Meet the Practitioner

Join us for a conversation with one of Britain’s most senior humanitarian, foreign and development policy practitioners. Baroness Amos will talk to us about her career and experience at the cutting edge of contemporary politics. Hear first hand from the woman who made history in the UK, becoming the first Black woman to serve on the British Cabinet, and then first Black woman to lead a UK University. 

Baroness Valerie Amos CH, Director, SOAS, University of London in conversation with Associate Professor Jacinta O’Hagan, Director, Graduate Centre (G & IS), School of Political Science and International Studies. 

About the speaker

Baroness Amos is the Director of SOAS University of London. Between 2010 and 2015 she served as Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the UN. Prior to this she was British High Commissioner to Australia. During her illustrious political career she has held several positions. She was appointed a Labour Life Peer in the British Parliament in 1997 and served as Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council. She was the first black woman to serve as a Minister in the British Cabinet where she held several senior government positions, including a Foreign Office Minister, Secretary of State for International Development. In her earlier career the Baroness was an adviser to the Mandela Government on leadership, change, management and strategy issues. In June 2016, she was made a Companion of Honour in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.