Christian Turner

Turner was educated at Marlborough College and next took a BA degree in English language and literature at the University of Manchester. He was a Career Tutor at the University of York from 1996 to 1998, when he graduated as a Doctor of Philosophy there in medieval English and related literature.^[5][8]

After working as a researcher for Videotext Communications in 1998, Turner joined the Cabinet Office that year and was Secretary to the Better Regulation Taskforce, 1998–1999, then Secretary to the Economic and Domestic Committees of the Cabinet, 1999–2000. After serving as Private Secretary to a Minister of State, 2001–2002, Turner was Deputy Team Leader in the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit, 2002–2003, and First Secretary at the British Embassy in Washington, DC, 2003–2006, joining the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in 2005.^[5] On his return to Whitehall, he served as Private Secretary to Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 2007; and as Director Middle East and North Africa, 2009–2012 during the Arab Spring.^[9][10]

Turner served as High Commissioner to Kenya from 2012 to 2015.^[11][12] During his time in Kenya he led the UK response to the Westgate Mall terrorist attack^[13] and the UK's reconciliation with the Mau Mau.^[14][15]

On his return to the UK in 2016 Turner led the London Syria Conference for No 10, raising $12 billion for Syrian refugees.^[16] In 2016 he became Director General for the Middle East and Africa and then acting Political Director General. From 2017 to 2019 he served as Prime Minister Theresa May's international affairs advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor.^[17] In this role he was also senior responsible owner for the £1.25bn Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.^[18]

Turner served as High Commissioner to Pakistan from 2019 to 2023^[19] before becoming Political Director of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. In May 2025 it was announced that he would succeed Dame Barbara Woodward as British ambassador to the United Nations.^[20] Subsequently it was revealed that he was also under consideration for nomination as Britain's ambassador to the United States following the dismissal of Peter Mandelson amid the scandal surrounding his ties to Jeffrey Epstein,^[21] and in December 2025 he was appointed to that role by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.^[2] He took up the post on 2 February 2026 after presenting his credentials to the Department of State.^[1][22]

Turner was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2012 New Year Honours,^[23] and promoted to Knight Commander of the same Order (KCMG) in the 2026 New Year Honours.^[24][25] He was made a Freeman of the City of London in 2019.

In October 2002, Turner and Claire J. Barber announced their engagement.^[26] They were married in 2003 and have two children,^[5] both of whom were born in Washington DC while their parents were working at the British embassy there early in the 21st century.^[27]