Alyson King
Kinshasa,DRC
Summary
Results-driven international leader, diplomat and lawyer with a strong track record of guiding organisations to success. Collaborative leadership style that aligns teams with organizational goals and drives performance. Skilled at navigating complex challenges, fostering innovation, and ensuring adaptability to changing conditions through strategic planning and operational excellence. Experienced diplomat who consistently inspires and motivates diverse audiences. Energetic, resilient, ethical, and responsible.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
British Ambassador to Democratic Republic of Congo
UK Government
04.2023 - Current
- 100+ staff (40 UKBS;60+ CBS) across two locations in DRC (including CFSP post in Goma) £105m+ bilateral ODA spend pa (↑) plus £300m+ pa in wider UK spend £4.8m annual Embassy operating budget
- Key responsibilities and achievements:
- Peace and security: Support high-level regional peace processes, working closely with ministers, the region and the network, to address chronic regional conflict in eastern DRC
- Humanitarian response to7.2 million displaced people
- Advocate to prevent sexual violence in conflict
- Engage with two UN peacekeeping missions in DRC and CAR
- Oversee UK-funded conflict prevention and peace-building work
- Politics and governance: High-level engagement on governance and human rights, including2023 elections and2025 constitutional change
- Oversee advocacy and programming on business climate, improved public financial management and tackling corruption
- Grow partnership with new Congolese government
- Spearhead scheme to support women Ministers and parliamentarians, including Congo’s first woman PM
- Climate and environment: Galvanise efforts to protect the rainforests of the Congo Basin, to protect biodiversity and nature, and to improve the life of forest communities
- Trade and economic growth: drive inclusive, climate-friendly economic growth, bringing together the entire UK toolbox from ODA-funded economic development work, through concessional finance provided by BII, to private sector work, supported by DBT and UKEF cover, reinvigorating the UK-DRC business community, hosting visits and trade missions, and speaking at trade conferences
- Development and humanitarian: ensure well-designed and ambitious UK programming in DRC to support Sustainable Development Goals, increasingly focused on transformational opportunities in partnership with GoDRC, and mitigating the greatest risks, in line with UK national interests and strengths
- Leadership and management: motivating staff, leading inclusively to increase staff engagement levels, and unite FCDO
- Ensure mission crisis-ready
- Set direction and steer new10-year vision for post
- Mentor and sponsor UK officials including from under-represented groups
- Promote culture of continuous improvement, underpinned by strong values
Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy Beirut
UK Government
01.2020 - 01.2023
- Up to100 UKB officers and dependants;100 CBS (including UK’s Syria Office) £4m operating budget
- Up to £100m on development/conflict prevention/CT pa
- Key responsibilities/achievements:
- Leadership and operational: led mission through Covid-19, economic collapse, security threats, merger and Beirut port explosion
- Regular periods as Chargé
- Peace and security: Close engagement with UNIFIL and UN Special Coordinator on Lebanon on Blue Line tensions and political and security developments
Arabic Spokesperson & Senior Regional Communicator
UK Government
01.2019 - 01.2020
- Communications: used TV, print and social media, creativity and emotional engagement to reach Arabic-speaking audiences in Middle East and North Africa. Built up organically 60k Twitter/X followers. Live TV interviews in Arabic
- Produced most successful FCO video ever
- Leadership: built high-performing multinational team from one an HR professional described as the most toxic she had ever seen
- Advised executive leadership (Ministers and ambassadors) on communication strategies that aligned with business objectives while maintaining authenticity.
Deputy Director and Head of Policy Division
Scotland Office
10.2016 - 11.2017
- Policy: Advised Cabinet Minister and engaged senior UK Government, Scottish Government, local authority, business and academic leaders to ensure Scottish interests considered through EU Exit
- Strategy: Led on all non-constitutional policy areas including trade, industrial strategy, defence, EU Exit and multi-stakeholder partnerships for economic regeneration
- Leadership: Set direction and managed budget
- Led split-site division (6 direct reports)
- Coordinated cross-functional teams to successfully execute large-scale projects on time and within budget constraints.
- Fostered a positive work environment by promoting collaboration, transparency, and open communication among team members.
Deputy Head, Europe Department
FCO (UK)
12.2013 - 10.2016
- Leadership: co-led FCO’s largest department on multilateral EU and bilateral Europe issues during Scotland referendum, EU referendum and NATO summits.4-6 direct reports
- Supervised European fast stream and secondment programme
- Coach, mentor and promotion assessor
- Bilateral relations: Oversaw bilateral relations with18 countries in Nordic-Baltic and Central European Networks, ensuring networks well-connected to London
- Directed intensive Ministerial engagement through EU renegotiation2015-16 and subsequent EU referendum
- Devolution: Advised Ministers and embassies on role of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in UK foreign policy; engaged Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish stakeholders on EU and UK foreign policy
- Civil service leadership: First Chair of shadow board providing challenge function to the most senior UK officials on civil service strategic management
Various Roles
UK Government, European Commission
10.2003 - 10.2013
- Head of Political Section, British Embassy Khartoum (Aug10 – Aug13)
- Legal Adviser, UK Permanent Representation, Brussels (Aug08-Aug09)
- Seconded national expert, European Commission, Brussels (Aug05- Aug08):
- Assistant Legal Adviser, FCO London: Export controls and sanctions
Associate Lawyer
Davis Polk & Wardwell,
09.1999 - 09.2003
- Transactional work on cross-border securities issues and aircraft finance/securitisation
- Pro bono representation of refugees and social security appellants
Teaching assistant
Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs
01.1999 - 05.1999
- Human Rights in International and Domestic Law and Institutions
Education
MA - EU Law
King’s College London
London01.2009
Master of Laws (LLM) -
Columbia University School of Law
New York05.1999
Master of International Affairs (MIA) -
Columbia University School of International & Public Affairs
New York05.1999
Bachelor of Arts -
Oxford University
Oxford06.1997
Skills
- Crisis management
- Global perspective
- Strategic visioning
- Operational excellence
- Effective decision making
Certification
Admitted to practice as solicitor in England & Wales (2003), NY Bar (2000)
Awards
Awarded OBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours2021
Internships and volunteer experience
Andean Commission of Jurists (Lima, Peru), United Nations HQ, Center for Economic and Social Rights (both New York), Slaughter and May, Clifford Chance (both London). Volunteer teaching experience in Guatemala, election observation in El Salvador and TEFL in Gaza.
Honours
Awarded OBE in Queen's Birthday Honours
Additional Information
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Languages
English
Native language
Arabic
Proficient
C2
Spanish
Advanced
C1
French
Proficient
C2
Timeline
British Ambassador to Democratic Republic of Congo
UK Government
04.2023 - Current
Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy Beirut
UK Government
01.2020 - 01.2023
Arabic Spokesperson & Senior Regional Communicator
UK Government
01.2019 - 01.2020
Deputy Director and Head of Policy Division
Scotland Office
10.2016 - 11.2017
Deputy Head, Europe Department
FCO (UK)
12.2013 - 10.2016
Various Roles
UK Government, European Commission
10.2003 - 10.2013
Associate Lawyer
Davis Polk & Wardwell,
09.1999 - 09.2003
Teaching assistant
Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs
01.1999 - 05.1999
Admitted to practice as solicitor in England & Wales (2003), NY Bar (2000)
MA - EU Law
King’s College London
Master of Laws (LLM) -
Columbia University School of Law
Master of International Affairs (MIA) -
Columbia University School of International & Public Affairs
Bachelor of Arts -
Oxford University
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