Alison Rose


Alison Rose is Principal of Newnham College, Cambridge. She is a former British diplomat and was the British ambassador to Belgium from 2014 until 2019.

Early life and education

Rose was born in Coventry and studied at Barr’s Hill Grammar School. She then went on to read modern history at Newnham College, Cambridge. She was the first in her family to gain a degree.

Career

Rose joined the Civil Service in 1983, working in the Manpower Services Commission. She joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1999 and developed an EU specialism and worked for the FCO in Paris, London and Brussels. She was appointed as British ambassador to Belgium in October 2013, and was in post from 11 August 2014 to July 2019. Her predecessor was Jonathan Brenton and her successor Martin Shearman.
Rose was elected by Newnham College, Cambridge, as the principal-elect in January 2019, and was formally installed in office in October 2019, as the thirteenth principal of Newnham. This means that she is now principal at the college of which she is an alumna and will lead it in its 150th anniversary celebrations. Rose's election was warmly welcomed by fellow alumnae and colleagues on social media.