Join us at the first in a new series of events at The Oratory School called: ‘Head Master in Conversation with… ‘. These events will feature an eminent member of the Oratory community and we are very pleased to welcome Matt Baugh OBE (OS 1986-91), to be the first guest. Matt is a member of the UK Diplomatic Service and is currently a Director at the Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU).
 
The Head Master of The Oratory School, Joe Smith, will discuss Matt's current role and its challenges as well as his career at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, first as British Ambassador to Somalia (when he was awarded the OBE in 2013 for services to peace and security in Somalia) and later as Head of the East and West Africa Department.
 
The evening will begin at 7pm with drinks followed by the talk at 7.30pm. Further drinks and canapés and an opportunity to network will follow until 9.30pm.
 

Matt Baugh OBE

Matt is a member of the UK Diplomatic Service and is currently a Director at the Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU). 

Prior to joining DExEU, he was Head of the East and West Africa Department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 2014 to 2016, with responsibility for UK policy to Nigeria, Sierra Leone, the Sahel, east Africa and the Horn of Africa. Previously he was Head of the Central and Southern Africa Department from 2013 to 2014, with responsibility for UK policy to South Africa, Zimbabwe and the Great Lakes region. He was also the UK’s representative to the Great Lakes peace process. 

From 2010 to 2013 he was the British Ambassador to Somalia, the first such appointment for over 20 years. He was awarded the OBE in 2013 for services to peace and security in Somalia. 

In 2010, he attended the the Higher Command and Staff Course at the Defence Academy, one of a small number of civilian students invited to join the UK Armed Forces’ senior staff course. 

Between 1999 and 2010 he held a number of positions at the Department for International Development, including as Principal Private Secretary to the Development Secretary and as the Head of the Iraq Department from 2006 to 2007. He helped establish and lead the cross-government Post-Conflict Reconstruction Unit, now the Stabilisation Unit, between 2005 and 2006.

He was First Secretary and DFID Country Representative at the British Embassy in Khartoum from 2002 to 2004. Prior to that he was responsible for DFID’s global emergencies team; he led DFID’s Afghanistan Crisis team from 2001 to 2002 and the Kosovo Crisis team from 1999 to 2000.

He joined the Civil Service in 1997 as a Fast Stream entrant in the Ministry of Defence, on completion of his MSc in international policy. 

He is married with three children and lives in Hampshire.