Stephen Lillie

Stephen Lillie shilling for Ukraine at the OPCW July 2025.

Stephen Lillie CMG (born 4 February 1966) is a British diplomat who has been active in the national security policy community for some years. He became the Director for Defence and International Security at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in September 2022.

Mr Stephen Lillie CMG became the Director for Defence and International Security at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in September 2022. A senior career diplomat, Stephen has extensive experience of complex geopolitical issues, with particular focus on the Indo-Pacific region. He has had postings across Asia in China, India and the Philippines, where he was British Ambassador. He was Foreign Office Asia-Pacific Director from 2013 to 2017, advising the government on UK policy towards China, and leading official engagement with key regional partners including Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand. Most recently Stephen was British High Commissioner to Cyprus from 2018 to 2022, in which role he worked closely with the UK Ministry of Defence in support of the UK’s Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus. Stephen is a Chinese speaker, having studied the language in Hong Kong and London. He has a degree in German and French from Oxford.

The Defence and International Security Directorate is part of the Defence and Intelligence Directorate General in the FCDO, which is effectively part of the British intelligence community and in which several MI6 officers generally serve, most notably in HMG Russia Unit, but also in the National Security Directorate and the Information Threats and Influence Directorate. If Lillie is not actually a career MI6 officer, he will have been heavily briefed by MI6 operatives before shilling for Ukraine at the OPCW in July 2025.

Early Life and Education

Lillie was born in early 1966 in Bradford. His mothers maiden name was Corcoran.

Lillie was educated at South Wolds Comprehensive School in Nottingham and The Queen's College, Oxford where he achieved a degree in German and French.

Lillie married Denise Lillie (formerly Denise Chit Lo, sometimes given as Denise Chit Lo Lillie). They have two children.

Career

He joined HM Diplomatic Service in 1988 and was sent for Chinese language training at the School of Oriental and African Studies and the Chinese University of Hong Kong 1989–91. He served in Beijing 1992–96, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) 1996–99, at Guangzhou as Consul-General 1999–2003, and in New Delhi 2003–06. He was head of the Far Eastern Department at the FCO 2006–09, then ambassador to the Philippines and also non-resident ambassador to Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau 2009–13. He was Director, Asia Pacific Department, at the FCO 2013–17 and was then appointed to be High Commissioner to the Republic of Cyprus from April 2018.

• 2017 Full time language training
• 2013 – 2017 FCO, Director, Asia Pacific
• 2009 – 2013 Manila, Her Majesty’s Ambassador and Non-Resident Ambassador to Palau, the Marshall Islands and Micronesia
• 2006 – 2009 FCO, Head, Far Eastern Department
• 2003 – 2006 New Delhi, Counsellor (Economic) and Director of Trade & Investment
• 1999 – 2003 Guangzhou, Her Majesty’s Consul-General
• 1998 – 1999 FCO, Deputy Head, China Hong Kong Department
• 1997 – 1998 FCO, Head of Section, Hong Kong Department
• 1996 – 1997 FCO, Head of Section, European Union Department (Internal)
• 1992 – 1995 Beijing, Second later First Secretary (Economic and Political)
• 1989 – 1991 Full time language training (Mandarin)
• 1988 – 1989 FCO, Assistant Desk Officer, Middle East Department

Honours

• Grand Cross of the Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Datu (2 July 2013).
• Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) (2017 Birthday Honours).

Contact

• @StephenLillieUK