David: Created page with " {{short description|'''British diplomat, Cyber Director at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)'''}} '''Andrew Whittaker''' is a British diplomat serving..."

2026-06-16T18:57:58Z

Created page with " {{short description|'''British diplomat, Cyber Director at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)'''}} '''Andrew Whittaker''' is a British diplomat serving..."

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{{short description|'''British diplomat, Cyber Director at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)'''}}

'''Andrew Whittaker''' is a British diplomat serving as Cyber Director at the [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office]] (FCDO), responsible for leading the UK’s international cyber policy, programmes and people to deliver the UK National Cyber Strategy.<ref name="GOVUKBio">UK Government, [https://www.gov.uk/government/people/andrew-whittaker Andrew Whittaker] ''GOV.UK'', accessed June 2026.</ref>

He took up the role in September 2024, having previously served as Head of the FCDO’s global consular network.<ref name="GOVUKBio" />

==Early life and education==
Whittaker holds an MA (Hons) degree in Social and Political Sciences from the [[University of Cambridge]] (Magdalene College).<ref name="BABCSF">British American Business Council, [https://babcsf.org/welcome-reception-for-h-m-consul-general-andrew-whittaker/ Welcome Reception for H.M. Consul General Andrew Whittaker] ''BABCSF'', 20 October 2016.</ref>

==Career==
Whittaker joined the Foreign Office in 1998.<ref name="BABCSF" />

His early diplomatic postings included roles in [[Madrid]], [[Jerusalem]] and [[Basra]].<ref name="GOVUKBio" /><ref name="BABCSF" />

He served as Deputy Head of the Crisis Management Department in the Foreign Office, handling responses to incidents including conflict in the Middle East, the sinking of the [[Costa Concordia]] and hostage taking in Algeria.<ref name="BABCSF" />

Whittaker was Deputy Director at [[CERT-UK]], the UK’s national cyber security team, focusing on government-industry and international engagement on cyber security. In this capacity he contributed to setting up the UK’s first national CERT, which later became part of the [[National Cyber Security Centre]].<ref name="BABCSF" /><ref name="GOVUKBio" />

From 2016 to 2020 he served as British Consul General in San Francisco (Technology Envoy to the US), responsible for UK government objectives across the north-western United States.<ref name="GOVUKBio" /><ref name="BABCSF" />

He was subsequently Head of the FCDO’s global consular network before his current appointment.<ref name="GOVUKBio" />

As Cyber Director and UK Cyber Ambassador, Whittaker has co-chaired UK-EU Cyber Dialogues and participated in the Japan-UK Cyber Dialogue.<ref name="EUUKDialogue">European Commission, [https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/cyber-eu-and-uk-hold-second-cyber-dialogue EU and UK hold Second Cyber Dialogue] ''Digital Strategy'', 9 December 2024.</ref><ref name="JapanUK">Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, [https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/pressite_000001_02122.html The 9th Japan-UK Cyber Dialogue] ''MOFA'', 27 February 2026.</ref>

==Career timeline==

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Career positions of Andrew Whittaker
! Period !! Position !! Organisation
|-
| 1998 onwards || Various diplomatic postings || Foreign Office / FCDO
|-
| Pre-2016 || Deputy Head, Crisis Management Department || Foreign Office
|-
| Pre-2016 || Deputy Director || CERT-UK
|-
| 2016–2020 || British Consul General (Technology Envoy) || San Francisco, FCDO
|-
| 2020–2024 || Head of Global Consular Network || FCDO
|-
| September 2024–present || Cyber Director / Head of Cyber Policy Department, Hybrid Threat Directorate / UK Cyber Ambassador || FCDO
|}

==See also==

*[[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office]]
*[[National Cyber Security Centre]]
*[[United Kingdom National Cyber Strategy]]
*[[Information Threats and Influence Directorate]]
==External links==

[https://www.gov.uk/government/people/andrew-whittaker Official biography] on GOV.UK
[https://x.com/UKAWhittaker @UKAWhittaker] on X

==Notes==
<references/>
[[Category:British diplomats]]
[[Category:Living people|Whittaker, Andrew]]
[[Category:FCDO officials|Whittaker, Andrew]]
[[Category:Cybersecurity|Whittaker, Andrew]]

Andrew Whittaker - Revision history

David: Created page with " {{short description|'''British diplomat, Cyber Director at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)'''}} '''Andrew Whittaker''' is a British diplomat serving..."