Director, Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Ben Fender OBE

Biography

Ben Fender was Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Somalia from February 2019 to February 2021. Prior to this, he was Head of the Security Policy Department at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office from 2016 to 2019.

Mr Fender has extensive experience representing the UK in the Middle East, with previous postings as the Chargé, and Deputy Head of Mission in Tehran from 2015 to 2016. Prior to this he was the FCDO Deputy Head, Iran Department in 2015 and Deputy Head, UK Ebola Response to Freetown (2014 to 2015). He was also the Political Counsellor in Kabul for 2 years from 2012 to 2014.

Find out more about Ben Fender.

Director, Eastern Europe and Central Asia

This role oversees UK policy – and the UK contribution to broader western policies - towards the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

It supports cross-government policy-making and delivery and oversees the network of UK embassies and consulates in these countries.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Previous roles in government

  • British Ambassador to Somalia
  • Deputy Head of Mission, Tehran
  • Chargé d’Affaires, Tehran