต" title="Thread" aria-label="Emoji: Thread"> on an accidental career, lessons for diplomats & the Covid19 world ... 1/
I joined @foreignoffice 30 years ago today.
L: Berlin 1990. Indie singer-songwriter mood. Lots of hair.
R: Toronto 2020. Dad mood. Less hair & attempting a WFH beard.
A
โ90-โ93. 1st job. Clerk. Defence. Talk in โ90 of Cold War peace dividend & no
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐ฌ๐ง" title="Flag of United Kingdom" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of United Kingdom"> military ops outside of NATO area.
End โ93? Gulf War; humanitarian ops in N Iraq, Western Balkans &
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐ฌ๐ง" title="Flag of United Kingdom" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of United Kingdom"> supported UN ops.
Lesson: Be flexible to events & grow capability & capacity quickly. 2/
End โ93? Gulf War; humanitarian ops in N Iraq, Western Balkans &
Lesson: Be flexible to events & grow capability & capacity quickly. 2/
โ93-โ94. Cyphers & comms. 8 posts in 18 months. From big - Moscow, Islamabad, Nairobi - to small - Belmopan - & multilateral - Geneva.
Lesson: Know how your organization works & your colleagues, junior & senior. You are one team in one world & rely on each other to succeed. 3/
Lesson: Know how your organization works & your colleagues, junior & senior. You are one team in one world & rely on each other to succeed. 3/
โ94-โ96. UKREP Brussels. Assistant Press Officer & Institutions covering
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐ช๐บ" title="Flag of European Union" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of European Union">. Negotiation. comitology, TEU, briefing journalists, & more.
Lesson: Facts matter as does process & knowledge. Master your brief, talk to journalists & support independent media. 4/
Lesson: Facts matter as does process & knowledge. Master your brief, talk to journalists & support independent media. 4/
โ96-โ97. Sarajevo. 3rd Secretary everything & working amid the fog of post war politics.
Lesson: Never underestimate human cruelty & the importance of justice. Talking to bad people is sometimes needed, but values matter. Know your limits. 5/
Lesson: Never underestimate human cruelty & the importance of justice. Talking to bad people is sometimes needed, but values matter. Know your limits. 5/
โ97-โ00. @UKUN_NewYork! Negotiating again. Iraq, Libya, Kosovo & more. Last time
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐จ๐ฆ" title="Flag of Canada" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of Canada"> on UNSC.
Lesson: Jaw Jaw better than war war. Relationships matter, especially with those with whom you disagree. A diplomat without their capitalโs confidence is not credible. 6/
Lesson: Jaw Jaw better than war war. Relationships matter, especially with those with whom you disagree. A diplomat without their capitalโs confidence is not credible. 6/
โ00-โ03. London.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐ญ๐ท" title="Flag of Croatia" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of Croatia"> then Head
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐ท๐ธ" title="Flag of Serbia" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of Serbia">,
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐ฒ๐ช" title="Flag of Montenegro" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of Montenegro"> & war criminals team. Fall of Milosevic, war criminals to The Hague, closer
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐ฌ๐ง" title="Flag of United Kingdom" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of United Kingdom"> - regional relations.
Lesson: Focussed transatlantic multilateral diplomacy gets stuff done but has consequences. Recommend @Itwitius Shadowplay for more
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐" title="Open book" aria-label="Emoji: Open book"> 7/
Lesson: Focussed transatlantic multilateral diplomacy gets stuff done but has consequences. Recommend @Itwitius Shadowplay for more
โ03-โ05. Stockholm. Head of Politics & Economics. Important mature bilateral political, military, economic, & cultural partner with
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐" title="Earth globe americas" aria-label="Emoji: Earth globe americas"> vision.
Lesson: A different pace. Keep an eye on the long term (10-20 year) timeline as much as the inbox. Invest in your development. 8/
Lesson: A different pace. Keep an eye on the long term (10-20 year) timeline as much as the inbox. Invest in your development. 8/
โ05-โ08. Various London roles from Deputy Head Iraq Directorate to Home Office secondment.
Lesson. Global Affairs are local affairs: Immigration, CT, economic, EU, tariffs. Get out of the Foreign Ministry, see it from another side, & be more relevant as a result. 9/
Lesson. Global Affairs are local affairs: Immigration, CT, economic, EU, tariffs. Get out of the Foreign Ministry, see it from another side, & be more relevant as a result. 9/
โ08-โ09. Helmand.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐ฆ๐ซ" title="Flag of Afghanistan" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of Afghanistan">. 12 months with
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐ฌ๐ง" title="Flag of United Kingdom" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of United Kingdom">
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐จ๐ฆ" title="Flag of Canada" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of Canada">
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐บ๐ธ" title="Flag of United States" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of United States">
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐ฉ๐ฐ" title="Flag of Denmark" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of Denmark"> troops & civilians. Life changing experience helping Afghans build a better Afghanistan.
Lesson: Life is precious, the smallest decisions can have the largest consequences. Friends & family matter. Stay in touch. 10/
Lesson: Life is precious, the smallest decisions can have the largest consequences. Friends & family matter. Stay in touch. 10/
โ10-โ14. Miami. First Head of Post role. Haiti earthquake support, Mt. Eyjafjallajรถkull eruption & consular response, business development, counter narcotics work.
Lesson: Leadership is lonely. Find support with peers & trusted friends. Be kind. @SusanOwens_FCO 11/
Lesson: Leadership is lonely. Find support with peers & trusted friends. Be kind. @SusanOwens_FCO 11/
โ14-โ20. Toronto. Business, Brexit, Invictus Games, GREAT, Climate Change,
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐ฌ๐ง" title="Flag of United Kingdom" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of United Kingdom">
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐จ๐ฆ" title="Flag of Canada" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of Canada"> relations & a global pandemic.
Lesson: Be yourself & use your position for good. Itโs taken 30 years for me to accept the former & I have got the most fulfilment from the latter. 12/
Lesson: Be yourself & use your position for good. Itโs taken 30 years for me to accept the former & I have got the most fulfilment from the latter. 12/
And now? 5 thoughts:
1st. Every day sees Governments do the most extraordinary - and necessary - things to protect public health. The short term implications - lives & jobs lost, increased debt (personal, private sector & Govt) - are apparent.
13/
1st. Every day sees Governments do the most extraordinary - and necessary - things to protect public health. The short term implications - lives & jobs lost, increased debt (personal, private sector & Govt) - are apparent.
13/
2nd. The long term structural implications for local & global economies & the future of work are less known. Covid19 has accelerated everything from disruptive technology - I type from my new office/home - to public policy eg Universal Basic Income. 14/
3rd. My career has covered rapid globalization. Governments who were chafing at that & taking restrictive measures - visas, tarrifs - will be tempted to go further & be less dependent on one global supplier. Consumers may want a return to more local sourced goods. 15/
4th. Our global cooperation mechanisms are more important than ever. As two medium sized economic powers dependent on multilateralism, there is a role for
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐ฌ๐ง" title="Flag of United Kingdom" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of United Kingdom"> &
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐จ๐ฆ" title="Flag of Canada" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of Canada"> to shape the global response to Covid19 through G7, G20, UN, Commonwealth & more. 16/
5th. Diplomats matter in a digital world. We get some stick. But this week
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐ฌ๐ง" title="Flag of United Kingdom" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of United Kingdom"> diplomats have worked 24/7 to get
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐ฌ๐ง" title="Flag of United Kingdom" aria-label="Emoji: Flag of United Kingdom"> nationals home & delivery of vital medical equipment to the NHS. Proud of what my colleagues are doing. 17/
Final thought. I joined at 18. Come from working class family. Didnโt go to university. Never thought Iโd get to this level.
Lesson. Make the most of opportunities that come your way, make a difference & have fun while doing so. You get one shot at this! End.
Lesson. Make the most of opportunities that come your way, make a difference & have fun while doing so. You get one shot at this! End.
PS. I am an accidental diplomat. If any of this resonates, then follow @TFletcher @SimonFraser00 @CER_IanBond @blais_louise @paulknott11 @StephanieCarvin @rolandparis @SlaughterAM who write more eloquently and independently than I can in my current role.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="๐" title="Folded hands" aria-label="Emoji: Folded hands"> for listening.