Permanent Secretary and Head of HM Diplomatic Service, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
What are you most proud of achieving during 2011?
Iím exceptionally proud of how all the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's staff - both UK- and locally-engaged ñ pulled together during an extraordinary series of crises. It's been a hell of a year, responding to events in the Middle East and North Africa: a massive consular evacuation from Libya and securing the UN Security Council Resolution authorising action to protect Libyan people, not to mention Egypt, Syria, Bahrain and Yemen. We faced threats in Yemen, Iran, CÙte díIvoire, Afghanistan and elsewhere. On the other side of the world, there were natural disasters in New Zealand and Japan. At the same time, we were supporting three prominent national events: the royal wedding; the state visit by the Queen to Ireland; and President Obamaís visit to the UK. As I write, we are coping with the evacuation of our embassy in Tehran, not to mention the Euro zone crisis. So thereís plenty to be proud of, as well as lessons to be learned.
How has the shape and structure of the department changed during 2011?
We are getting fewer, and have had to make some hard decisions on the future shape of our workforce. Since the foreign secretary set out the strategic priority of 'building Britain's prosperity', the FCO has pushed economic and commercial diplomacy to the top of its agenda. We have trained over 200 staff in new commercial skills, and are opening new offices in key growth regions and dedicating about 100 new jobs to this effort. Businesses thanked us for our help in Korea, India, China, Africa, Latin America and the Far East. The president of the CBI recently welcomed this renewed commercial focus, and urged us to keep going.
What is the most important thing the department must achieve during 2012?
Protect our national security and prosperity, and serve British people abroad. That is what we are here to do, and we must be excellent at it. In 2012, the FCO will implement a strategic shift of resources that will extend our global reach and put the FCO on a sustainable footing to support and pursue British interests.
We will also start moving staff out of the Old Admiralty Building in London, which we will hand back to the government property portfolio by April 2013. This will help us meet the £100 million per year of administrative savings that we must achieve by 2015. And doing that is really important. It will also be a big chance to modernise our operations in the UK.
How is the civil service likely to change during 2012?
I'm sure there will be many changes over the next year, not least because of the change of leadership with Sir Gus OíDonnell retiring. What wonít change is the importance of the service we provide to the British people ñ and, in times of increased pressure, I hope that this will continue to be recognised.
Which historical, mythological or contemporary figure would you most like to join for Christmas dinner?
My four grandparents, because I would love to hear about their life experiences in the first part of the 20th century.