Sir John Jenkins

Biography

Sir John joined the FCO in 1980 and after studying Arabic at SOAS and elsewhere has served mainly in the Middle East and South East Asia. His first posting was to Abu Dhabi. He has been Her Majesty’s Ambassador to four countries. He was also Her Majesty’s Consul General in Jerusalem and the United Kingdom Special Representative to the Libyan National Transitional Council. He was Director for the Middle East and North Africa in the FCO between 2007 and 2009.

Sir John was Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from June 2012 to January 2015.

CV

Full name: John Jenkins Married to: Nancy Caroline (née Pomfret) Children: None

  • Oct 2011 – Nov 2011 Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Libya
  • May 2011 – Oct 2011 Benghazi/Tripoli, UK Special Representative to the NTC/Libya
  • Dec 2009 – May 2011 Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq
  • Sept 2007 – Sept 2009 FCO, Director, Middle East and North Africa
  • Dec 2006 – Sept 2007 Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Syrian Arab Republic
  • July 2003 – Dec 2006 Her Majesty’s Consul-General, Jerusalem
  • Aug 1999 – Dec 2002 Her Majesty’s Ambassador, Rangoon
  • Sept 1998 – Apr 1999 Burmese language training, SOAS
  • May 1995 – Aug 1998 Kuwait, Deputy Head of Mission
  • May 1992 – Feb 1995 FCO, Assistant Head of Joint Assistance Unit
  • Jan 1989 – May 1992 Kuala Lumpur, Head of Chancery and later Head of Political Section
  • Jun 1986 – Jan 1989 FCO, Head of East Africa Section, East Africa Department
  • Apr 1983 – May 1986 Abu Dhabi, Second later First Secretary
  • Sept 1981 – Mar 1983 Arabic language training, SOAS, Amman, Damascus
  • Sept 1980 – Sept 1981 FCO, Desk Officer for Greece

Previous roles in government

  • British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia