Mark Lyall Grant qualified as a Barrister before joining the diplomatic service in 1980. After postings in Pakistan, France and South Africa, he was appointed High Commissioner to Pakistan (2003-06), Political Director in the FCO (2007-09) and British Ambassador to the UN (2009-15). In that capacity, he chaired the UN Security Council on 4 occasions.
Mark’s final Government appointment was National Security Adviser to David Cameron, then Theresa May (2015-17), advising the Prime Minister on Security, Defence and Foreign policy issues, overseeing the British Intelligence Agencies and acting as Secretary to the National Security Council.
Mark is currently a visiting Professor at King’s College, London, a Bencher at Middle Temple and a fellow at Eton College. He has a number of private sector consultancy roles, focussed on national and international security, and on geopolitics; and is on the advisory board at Chatham House. He was knighted in 2007 by HM Queen Elizabeth the Second and in 2022 was appointed the King of Arms at the Order of St Michael and St George.