Jon Wilks Keynote Speaker

Deep understanding and experience of the Arab world, Middle East and Islamic issues -Distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council
British Ambassador to Qatar, Iraq, Oman and Yemen. Advisor to the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies and the Iraq Britain Business Council
Guides policy makers, business leaders and geopolitical risk managers - networked with decision makers across the Middle East.

Jon Wilks's Biography

Ambassador Jon Wilks CMG is a leading expert on the Middle East, Islamic issues, Arabic media and US and UK Foreign Policy.

He is a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council and advises the Rafik Hariri Center’s Transatlantic Project, strengthening US and European dialogue and collaboration on Middle East issues. He is also an Associate Fellow of the Chatham House Middle East and North Africa Programme, a senior advisor to the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies and senior advisor to the Iraq Britain Business Council. Previously, he was a Distinguished Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute.

He uses his extensive knowledge, experience and networks to support businesses across the GCC and Iraq, including through private briefings and presentations based on frequent engagement with decision makers in the Middle East. He is an experienced analyst of political, economic and security issues drawing practical conclusions and recommendations for policy makers, business executives and geopolitical risk managers. He has strong research interests in Iraq, Syria and the Gulf region.

Jon was a British diplomat for over three decades, until 2023. His most recent posts were as British Ambassador to Qatar, Iraq, Oman and Yemen as well as Syria envoy. Before his ambassadorial postings he was the British Government’s regional Arabic spokesman travelling across the Middle East and North Africa on media and other speaking engagements in Arabic, in which he is fluent.

He has deep understanding of the societies and cultures of the Arab world. Jon has an MPhil in International Relations from Oxford University (St Antony’s College) and an MA in Middle East Politics from Durham University. He is an Honorary Professor at Exeter University. He was awarded a CMG for services to British Foreign Policy.

Where is the Middle East heading and implications for business in the region

Bridging Islam and the West: mission impossible or indispensable task?

Foreign Policy, the State of the World and the UK’s place in it

He brings 34 years at the sharp end of UK diplomacy, including ambassadorial posts in Qatar, Iraq, Oman and Yemen and service as UK Syria Envoy, giving leaders an insider’s view of how policy is made and power is exercised across the region.
He delivers Arabic-fluent, culturally literate analysis of Gulf and Iraqi politics, security and economic dynamics, helping executives interpret signals that rarely make it into English-language reporting.
He advises the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center through its Transatlantic Project, translating the latest shifts in US and European Middle East policy into clear implications for strategy, investment and risk.
He combines think tank rigour with frontline networks across the GCC and Iraq, producing briefings that help boards and risk teams stress-test assumptions, anticipate disruption and make decisions with confidence.
He is trusted by leading policy institutions including Chatham House and the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, equipping senior audiences with balanced, actionable insight on Islamic issues, regional stability and Western foreign policy choices.