Lord Ahmad is a prominent British Conservative politician and life peer in the House of Lords, ennobled by HM Queen Elizabeth II in 2011. He is an experienced and widely respected Foreign Minister, diplomat, British businessman, and community leader. He is recognized for his outstanding contributions across various domains, but most notably in foreign policy and international relations, where he became the longest serving British Foreign Minister in over 50 years, serving under 5 Prime Ministers.

 

Lord Ahmad is particularly known for his work in conflict resolution and mediation, human rights, religious freedom, and women’s rights and empowerment. His portfolio responsibilities included, the Middle East and North Africa, South and Central Asia and the United Nations. As practicing Muslim, he has been active in interfaith dialogue and is a vocal advocate for religious tolerance. His work often focuses on fostering understanding and cooperation between different faiths, which he has championed both within the UK and in international forums.

 

Alongside his ministerial responsibilities, he, both established the role and then served as the UK’s first-ever Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief in 2018. He was also appointed and served for 7 years as the UK’s Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict (PSVI) and in 2022 established and chaired The International Alliance of on PSVI.

 

His commitment to public service in the UK is exemplary and he’s respected internationally, across communities and the political spectrum, having made a significant and lasting impact during his continuous ministerial tenure, over the last 12 years covering Communities, Counter Terrorism, Aviation and Foreign and Development Affairs. Lord Ahmad was recognised for outstanding services to international relations and global affairs in 2024 by HM King Charles III, being made a Knight Commander of the Order St. Michael and St George (KCMG) and also awarded The Coronation Medal in 2023 for services to the nation.

 

Lord Ahmad is a Chartered Banker ACIB (Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers) and before entering politics, had a successful career across the banking, fund management and commodities sectors. He worked at NatWest Group, where he gained considerable experience in finance , strategy and marketing and eventually took on senior management roles, including a lead role on preparing corporate businesses for the introduction of the new €uro currency . He also worked as Vice President (EMEA) in New York and London for Alliance Bernstein, a global investment funds management firm and then served as Strategy and Marketing Director for Sucden Financial, a leading City broker, financial intermediary, and ring member of The London Metals Exchange. This experience brought a distinct perspective to his later work in government, particularly on economic and international policy.