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Jonathan Wilks

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British diplomat

Jonathan WilksCMG
British Ambassador to Iraq
In office
2017 – September 2019
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Boris Johnson
Preceded byFrank Baker
Succeeded byStephen Hickey
British Ambassador to Oman
In office
2014–2017
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Theresa May
Preceded byJamie Bowden
Succeeded byHamish Cowell
British Ambassador to Yemen
In office
2010–2011
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byTimothy Torlot
Succeeded byNicholas Hopton
Personal details
Born (1967-09-30) 30 September 1967 (age 57)
Callow End, Worcestershire, England
EducationThe Chase School
Alma materDurham University (BSc)

Jonathan Paul (Jon) Wilks CMG (born 30 September 1967) is a British diplomat who was the Ambassador to Iraq from 2017 to 2019, Ambassador to Oman from 2014 to 2017 and Ambassador to Yemen from 2010 to 2011.

Career

Wilks was born at Callow End, Worcestershire, and educated at The Chase School, Malvern, and Durham University where he graduated in 1989 with a BSc degree in natural sciences. He was also President of the Durham Union.

After graduation he joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). After Arabic language training in London and Cairo 1991–93 he was posted to Khartoum 1993–96 and Riyadh 1996–99. He then returned to Durham University for a MA in Middle East Politics (2000), then went to St Antony's College, Oxford for a MPhil in International Relations (2002). After six months' secondment at the Cabinet Office, he was deputy head of the team that reopened the British mission in Baghdad after the Iraq War, from April to November 2003. He was deputy head of the Iraq policy unit at the FCO 2004–05 and of the security policy group 2005–07. In 2007 he was appointed the British government's first regional Arabic spokesman, based in Dubai. He was deputy head of mission in Baghdad 2009–10, then Ambassador to Yemen 2010–11. In 2012 he did the Higher Command and Staff Course at the Military Staff College, Shrivenham, then was UK Special Representative to the Syrian Opposition 2012–13, UK Special Representative for Syria 2013–14 and Ambassador to Oman 2014–17.

Wilks was appointed CMG in the 2012 Birthday Honours.

He retired from the diplomatic service in 2023 after his role as the British Ambassador to Qatar. He was succeeded by Neerav Patel.

References

  1. ^ "Wilks, Jonathan Paul". Who's Who. A & C Black. 2017. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.254179. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. "Queen's Birthday Honours". Durham First (33): 27. 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  3. "Durham Union Society (Photographs)". Catalogue of Durham University Records: Associations and Societies. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  4. "Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Iraq". Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 26 July 2017.
  5. "No. 60173". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 June 2012. p. 3.
  6. "IBBC Spring Conference | Twelfth Iraq Day at The Mansion House" (PDF). Iraq Britain Business Council. July 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024. He retired from HM Diplomatic Service in 2023 after 34 years working mostly on the Middle East.
  7. "Change of His Majesty's Ambassador to Qatar: Neerav Patel". GOV.UK. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded byTimothy Torlot British Ambassador to Yemen
2010–2011 		Succeeded byNicholas Hopton
Preceded byJamie Bowden British Ambassador to Oman
2014–2017 		Succeeded byHamish Cowell
Preceded byFrank Baker British Ambassador to Iraq
2017–2019 		Succeeded byStephen Hickey
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