Sir Simon Fraser GCMG

Chair

Headshot of Simon Fraser

Biography

Simon Fraser is Chair of the Chatham House Council and advises the Europe Programme. He is a founder and managing partner of the business advisory firm Flint Global.

Simon served as a member of the Chatham House Panel of Senior Advisers until early 2024 and as deputy chair of Chatham House from 2016 to 2022. He was permanent under-secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and head of the UK Diplomatic Service from August 2010 to July 2015.


Prior to that he was permanent secretary at the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. He has also served as director general for Europe in the FCO; chief of staff to European Trade Commissioner; political counsellor at the British embassy in Paris; and head of policy planning in the FCO.

Simon is honorary president of the British Foreign Policy Group and a trustee of the Patchwork Foundation.

Past experience

2024 - presentChair of the Panel of Senior Advisers, Chatham House
2017 - 2024Senior Adviser, Chatham House
2016-22Deputy Chairman, Chatham House
2015 - presentManaging Partner, Flint Global Ltd.
2010-15Permanent Secretary, Foreign & Commonwealth Office; Head of UK Diplomatic Service