Challenges in Diplomatic Alliances in the 21st Century: a talk by Catherine Royle

At the invitation of the Oxford University Society in Guernsey, Catherine Royle, the Principal of Somerville College, is visiting the island on Friday 2 nd October to deliver a talk on her time as a senior diplomat in the UK Foreign Office.

She joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1986, following a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (at Somerville) and served in many of the world’s hotspots before joining NATO in January 2015 as Political Adviser to the Commander at the Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum.

Much of her early career was in Latin America, culminating as British Ambassador to Venezuela, then in September 2010 she was posted to Kabul as Deputy Ambassador. Her role involved reinvigorating the International Police Co-ordination Board and she worked with the Ministry of the Interior in developing a local police force during the US-led military presence in the nation. She later served as personal adviser to the Interior Minister of Iraq.

Among the themes that she will be covering in her talk are “what is the role of a diplomat in an increasingly militarised world?” and “what do diplomats actually do?”

As the UK Government is formally responsible for Guernsey’s international relations and defence, hearing from a former senior UK diplomat who has been in many of the world’s Hot Spots is particularly relevant for everyone in the island – young and old – in these challenging times. The talk is open to all, as well as to Oxford (and Cambridge..) alumni. Of particular note, by kind invitation of the Lieutenant Governor, Catherine will conduct a ‘Fire Side’ chat with a group of sixth formers from all the island’s secondary schools at Government House, ahead of her talk at Ladies College.