Speaker: H.E. Karel van Oosterom, Dutch Ambassador to the UK

Before being appointed Ambassador to the UK, Karel Jan Gustaaf van Oosterom was Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the United Nations, Director-General for Political Affairs in the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy and Defence Advisor to the Prime Minister.

He also held several positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including as Deputy Head of Mission at the Dutch Embassy in Beijing, from 2002 to 2006.  During a six-year stint in the Ministry’s European Affairs Department, he served most recently as the Department’s Deputy Director from 2000 to 2002, as well as Head and Deputy Head of the Western European Division from 1998 to 2000 and from 1996 to 1998 respectively.

Among his other posts, Mr. van Oosterom was based in Damascus and Ottawa.  He also served in the Atlantic and Security Policy Department in The Hague from 1988 to 1992.