Sir John Sawers has spent his career dealing with foreign policy and international security.

After several years in the intelligence service, MI6, Sir John worked as a diplomat in the Middle East, Africa and the United States. He was foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Tony Blair and went on to be Ambassador to Egypt, Political Director in the Foreign Office and UK Ambassador to the United Nations in New York.

In 2009, he was called back to London to become Chief of MI6, a position he held for five years.

As MI6 Chief, he took part in the UK National Security Council and the Joint Intelligence Committee, contributing to the strategies and policy decisions on how to promote and protect British interests around the World. He led MI6 through a period of international political upheaval and high terrorist threat, including against the 2012 London Olympics. He also modernised the way the Service works and created a more open approach to public accountability.

Since leaving public service, Sir John has advised private sector leaders on geopolitics and political risk. In 2019, he set up his own firm, Newbridge Advisory. He was also a Non-Executive Director of BP from 2015 to 2024.

Sir John studied at the universities of Nottingham, St Andrews and Harvard. In addition to his corporate work, he has pro bono roles with King’s College London, the University of Nottingham, the Council on Foreign Relations, Chatham House, the European Council on Foreign Relations, the Royal United Services Institute, the Bilderberg Association and the Ditchley Foundation.