Ian Bond is an experienced negotiator, policy analyst, strategic thinker and a former senior diplomat and British Ambassador to Latvia. He is currently exploring new opportunities and challenges in a top international think-tank. Ian Bond has deep knowledge of US foreign policy and is a specialist in the former Soviet Union, including the South Caucasus and Caspian energy issues. Healso currently works on Asian affairs and Europe's relationships with rising powers.

Ian Bond was a member of the British diplomatic service for 28 years before hejoined the Centre for European Reform as director of foreign policy in 2013. From 2007-12he was political counsellor and joint head of the foreign and security policy group in the British Embassy, Washington, where he focused on US foreign policy towards Europe, the former Soviet Union, Asia and Africa. He was British Ambassador to Latvia from 2005-07, receiving a CVO (Commander of the Royal Victorian Order) for his work on the Queen’s state visit in 2006.

From 2000-04he was posted in Vienna as deputy head of the UK delegation to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), working on human rights and democracy in the OSCE area, and on conflict prevention and resolution in the Balkans and the former Soviet Union. His earlier career included postings in Moscow (1993-96) and at NATO HQ (1987-90)and working in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the former Soviet Union, on the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and on NATO and UK defence policy.

Ian holds an MA in classics from Oxford University. He speaks, English, French, Russian, and Latvian.