MEMS scholar given UN role in Iraq

Frances Guy, Visiting Senior Research Fellow in the Middle East & Mediterranean Studies Programme, has taken up a new role with the United Nations as a Women's Representative in Iraq.

Former UK Ambassador to Lebanon (2006-11), Frances Guy was at King’s College for the Lent term 2012, while serving as the British Envoy to the Syrian Opposition in London. During her stay Frances focused on UK foreign policy towards Syria following the uprising against the Assad regime. In May, Frances chaired an international workshop on Transitional Justice Dilemmas in Syria at Somerset House and gave a public lecture onThe Syrian Opposition: does it matter if they are not united?

As part of the King’s-FCO Conversations with Diplomacy programme Frances spoke about her four year mission in Beirut as it came to a close, Lebanon – the price of compromise: is there an alternative? And reflecting on her previous posting as Ambassador to Yemen (2001-04), Frances gave a lecture on The future of Yemen: is partition inevitable?

Professor Michael Kerr, Professor of Conflict Studies, paid tribute to the impact of her time with the College. "It was a great pleasure to have Frances Guy with us at King’s this year. The students and staff at MEMS are all very grateful to her for being so generous with her time and we wish her well in her new posting in Iraq."