Janet joined the Royal African Society as CEO and Director in 2023. She is an accomplished UK and UN diplomat with over 35 years of experience in Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans and China. She was the UK's COP26 Climate Ambassador for Africa and the Middle East, bringing a strong focus on climate action in a development context. She has cross-cutting policy, security, sustainable development, climate and humanitarian credentials and works extensively with governments, private sector and investors, civil society and youth.