Ambassador and Permanent Representative, UK Mission to the WTO, UN and Other International Organisations (Geneva)

Simon Manley CMG

Biography

Simon Manley, CMG took up his post as the United Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization, United Nations and other International Organisations based in Geneva in April 2021.

Simon oversees the work of the UK Mission in Geneva and represents the United Kingdom in its engagement with over 35 international organisations, agencies and offices based in the city. These include the UN Human Rights Council, the World Trade Organization, the World Health Organization, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Telecommunications Union, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, CERN, and the World Economic Forum.

Simon has been a member of the Diplomatic Service since 1990. He was British Ambassador to Spain and non-resident Ambassador to Andorra from October 2013 to August 2019.

Simon has held a number of senior roles in the FCO (now FCDO) in London, including: Director-General, COVID-19 (2020), Director, Europe (2011 to 2013), Director, Defence and Strategic Threats (2008 to 2011) and Head of Counter-Terrorism (2006 to 2008). Earlier in his career, he worked at the UK’s Mission to the United Nations in New York, and was twice seconded to the European Union: the first time to the European Commission and the second to the Council of the European Union.

Simon was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in HM The Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2009.

Simon studied Modern History at Magdalen College, Oxford and International Relations at Yale University Graduate School. He is married to Maria Isabel Fernandez Utges Manley. They have 3 daughters.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative, UK Mission to the WTO, UN and Other International Organisations (Geneva)

The Ambassador’s role is to represent the UK within an international organisation, engaging with every other country or organisation that belongs to or observes the body. The Ambassador is also responsible for the direction and work of the Mission. Ambassadors to multilateral missions are often referred to as ‘Permanent Representatives’.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Previous roles in government

  • Director General, COVID-19
    • 2020 to 2020
  • British Ambassador to Spain
    • 2013 to 2019