The vision for excellence in the Foreign Office

An exhilarating week for me, with plenty of networking during and on the margins of the Leadership Conference and opportunities to interact with other colleagues, locally-employed by the Foreign Office, from all around the world.

I was impressed with the support that the Foreign Office received from the Prime Minister who gave recognition to the value that the diplomatic service brings in terms of political insight into and economic knowledge about the host country. I felt part of the larger picture plus it doesn’t happen every day that I am within metres from the head of government!

Prime Minister David Cameron speaking at the Leadership Conference

The two core messages that I take with me from this week concern the future of the Foreign Office – the investment that it needs to make to deliver a first-class diplomatic service – and also the ability to manage multiple crises at once, as it has happened during the Arab Spring.

I had my own contribution to the discussions, during a panel dedicated to leadership and the role of heads of mission to steer the Foreign Office in the right direction – I hope I was positive, pragmatic and inspirational.

The highlight of last week was the video-link discussion with Aung San Suu Kyi, who proved that a petite-framed woman can have the inner strength of granite. And, to wrap up such an intense experience, had almost stumbled upon the Deputy PM who was going into the Cabinet Office as I was heading to the Foreign Office one morning. I texted my ambassador about the impromptu brush-past, who commented that I should have invited Nick Clegg to Romania! Well, I failed on that occasion as the surprise effect left me in a state of contemplation.

Now back to Bucharest, am still digesting all the impressions while thinking what is the message that I bring to my colleagues. I hope to be, again, positive, pragmatic and inspirational.