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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
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
on an accidental career, lessons for diplomats & the Covid19 world ... 1/
‘90-‘93. 1st job. Clerk. Defence. Talk in ‘90 of Cold War peace dividend & no 
military ops outside of NATO area.
End ‘93? Gulf War; humanitarian ops in N Iraq, Western Balkans & supported UN ops.
Lesson: Be flexible to events & grow capability & capacity quickly. 2/
military ops outside of NATO area.End ‘93? Gulf War; humanitarian ops in N Iraq, Western Balkans &
supported UN ops. Lesson: Be flexible to events & grow capability & capacity quickly. 2/
‘93-‘94. 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/
‘94-‘96. UKREP Brussels. Assistant Press Officer & Institutions covering 
. Negotiation. comitology, TEU, briefing journalists, & more.
Lesson: Facts matter as does process & knowledge. Master your brief, talk to journalists & support independent media. 4/
. Negotiation. comitology, TEU, briefing journalists, & more. Lesson: Facts matter as does process & knowledge. Master your brief, talk to journalists & support independent media. 4/
‘96-‘97. 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/
‘97-‘00. @UKUN_NewYork! Negotiating again. Iraq, Libya, Kosovo & more. Last time 
on UNSC.
Lesson: Jaw Jaw better than war war. Relationships matter, especially with those with whom you disagree. A diplomat without their capital’s confidence is not credible. 6/
on UNSC. Lesson: Jaw Jaw better than war war. Relationships matter, especially with those with whom you disagree. A diplomat without their capital’s confidence is not credible. 6/
‘00-‘03. London. 
then Head 
, 
& war criminals team. Fall of Milosevic, war criminals to The Hague, closer - regional relations.
Lesson: Focussed transatlantic multilateral diplomacy gets stuff done but has consequences. Recommend @Itwitius Shadowplay for more
7/
then Head , & war criminals team. Fall of Milosevic, war criminals to The Hague, closer - regional relations. Lesson: Focussed transatlantic multilateral diplomacy gets stuff done but has consequences. Recommend @Itwitius Shadowplay for more
7/
‘03-‘05. Stockholm. Head of Politics & Economics. Important mature bilateral political, military, economic, & cultural partner with 
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/
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/
‘05-‘08. 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/
‘08-‘09. Helmand. 
. 12 months with 
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/
. 12 months with 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/
‘10-‘14. Miami. First Head of Post role. Haiti earthquake support, Mt. Eyjafjallajökull 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/
‘14-‘20. Toronto. Business, Brexit, Invictus Games, GREAT, Climate Change, relations & a global pandemic.
Lesson: Be yourself & use your position for good. It’s taken 30 years for me to accept the former & I have got the most fulfilment from the latter. 12/
relations & a global pandemic. Lesson: Be yourself & use your position for good. It’s 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 & to shape the global response to Covid19 through G7, G20, UN, Commonwealth & more. 16/
& 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 diplomats have worked 24/7 to get nationals home & delivery of vital medical equipment to the NHS. Proud of what my colleagues are doing. 17/
diplomats have worked 24/7 to get 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. Didn’t go to university. Never thought I’d 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. 
for listening.
for listening.
