Fiona McIlwham CMG (1992)

Fiona read Philosophy Part 1 and SPS Part 2 at St John’s 1992–95, before completing a Masters in Development Economics at SOAS 1996–98. She is currently a visiting senior fellow at the Queen Mary Center, University of Copenhagen, after an intense two and a half years advising the UK Prime Minister (three Prime Ministers!) on foreign affairs, trade and national security in No. 10.

Fiona has 25 years of experience of diplomacy, policy-making and high-level negotiations at the centre of government, working on the EU, Balkans, Ukraine, Middle East and Indo-Pacific, for the UK and US governments, the European Commission, as well as for the Royal Family. She was the UK’s Ambassador to Albania 2009–12. She has played a role in most recent geopolitical crises – negotiating peace in the Balkans, organising vaccine supplies for the UK during COVID-19, handling Prince Harry’s departure from the UK as well as leading on UK, Ukraine and Middle East policy in No. 10.

While at St John’s, Fiona enjoyed rowing for LMBC.