The Hitchhiker's Guide to Diplomacy - Talk by Leigh Turner

Synopsis:

Is a diplomat’s life really as glamorous as a royal visit, or as dramatic as a coup d’état in Turkey? Leigh Turner is a former British ambassador who led posts in Ukraine, Turkey and Austria. In a witty globe-trotting adventure through one of the most intriguing careers a person can have, Leigh will talk about his interactions with royalty of both the aristocratic and celebrity kinds, with brilliant and extraordinary people, and the lessons we all can draw from this – whether aspiring diplomats or non-diplomats. Based on his book "Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties” (Bristol University Press, September 2024) -  in German as “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Diplomacy: Wie Diplomatie die Welt erklärt” (Czernin Verlag) -  Leigh will do a deep dive into key lessons such as “How to survive a crisis”, “How to handle politicians”, and “How to know people”. Have you ever wondered what diplomats and ambassadors really do? Leigh Turner will be happy to explain.   

Biographical Notes:

Leigh Turner CMG is a retired diplomat and author based in London and Amsterdam. Leigh grew up in Africa and the UK, going on to study in Swaziland, Manchester and Cambridge. After hitch-hiking around 27 of the United States in 1979, Leigh had a 42-year diplomatic career, which he draws on in his 2024 book “Lessons in Diplomacy”. He is also the author of three thrillers, including “Blood Summit” (2018), set in Berlin, and two collections of feminist black comedies, “Seven Hotel Stories” (2020) and “Seven More Hotel Stories” (2026). He was UK Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the UN in Vienna from 2016 to 2021. Previous roles were: HM Consul General Istanbul and Director General for Trade Turkey, Central Asia and South Caucasus; HM Ambassador in Kyiv, Ukraine; Director of Overseas Territories in London. He was also based in the British Embassy in Bonn and Berlin from 1998 to 2002. Leigh will bring copies of “Lessons in Diplomacy” to sign on the night.

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