lately Director General, Russia/Ukraine, Cabinet Office

Policy Fellow, Centre for Science and Policy

Rob has over 20 years’ experience in foreign policy and national security, and has served overseas in Europe, Africa and South Asia. Most recently, he was Director General in the Cabinet Office responsible for coordinating the cross-government response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Rob was Director General for Analysis in the Covid-19 Taskforce, coordinating analytical efforts across government and acting as a key intermediary with the scientific community, to ensure that Government decisions were informed by the best available evidence.

Rob was appointed CMG in 2023 and OBE in 2009. He holds a first class degree in History and a M.St. in Historical Research from the University of Oxford.