Sir Simon Gass
Distinguished Fellow
Biography
For almost forty years, Sir Simon Gass KCMG CVO was a diplomat at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. His most recent post before retirement was Political Director from 2013 to 2016, responsible for G8/UN issues, Africa, the Middle East, Russia and South and Central Asia.
He led the UK team at the E3+3/Iran nuclear negotiations resulting in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreed in 2015. He was also closely involved in efforts to resolve key areas of instability around the world, including Syria, Libya, Ukraine, Yemen and the fight against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
He was previously NATO’s Senior Civilian Representative for Afghanistan and British Ambassador to Tehran and Athens.