Mark Lyall Grant qualified as a Barrister before joining the diplomatic service in 1980. After postings in Pakistan, France and South Africa, he was appointed High Commissioner to Pakistan (2003-06), Political Director in the FCO (2007-09) and Ambassador to the UN (2009-15). In that capacity, he chaired the UN Security Council on 4 occasions.
Mark’s final Government appointment was National Security Adviser to David Cameron, then Theresa May (2015-17), advising the Prime Minister on Security, Defence and Foreign policy issues, overseeing the British Intelligence Agencies and acting as Secretary to the National Security Council.
Mark is currently a visiting Professor at King’s College, London, a Bencher at Middle Temple and a fellow at Eton College. He has a number of private sector consultancy roles, focussed on national and international security, and on geopolitics; and is on the advisory board at Chatham House. He was knighted in 2007 and is the King of Arms at the Order of St Michael and St George.