Alistair Harrison CMG, CVO

Biography

Alistair Harrison was born in 1954 in Guisborough, North Yorkshire, in the United Kingdom. He was educated at Newcastle Royal Grammar School and University College, Oxford, where he read Classics (Greek and Latin Literature, Ancient History and Philosophy). He subsequently gained a Diploma in Economics at the University of London (1995), and is currently studying for a degree in Mathematics at the Open University in the United Kingdom. Alistair has been a member of the British Diplomatic Service since graduating from college in 1977. During his career he has had two postings in Warsaw (1979-82 and 1995-98) and two in New York at the UK Mission to the United Nations (1987-92 and 2000-03). He was also seconded to the European Commission in Brussels from 1998-2000 as Foreign Policy Adviser. His most recent overseas posting was as British High Commissioner to Zambia (2005-08). Alistair’s career has also included a number of postings in London at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He was, inter alia, Private Secretary to a junior Minister from 1984-86; Deputy Head of the Middle East Department from 1992-95 and Head of the United Nations Department (later International Organisations Department) from 2003-05). From 2008-09, immediately before coming to Anguilla, he was Head of the Zimbabwe Unit in the FCO.

Alistair married Sarah Wood, a marketing consultant, in 1996. They have three children: Matilda (“Tilly”) aged 12, and twins Eliza and Ralph aged 8. Alistair’s recreations are music, especially the opera, ski-ing, sailing, tennis, bridge and golf.Sarah Harrison’s recreations include cycling - she was the Zambian national women’s cycling champion in 2007 and 2008. She has a wide range of musical tastes, and is also interested in interior design, contemporary art, tennis and sailing.