Lord Peter spent 40 years as a member of the Diplomatic Service. His final post was Ambassador in Paris (2012-16).  Before that he was the UK’s first National Security Adviser (2010-12), and in that role was the coordinator of the 2010 National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review. He was Permanent Under Secretary at the FCO and Head of the Diplomatic Service (2006-10). He spent much of his career working on politico-military issues and crisis management, including spells as the FCO Political Director (2001-3) and Permanent Representative to NATO (2003-6). He holds Honorary Degrees from the Universities of London, Kent and Bath and is an Honorary Fellow of Pembroke College Oxford.

Areas of interest

• National Security policy
• Crisis management and post-conflict stabilisation
• Defence policy