As 2025 begins, we are pleased to welcome four new members to the Johnian Society Committee. Fiona McIlwham CMG (1992) will be joining as the new Vice-President, and Laura Day (2014), Jessica Gorman (1985) and Chris Moore (1984) will become committee members.
A few members will be changing positions this year; Anthony Freeling (1975) will be changing from Vice-President to President, Nigel Topping (1985) will become the Past President and Nigel Snaith (1979) will become Chair.
Finally, we also say goodbye to some committee members as Claire Griffiths (1985), latterly Chair, Mark Wells (1981), latterly Past President, Peter Scott (2002) and Julian Gould (1995) will be stepping down from the committee this year.
Read on to find out more about the new members.
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.
Jessica Gorman (1985)
Jessica is of Anglo-French nationality and came to St John’s College after schooling in Paris and at the French Lycée in London, to study Veterinary Medicine from 1985 to 1990.
During her time in Cambridge, she dabbled in rowing, basketball for the University, acting in a French play and was an enthusiastic member of Cantemus, a society created at the time at St John’s for those who loved to sing.
After deciding not to practise as a vet, due to the need to take decisions on the lives of animals, Jessica went into the world of Olympics and worldwide events and tourism, creating and running multiple sponsor/corporate programmes and subsidiary companies in Olympic cities.
During lockdown, Jessica became registered manager for a domiciliary care company for older persons and developed a deep interest in the social care sector and its challenges. She hopes to be able to go back to this one day soon, to continue to make a difference in this essential and complex domain.
Her real home is now in Turin, Italy with her architect partner and three dogs, but she is based in London and the New Forest, directing events all over Europe and the US.
Her passions include high mountain trekking, climbing and bouldering, animals, cooking, skiing, bridge, music and singing in the shower, with a deep love for travelling in France and Italy. For many years Jessica and her partner were part of the international historic car rally circuit.
Laura Day (2014)
Laura read English Literature from 2014 to 2017, followed by an MA and PhD at Durham University, where she specialised in the poetry and life of Cumbrian poet Norman Nicholson. A Cumbria-native herself, Laura is now working back on the Howgill Fells, as a teacher of English at Sedbergh School. She is currently completing her PGCE through Coventry University. Laura grew up on a hill-sheep farm, and her upbringing has shaped her academic endeavours, and her interests outside of her career, ever since she left school.
While at St John’s, Laura enjoyed playing hockey, rowing for LMBC and running. She also spent a lot of time discussing routes with fellow Cambridge University Hillwalking Club members over a quiet drink at The Castle Inn.
Chris Moore (1984)
Chris studied Law at St John’s from 1984 to 1988, receiving a BA and an LLM. While at College he was Vice-Captain of the Rugby Club. In 2016 he received a Harvard Law School Diploma in Leadership, Law and Management.
Chris has been based in Singapore since 1996, working internationally as an adviser, director, consultant, coach and mentor to businesses, executives and professionals. He spends his time between his Singapore base and the UK. He has been a partner at Allen & Overy and Norton Rose. He is a member of the Singapore Institute of Directors, a member of the Foreign Lawyers Advisory Committee and a member of the Law Society of Singapore’s Professional Ethics and Practice Advisory Committee.
Chris was a Non-Executive Director of the St John’s College Singapore Development Fund.
