Sir Simon Fraser GCMG

Chair

Biography

Sir Simon Fraser is the Chair of Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs. He was previously Deputy Chair from 2016 to 2022. 

Simon is also a Founding Partner of the business consultancy Flint Global, which advises on policy, political and regulatory issues in international markets.  

From 2010 to 2015 Simon was Permanent Under-Secretary of the UK Foreign Office and Diplomatic Service. He ran the global network of British embassies and was on the National Security Council.


In 2009-2010, as Permanent Secretary, Simon led the UK Department for Business (BIS) in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, playing a central part in planning for recovery.

Prior to that Simon was for four years Chief of Staff to the European Commissioner for Trade in Brussels, where he was closely engaged in EU trade negotiations with the United States and China.

Simon is a member of the UK board of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Committee of the Royal Society, and is a trustee of the Patchwork Foundation.