Edward Ferguson, UK Ambassador to Serbia

Edward Ferguson assumed the role of His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia in July 2023.

Previously, he served as Minister Counsellor for Defence at the British Embassy in Washington DC from 2018-2022. Together with the Defence Attaché, he led the British Defence Staff United States, a network of 1,000 people spread across

28 states. He was responsible for UK-US defence collaboration on strategic planning, nuclear policy and programmes, trade and acquisition, and science and technology.

From 2014 to 2018, he served as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he created and led a new international strategy, launched by the UK and German Foreign Ministers, that re-energised Euro-Atlantic integration after years of stagnation while stimulating economic growth and reducing high levels of youth unemployment.

A former Exhibitioner and Choral Scholar of Trinity College, Oxford, where he was also Treasurer of the Oxford Union, Edward graduated with First Class Honours in Classics in 2001. Joining the Graduate Fast Stream of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), his early roles included parliamentary engagement, speechwriting and financial scrutiny.

From 2004 to 2006, he managed a national award-winning £300-million programme to consolidate the MOD estate in Greater London and to redevelop RAF Northolt. In 2006, he volunteered for an operational tour, serving as Political Advisor to a British Battlegroup in Maysaan Province, Iraq (while his brother was a troop leader with the British Army in Basra). On his return, he took on responsibility for the strategic management of the UK’s bilateral defence relations with the United States, Canada and Western Europe.

From 2007 to 2009, he worked as Private Secretary to three Defence Secretaries, acting as their closest adviser on issues relating to operations in Iraq, the £6-billion defence equipment programme, science & technology, counter-terrorism and counter-piracy.

In 2009, he was appointed the Head of Afghanistan and Pakistan Policy, responsible for advice to the National Security Council on the policy, financial, legal, parliamentary and presentational aspects of the UK military contribution to operations in Afghanistan, and on the UK’s defence relationship with Pakistan.

From 2011 to 2014, he was Head of Defence Strategy and Priorities, leading two teams, one responsible for the MOD’s contribution to the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, and the other for the MOD’s international defence engagement activities.

In 2013, he graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science with an MSc with Distinction in Strategy and Diplomacy. He is an Honorary Fellow of Exeter University’s Strategy and Security Institute.

Edward is married to Caroline. They live in Belgrade with their youngest daughter, Mimi, and their Yorkshire Terrier, Fudge. Their two elder children, Henry and Tessa, are at school in the UK. Edward enjoys singing, skiing, long walks and a good book.