Jonathan Wilks

Jonathan Wilks CMG
British Ambassador to Iraq
In office 2017 – September 2019
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Theresa May Boris Johnson
Preceded by	Frank Baker
Succeeded by	Stephen Hickey
British Ambassador to Oman
In office 2014–2017
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	David Cameron Theresa May
Preceded by	Jamie Bowden
Succeeded by	Hamish Cowell
British Ambassador to Yemen
In office 2010–2011
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	David Cameron
Preceded by	Timothy Torlot
Succeeded by	Nicholas Hopton
Personal details
Born	(1967-09-30) 30 September 1967 Callow End, Worcestershire, England
Education	The Chase School
Alma mater	Durham University (BSc)

Jonathan Paul (Jon) Wilks CMG (born 30 September 1967) is a British diplomat who was the Ambassador to Iraq from 2017 to 2019, Ambassador to Oman from 2014 to 2017 and Ambassador to Yemen from 2010 to 2011.

Career

Wilks was born at Callow End, Worcestershire, and educated at The Chase School, Malvern, and Durham University where he graduated in 1989 with a BSc degree in natural sciences. He was also President of the Durham Union.

After graduation he joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). After Arabic language training in London and Cairo 1991–93 he was posted to Khartoum 1993–96 and Riyadh 1996–99. He then returned to Durham University for a MA in Middle East Politics (2000), then went to St Antony's College, Oxford for a MPhil in International Relations (2002). After six months' secondment at the Cabinet Office, he was deputy head of the team that reopened the British mission in Baghdad after the Iraq War, from April to November 2003. He was deputy head of the Iraq policy unit at the FCO 2004–05 and of the security policy group 2005–07. In 2007 he was appointed the British government's first regional Arabic spokesman, based in Dubai. He was deputy head of mission in Baghdad 2009–10, then Ambassador to Yemen 2010–11. In 2012 he did the Higher Command and Staff Course at the Military Staff College, Shrivenham, then was UK Special Representative to the Syrian Opposition 2012–13, UK Special Representative for Syria 2013–14 and Ambassador to Oman 2014–17.

Wilks was appointed CMG in the 2012 Birthday Honours.