Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict and Minister of State (Minister for South and Central Asia, North Africa, United Nations and the Commonwealth)

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Biography

Lord Ahmad is the Minister for South Asia, North Africa, the United Nations and the Commonwealth at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). He was first appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict and as Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations on 13 June 2017.

Education

He 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 between 2002 and 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.

Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict

The Prime Minister’s Special Representative (PMSR) on 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 FCO, DFID, MoD and the 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 (Minister for South and Central Asia, North Africa, United Nations and the Commonwealth)

The Minister’s responsibilities include:

  • India and Indian Ocean
  • Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia
  • North Africa
  • multilateral engagement (including G7), sanctions and strategic engagement
  • the Commonwealth
  • open societies (including Westminster Foundation for Democracy)
  • Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI)
  • humanitarian issues
  • Protocol

More about this role

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Previous roles in government