Dame Deborah Bronnert DCMG

Dame Deborah served as British Ambassador to the Russian Federation (2020-2023). Her tenure in Moscow spanned the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. She subsequently took up the role of Director General Europe at the FCDO until 2025. She is a member of the Trilateral Commission and joint Chair of the UK Group.

Previously, Dame Deborah served as FCO Chief Operating Officer (2014–16) and Director General Economic and Global Issues (2016–19). She was also Trustee of the British Council (2014-2019). Earlier postings included time in Brussels in the Cabinet of Commissioner Kinnock (1995–99), as Economic and Trade Counsellor in Moscow (2002–05), FCO Director for Prosperity and G8 Foreign Affairs Sous-Sherpa (2008–11), and as Ambassador to Zimbabwe (2011–14), the first woman to hold that post. Dame Deborah has a Masters from UCL in the Political Economies of Russia and Eastern Europe and her first degree is in Mathematics from the University of Bristol.