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ABOUT IAN PROUD
a former british diplomat with twenty four years experience at the frontline of major global crises.
Ian Proud was a member of His Majesty's Diplomatic Service from 1999 to 2023.
Ian was a senior officer at the British Embassy in Moscow from July 2014 to February 2019, at a time when UK-Russia relations were particularly tense. He performed a number of roles in Moscow, including as Head of Chancery, Economic Counsellor - in charge of advising UK Ministers on economic sanctions - Chair of the Crisis Committee, Director of the Diplomatic Academy for Eastern Europe and Central Asia and Vice Chair of the Board at the Anglo-American School. He oversaw the Embassy’s preparations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and rebuilt embassy staffing structures following the mass expulsion of staff that followed the March 2018 Salisbury nerve agent attack.
Prior to Moscow, Ian organized the 2013 G8 Summit in Lough Erne, Northern Ireland, working out of 10 Downing Street. In 2012 he wrote and launched William Hague’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict initiative (PSVI) and in 2011 organised the London Conference on Libya, attended by Foreign Ministers from 50 countries and the UN Secretary General. In 2010, he was posted to Helmand Province in Afghanistan, where he served as the Head of Strategic Communications. From 2003 – 2007 he was the Head of the Political Section at the British Embassy in Bangkok.
EXPERTISE IN DIPLOMATIC TRADECRAFT & CRISIS MANAGEMENT
Ian was one of the Foreign Office’s most accomplished crisis experts. During his career, he was involved in the Foreign Office crisis response to the Gujurat Earthquake, 9-11, the 2002 Bali Bombing, the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, the Arab Spring, New Zealand Earthquake and Japanese tsunami in 2011, the 2018 Salisbury nerve agent attack, and the global repatriation of British citizens during COVID.
Ian is an expert in strategic thinking, politico-economic analysis and diplomatic tradecraft. With a passionate belief that foreign language skills are a vital component of tradecraft, he speaks fluent Thai, has C1 Russian and a smattering of 6 other languages to varying degrees.
Ian’s final role at the Foreign Office was as the Vice Principal of the International Academy. Ian is passionate about improving the skills of diplomats following a two-decade disinvestment in diplomacy by successive British governments.
THE PERSONAL STUFF
Ian is married with two children and a labrador, and lives in the rolling North Downs of Hampshire, England. In addition to baking sourdough bread (a lockdown project) and servicing his Duolingo addiction, Ian is a Strictly Superfan, Southampton FC supporter, F1 buff, gardener, karate enthusiast, and writer. He hates sitting still for any length of time.