Special Envoy for the Red Sea and Horn of Africa
Sarah Montgomery OBE
Biography
Sarah Montgomery OBE is the UK’s Special Envoy for the Red Sea and Horn of Africa, having taken up the role in June 2022.
Prior to this, Sarah was:
- Trade and Economic Counsellor in the British Embassy Washington
- Head of the Gulf, Yemen and Iran teams in the UK National Security Secretariat (and NSS lead on international strategy and engagement during the COVID-19 response)
- Development Director in the British High Commission, Kenya (in the then Department for International Development)
She has previously held roles as:
- Head of DFID Iraq overseeing the UK’s humanitarian and stabilisation response to the Daesh crisis
- DFID’s Ukraine lead, establishing teams in London and Kyiv in 2014
- Senior DFID Representative to the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan
- Middle East lead in the UK Government’s Stabilisation Unit
- Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Before joining the UK Civil Service in 2007, Sarah worked as a researcher in the House of Commons.
Social media links
Special Envoy for the Red Sea and Horn of Africa
Special representatives use their expertise to develop a greater coherent effort in making sure that the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) works closely and effectively with foreign powers.
The role of the Special Envoy for the Red Sea and Horn of Africa is to lead the UK government’s response to international activity in the Red Sea region. The Special Envoy engages with those involved on both shores of the Red Sea and beyond.
Previous roles in government
-
Counsellor for Trade and Economics, USA
-
Head of DFID Kenya