BFPG’s Advisory Board

The British Foreign Policy Group is delighted to appoint our new Advisory Board. As the UK’s leading think tank focused on the interface between foreign and domestic policy, we believe that effective foreign policy decision-making requires diverse insights and expertise. Bringing together experts from across business, civil society, government and academia, our advisory board will help guide and support BFPG’s work in the next stage of our development. David Landsman OBE, Senior Advisor at BFPG, will chair the Board.

Denisa Delic, Director of Advocacy at the International Rescue Committee UK

Denisa Delić is the Director of Advocacy at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) UK. She has worked on UK foreign policy and conflict and humanitarian issues for almost a decade. Prior to joining the IRC, she was the Head of UK Influencing at Save the Children UK. She is a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre.

Fergus Drake OBE, CEO of Crown Agents

Fergus Drake OBE is the Chief Executive of Cumberland Lodge and former CEO of Crown Agents, a not-for-profit international development company. Prior to Crown Agents, Fergus was Executive Director of Global Programmes at Save the Children UK. He was awarded an OBE in the 2023 New Year’s Honours List for services to UK/Ukraine relations in the Health sector.

Lovejit Dhaliwal, Journalist

Lovejit Dhaliwal is an award winning journalist who has covered international affairs for over 20 years for the BBC. Her work includes covering the revolutions in central Asia, the Arab spring, the outbreak of Ebola, the pandemic, climate change, the Ukraine-Russia war and the conflict in Sudan.

Juliet Dryden, CEO and Director of British International Studies Association (BISA)

Juliet Dryden is the CEO and Director of BISA. Prior to this, she worked for the United Nations in postings in Gaza, Jerusalem and Amman. She has also worked for LSE IDEAS, Chatham House, and the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Daniel El-Gamry, Senior Special Adviser

Daniel El-Gamry is Head of Engagement for the leader of the opposition. He was formerly a Senior Special Adviser working on the UK’s accession to the CPTPP and the Global Investment Summit 2023. Prior to this, he worked in the Number 10 Policy Unit.

Andrew Hawkins, Founder and CEO of Whitestone Insight

Andrew is Founder and CEO of Whitestone Insight, a Westminster-based polling and research consultancy. One of the UK’s best-known figures in polling, Andrew established his previous business ComRes in 2003 and built it to become one of the UK’s best-known polling firms until its acquisition in 2019.

Ruby Osman, Policy Advisor at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

Ruby Osman is a policy advisor at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, where she leads the institute’s China work. She has appeared on the BBC, Reuters and LBC, and written for TIME, Newsweek and the South China Morning Post.

Matthew Otubu BEM, Strategic Communications Lead for Africa at the Government Communication Service

Matthew Otubu is the Strategic Communications Lead for Africa in the international branch of the Government Communication Service at the Cabinet Office. He is also the Founder and Convener of Black Politicos, and serves as a Trustee for Mission 44.

Colin Smith, Vice President for Delivery at Integrity

Colin Smith is Vice President for Delivery at Integrity, an international development consultancy. He has over 25 years’ experience in the UK’s diplomatic service, with postings to Istanbul, Brussels, Ottawa, New York, and Sofia.

David Thompson, Director UK and External Relations at the British Council

David Thompson is the British Council’s Director UK and External Relations. He joined the British Council in 2020 from the Russell Group. He is also a Director at the Great Britain-China Centre.

Cat Tully, Founder and CEO of the School of International Futures (SOIF)

Cat Zuzarte Tully leads the School of International Futures (SOIF), a not-for-profit international collective of practitioners. Previously, Cat served as Strategy Project Director at the UK Foreign Office and as Policy Advisor in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit.

We are grateful to each of these individuals for lending their guidance and expertise in support of BFPG’s mission. As we welcome in the new Board, we will be saying goodbye to our Co-Presidents Baroness Gisela Stuart and Sir Simon Fraser GCMG, and are immensely grateful for their support and guidance over the last few years.