Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon KCMG

Biography

Lord Ahmad was Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict and Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations between June 2017 and July 2024.

Lord Ahmad was Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations until September 2020. He was then the Minister for South and Central Asia, North Africa, United Nations and the Commonwealth until September 2022. He was Minister for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, United Nations and the Commonwealth from September 2022 until July 2024.

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

  • Minister at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, later the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, covering a variety of responsibilities including South and Central Asia, Middle East, North Africa, United Nations and the Commonwealth (2017 to 2024)
  • 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

Previous roles in government

  • UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief
    • 2018 to 2019
  • Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict
    • 2017 to 2024