Breakfast Briefing with Sir Thomas Drew KCMG, British Ambassador to France
Join us to hear from Britain's Ambassador to France on the relationship and collaboration opportunities between the UK and France.
The UK and France have a long-standing strategic relationship in defence and security. As two of Europe's largest economies, the UK and France share strengths across clean energy, advanced manufacturing, financial services, digital technologies and research. This discussion will examine how the bilateral partnership can be deepened to unlock greater economic opportunity, strengthen technological collaboration and support the industries that will shape future prosperity. It will also explore how increased defence cooperation is driving investment in innovation, industrial capacity and dual-use technologies with both economic and strategic value.
Discussion points
- Where are the greatest opportunities for UK-France collaboration to drive growth, investment, and innovation over the next decade?
- What regulatory, cultural, or structural challenges continue to limit cooperation between businesses, investors and research institutions?
- How can growing security and defence cooperation support wider industrial, technological and investment partnerships across both countries?
Tom Drew is His Majesty’s Ambassador to France.
Previously, Tom was Director General, Defence and Intelligence, at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) until December 2023. He had been Director General at the FCDO and previously the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) since January 2020.
Before this, Tom was British High Commissioner to Pakistan from February 2016 until October 2019. He was previously Principal Private Secretary (Chief of Staff) to Foreign Secretaries William Hague and Philip Hammond.
Tom was the FCO’s National Security Director from 2011 to 2012 and Director in the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism in the Home Office from 2008 to 2011.
Tom joined the Diplomatic Service in 1995. In his early career he served in a variety of Europe and EU-related jobs in London. His first overseas posting was to Moscow (1998 to 2002) and he served for the first time in Islamabad from 2006 to 2008.
Tom started his career with McKinsey and Company, the management consultants. In 2015, he was Visiting Fellow at the McKinsey Global Institute.
He is married to Joanna, a fellow diplomat and former British Ambassador to The Netherlands.
Please note that this event is virtual only. The livestream will run from 08:00-09:00.
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