Jonathan Wilks Explained

Jonathan Wilks
Office:British Ambassador to Iraq
Term Start:2017
Term End:September 2019
Predecessor:Frank Baker
Successor:Stephen Hickey
Primeminister:Theresa May
Boris Johnson
Office1:British Ambassador to Oman
Term Start1:2014
Term End1:2017
Predecessor1:Jamie Bowden
Successor1:Hamish Cowell
Monarch1:Elizabeth II
Primeminister1:David Cameron
Theresa May
Office2:British Ambassador to Yemen
Term Start2:2010
Term End2:2011
Predecessor2:Timothy Torlot
Successor2:Nicholas Hopton
Monarch2:Elizabeth II
Primeminister2:David Cameron
Birth Date:30 September 1967
Birth Place:Callow End, Worcestershire, England
Education:The Chase School
Alma Mater:Durham University (BSc)

Jonathan Paul (Jon) Wilks (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.[1] He was also President of the Durham Union.[2]

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, UKSpecial Representative for Syria 2013–14 and Ambassador to Oman 2014–17.[3]

Wilks was appointed CMG in the 2012 Birthday Honours.

Notes and References

  1. Queen's Birthday Honours . Durham First . 2013 . 33 . 27 . 8 November 2018 . en.
  2. Web site: Durham Union Society (Photographs) . Catalogue of Durham University Records: Associations and Societies . 13 September 2019.
  3. Web site: Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Iraq . Foreign & Commonwealth Office . 26 July 2017.