James Lyall Sharp
James Lyall Sharp is a British diplomat who served as Ambassador to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan 2002–2005. Since July 2019, he has been the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Azerbaijan.Early life
Sharp is a son of Sir Richard Lyall Sharp, a civil servant. He was educated at Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet, and Durham University where he graduated in 1982 with a BA degree in Modern Middle Eastern Studies.Career
- 1983–1986: Customer Relations, British Aerospace, Riyadh
- 1987: Entered Foreign & Commonwealth Office
- 1987–1988: South America Department
- 1989–1992: Cairo
- 1992–1995: Head of Section, Eastern Department
- 1995–1996: Head of Section, Hong Kong Department
- 1996–1998: Vienna OSCE
- 1998–2000: Head of Section, North East Asia & Pacific Department
- 2000–2001: Deputy Head, Security Policy Department
- 2002–2005: Ambassador to Kazakhstan, and concurrently non-resident Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan
- 2006–2008: Head, Western Mediterranean/JHA/Germany Group, FCO
- 2008–2012: Asia Pacific Regional Director, UK Border Agency, Hong Kong
- 2012–2013: Arms Export Policy Department, FCO
- 2013–present: Director, Migration, FCO
