Jon Lambe, UK Ambassador to ASEAN

In August, the UK became the first country in a quarter of a century to achieve Dialogue Partner status with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – a development that Dominic Raab, then Foreign Secretary, described as a key moment in the UK’s Indo-Pacific tilt. Home to more than 650 million people, a combined GDP of US$3.2 trillion, and four signatories of the CPTPP trade deal to which the UK hopes to accede, ASEAN is set to play a major role in the Global Britain agenda. The region’s importance to British interests was highlighted by the UK’s establishment of a dedicated mission to the bloc, with Jon Lambe appointed UK Ambassador to ASEAN in November 2019.

In his third Asia House appearance, Ambassador Lambe will brief Corporate Members on the UK’s short and medium term ambitions in Southeast Asia, and discuss plans to boost trade and investment between the UK and ASEAN. Jon will also share insights from the region at a time of geopolitical tensions and wide-ranging challenges, with the AUKUS deal between the US, UK and Australia being met with mixed reaction in Southeast Asia and the impacts of climate change and COVID-19 continuing to loom large.

Jon joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (now the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) in 2010. He most recently served in London, leading work on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, including the UK approach to North Korea and to the Iran nuclear deal. From 2014 to 2016 he was Deputy Ambassador and Political Counsellor at the British Embassy in Kinshasa, leading work on governance and peacekeeping. From 2010 to 2014 he was First Secretary, Energy, Climate Change and Development at the British Embassy in Paris.

This digital briefing is being held exclusively for Asia House Corporate Members. To register interest in joining this briefing, please email Edward Danks, Programme Associate: edward.danks@asiahouse.co.uk

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