Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon
Biography
Lord Ahmad was first appointed as Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict and as Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations in June 2017.
Lord Ahmad was Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations until September 2020. He was then appointed Minister for South and Central Asia, North Africa, United Nations and the Commonwealth until September 2022.
Education
Lord Ahmad was educated at Rutlish School and London South Bank University (LSBU) as well as the Chartered Institute of Financial Services.
Political career
- Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (2018 to 2019)
- Minister for Aviation and Trade, Department for Transport (2016 to 2017)
- Minister for Countering Extremism, Home Office (2015 to 2016)
- Transport Minister, Skills & Aviation Security (2015 to 2016)
- Communities & Local Government Minister (2014 to 2015)
- Government Whip and Lord in Waiting (2012 to 2014)
- Vice-Chairman (national) of the Conservative Party (2008 and 2010)
- Councillor (Wimbledon Park) and Cabinet Member in the London Borough of Merton (2002 to 2012)
Career outside politics
Lord Ahmad had a 20-year career in the City working in banking and finance, including at the NatWest Group where he was a senior manager in corporate banking and financial markets. He was later Vice-President and Marketing Director of Alliance Bernstein and his last role before joining the government was as Strategy and Marketing Director at Sucden Financial.
Personal life
Lord Ahmad is married and has a daughter and 2 sons.
Follow Lord Ahmad on Twitter: @tariqahmadbt
Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict
The Prime Minister’s Special Representative (PMSR) for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict works with governments, the UN, civil society and others to:
- strengthen accountability and tackle impunity
- provide greater support for survivors
- ensure gender equality is fully integrated in all peace and security efforts
- deliver a more effective multilateral response to crimes of sexual violence in conflict
The PMSR also promotes and implements the commitments of the June 2014 Global Summit.
In addition to continuing the international campaign to raise awareness, the PMSR chairs the cross-Whitehall ministerial committee which brings together the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Ministry of Defence and Home Office. The committee looks at implementation of UK commitments as well as what additional support we can provide politically and practically to key partners in order to secure measurable progress. The PMSR also chairs the PSVI Steering Board with NGOs, academia and experts.
The PMSR undertakes these activities on behalf of the Prime Minister, and reports to the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street, Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative, and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Minister of State (Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, United Nations and the Commonwealth)
The Minister deputises for the Foreign Secretary in the House of Lords.
The Minister’s responsibilities include:
- Middle East and North Africa
- Afghanistan and Pakistan
- India
- the Commonwealth
- United Nations and multilateral organisations (except the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and Council of Europe)
- open societies and human rights
Previous roles in government
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Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief