Matt Baugh OBE

Biography

Matt Baugh OBE was appointed British High Commissioner to Kenya in April 2026.

Matt was Director for Migration and Conflict issues at the FCDO until December 2025. Before this he held the role of Director for Euro-Atlantic Security (2022 to 2024), responsible for NATO and OSCE policy and security policy in the Euro-Atlantic area.

Matt’s previous appointments include:

  • Political and Security Director (and Ambassador to the EU’s Political and Security Committee until the UK’s Exit) at the UK Mission to the European Union (2020 to 2022)
  • Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State at the Department for Exiting the European Union (until 2019)

Before joining DExEU, Matt held several posts in the FCDO, including Deputy Director for Africa (2013 to 2016) and British envoy to the Great Lakes peace process. 

From 2010 to 2013 he served as British Ambassador to Somalia, the first such appointment for over 20 years.

Matt is a graduate of the Higher Command and Staff Course at the UK Defence Academy (2010). 

Between 1999 and 2010 Matt worked for the Department for International Development (DFID) in a variety of roles, including:

  • Principal Private Secretary to the Development Secretary
  • Head of the Iraq Department (2005 to 2006)
  • Head of the HMG Stabilisation Unit (2004 to 2005)
  • DFID Representative, BE Khartoum (2002 to 2004)
  • Head of Afghanistan team (2001 to 2002)
  • Head of Global Emergencies and Humanitarian response (2000 to 2002)
  • Head of Kosovo Unit (1999 to 2000)

Matt joined DFID from the Ministry of Defence.

Previous roles in government

  • Director Euro-Atlantic Security
    • 2022 to 2024
  • Director, Foreign and Development Policy, UK Mission to the European Union
    • 2020 to 2022
  • UK Representative to the EU’s Political and Security Committee
    • 2020 to 2020
  • Director of Strategy and Coordination
    • 2017 to 2020