Senior Associates – Oxford House Research

Duncan Smith

Posted on 26th February 202526th February 2025 by Suzie Hancock

Fraud, corruption and economic crime As a UK barrister, Duncan started prosecuting corporate offences at DTI and SFO, then moved to World Bank, Washington DC. He later joined EIB, Luxembourg, advising on deterrence, prevention and training whilst negotiating settlements (eg. with Siemens and Alstom). He took early retirement in 2023. Promoting integrity is fundamental – Duncan has worked with public and commercial organisations, including other MDBs, UN and aid agencies, […]

Sir Charles Petrie

Posted on 1st January 20241st January 2024 by Suzie Hancock

Peacebuilding, relief work and reconstruction Sir Charles Petrie Bt, OBE, having acquired an MBA at INSEAD and following a short stint as an investment banker, has had close to 30 years’ experience working in contexts of conflict and famine, much of it within the UN system. With the UN, he has assumed senior level operational […]

Rob Thomson

Posted on 5th December 20237th December 2023 by Suzie Hancock

Leadership, conflict and strategy After 34 years in the Army, Rob is now Chief Executive Officer of AGL Communication, a leadership communication coaching and training company in London. Educated at Cambridge University (History) and Kings College London (Defence Studies), Rob was commissioned into the Royal Green Jackets in 1988, which became The Rifles in 2007. A […]

Adam Tomkins

Posted on 25th May 202325th May 2023 by Suzie Hancock

Constitutional Law and Freedom of Speech Professor Adam Tomkins started his academic career in 1991 at King’s College London, before moving to Oxford, where he was a fellow at St Catherine’s College. He took up the John Millar Chair of Public Law at the University of Glasgow in 2003. From 2009-15 he was the legal […]

Nicholas Hopton

Posted on 14th November 202215th November 2022 by Suzie Hancock

Diplomacy Nicholas Hopton was born in Manchester and raised in York. After St Peter’s School, he studied at Cambridge University, La Sapienza University in Rome and ENA in Paris. He was a Visiting Academic at St Antony’s College, Oxford, in 2013/14. Nicholas’ career has been in diplomacy. Until September 2021, he was UK ambassador to […]

Bill Reese

Posted on 24th October 202215th November 2022 by Suzie Hancock

Youth and youth development A graduate of Stanford University and a postgraduate at George Washington University, Bill Reese was CEO of the International Youth Foundation (IYF) from 2005 until his retirement in December 2018. During his tenure, IYF grew programs on workforce development and youth entrepreneurship. Prior to IYF, Bill was President & CEO of […]

Paul Nanson

Posted on 4th October 202215th November 2022 by Suzie Hancock

Leadership Paul Nanson (CB, CBE) was born in Ormskirk, Lancashire and educated at Merchant Taylor’s School Crosby, and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, he served 34 years in the British Army during which time he held leadership roles in a variety of capacities and on nearly every continent. […]

Dominic Armstrong

Posted on 2nd August 202215th November 2022 by Suzie Hancock

Senior Associate – Investment, Strategy, Security and Geopolitics After reading History at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Dominic began his career in 1988 as a merchant banker with Robert Fleming in London, before moving to Jardine Fleming in Asia in 1994. There he was posted to Malaysia as Strategist and Head of Research and established the number […]

Sir John Holmes

Posted on 22nd July 202222nd July 2022 by Suzie Hancock

Senior Associate Sir John Holmes was educated at Preston Grammar School and Balliol College, Oxford. He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1973 and served in a wide range of diplomatic roles in London, Moscow, Paris, New Delhi and Lisbon. In 1995, Sir John joined Prime Minister John Major in Downing Street as his […]

Claire Smith

Posted on 22nd July 202222nd July 2022 by Suzie Hancock

Senior Associate – Global security, international relations, communication Claire Smith is an adviser and speaker, creating programmes for governments, business and not-for-profit groups. She was a UK diplomat for 27 years, serving in China during Deng Xioaping’s reforms and the negotiations on the future of Hong Kong; Germany and Pakistan, where she was Political Counsellor. […]