All Change at the Induction Seminar

Record-breaking numbers attended the Embassy Induction Seminar in a momentous year in the UK

There was sense of change in the air as the Embassy Induction Seminar made a return to the King’s Fund in central London in October. Not only did the hugely popular annual event – which this year connected almost 300 diplomats from 120 countries with diplomatic suppliers and senior policy makers – take place under a new Prime Minister and monarch, but also a new Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Honduran Ambassador Ivan Romero-Martinez.

HE Romero-Martinez was one of the speakers who opened proceedings in the packed lecture theatre alongside Alistair Harrison, the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps; Jeremy Pilmore-Bedford, the new Deputy Director of Protocol at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office; and Elizabeth Stewart, director of Embassy Group.

A busy day of networking was broken up by talks and workshops covering practical issues such as staying safe in London with the Met Police, an introduction to the many diplomatic networks in London, plus sessions on Defence Diplomacy; Embassy Management & Protocol; Multilateral Diplomacy; Politics and Parliament; Consular and Home Affairs; Economics, Trade and Energy; Media and Public Diplomacy; and Culture, Education and Science.

After a crammed programme, diplomats enjoyed a networking reception and prize-giving as another successful Induction Seminar came to an end.

Pam Kalley of UKVI/Home Office Embassy Team addresses diplomatic spouses about working in the UK

The Ambassador of Latvia HE Ivita Burmistre introduces diplomats to Women In Diplomacy Network in the diplomatic networks session

Foysal Ali of the FCDO gives new admin attachés an overview of the Protocol Directorate

Fiona Greenwood of Rowland Brothers International briefing new consuls, along with Chris Buckwell, President of the Consular Corps of London, Stephen Chapman (HM Passport Office), Julie McDonough (HM Prisons & Probation), A/DS Julia Wellby (Met Police) and Lucy Loizou (International Family Law Group)

Elizabeth Stewart chairs the Politics and Parliament session with Dominic Schroeder of the FCDO and Baroness Hooper of the Inter-Parliamentary Union

New diplomats meet with diplomatic service providers in the Living In London exhibition

Diplomats unwind at the networking reception after a full day

One lucky diplomat wins a Fortnum & Mason hamper from Paul Gardner of Diplomatic Card Services at the prize draw

Dr Annette Prandzioch (Royal Over-Seas League) chairs the Multilateral Diplomacy session with Natasha Brown (IMO), Prof Luis Franceschi (Commonwealth), Dr Denis Seudieu (ICO) and José Orive (ISO)