Director General Geopolitics and Political Director

Dr Christian Turner CMG

Biography

Christian Turner is Political Director at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Christian was previously British High Commissioner to Pakistan, from December 2019 to January 2023. Before that, he was the Prime Minister’s International Affairs Adviser and Deputy National Security Adviser from 2017 to 2019.

He previously served as the Director General, Political (Acting) and Director General for the Middle East and Africa, leading the UK organisation of the London Syria Conference in February 2016. From 2012 to 2015 he was British High Commissioner to Kenya; and from 2009 to 2012 he was FCO’s Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

Between 1997 and 2008 Christian held various positions in the Foreign Office, the Cabinet Office and 10 Downing Street, including as Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, as Secretary to the Economic & Domestic Committees of Cabinet, and as First Secretary in the British Embassy in Washington from 2002 to 2006.

Before joining government, Christian made television documentaries, after completing his PhD.

Director General Geopolitics and Political Director

The Director General Geopolitics and Political Director leads the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office’s (FCDO’s) international engagement for all of the Foreign Secretary’s foreign policy priorities. They provide strategic foreign policy advice to the Foreign Secretary and other FCDO ministers.

The Director General Geopolitics and Political Director is responsible for leading on geopolitical strategy and FCDO work on multilateral engagement and influence.  This includes having direct oversight of the FCDO relationship with the United Nations system, G7, G20 and Commonwealth. They bring together the different strands of geographic and thematic priorities across FCDO, developing and shaping the UK government’s policy response to the current geopolitical context. 

This role involves regular engagement with international partners in the UK and abroad using the political director network to influence partners on the most pressing issues or crises.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Previous roles in government

  • British High Commissioner to Pakistan
    • 2019 to 2023
  • Prime Minister’s International Affairs Adviser and Deputy National Security Adviser
    • 2017 to 2019
  • Director General, Political (Acting)
    • 2017 to 2017
  • Director General, Political
    • 2016 to 2017
  • British High Commissioner to Kenya
    • 2012 to 2015