Robin Niblett

He is the son of Alan and Christine Niblett.[3] In 1990, he married Trisha de Borchgrave, with whom he has two daughters.[4]

He was educated at Cottesmore School and Charterhouse.[5] He studied at New College, Oxford, and obtained a BA in Modern Languages in 1984, followed by MPhil in 1993 and DPhil in International Relations in 1995.[6] His doctoral thesis was entitled The European Community and the Central European Three, 1989–92 : a study of the Community as an international actor.

On leaving Oxford, he was a musician 1985–87 (he lists electric guitar among his recreations in Who's Who).[7]

He was resident associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, DC 1988–91 and their Europe representative 1992–97. He was director, strategic planning, 1997–2000; executive vice-president and chief operating officer, 2001–06.[8] During his last two years at CSIS, he also served as director of the CSIS Europe Program and its Initiative for a Renewed Transatlantic Partnership.[9]

Niblett (left) being interviewed by Carolyn Quinn in 2010

Niblett has participated as a panellist at conferences and events around the world[10][11] as an expert on transatlantic relations and European order. He has given evidence to the House of Commons Defence Select Committee about the future of NATO and European defence,[12] to the Foreign Affairs Committee about the US-UK relationship[13] and the future of UK government policy towards the European Union,[14] and to the Select Committee on Soft Power and the UK's Influence.[15] He has appeared as an analyst on these topics in major media including the BBC[16] and CNN[17] and has written and commented for prominent newspapers including the Financial Times,[18] Washington Post,[19] The Guardian[20] and the Daily Telegraph.[21]

He is the editor and contributing author of the book America and a Changed World: A Question of Leadership and has edited and co-authored books on transatlantic cooperation and European integration. Most recently he authored a chapter in the book Influencing Tomorrow: Future Challenges for British Foreign Policy.[22]

He is a non-executive director of Fidelity European Values Investment Trust since 2010,[23] member and former Chairman of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Europe.[24]

He chaired the British Academy forum on language needs for UK public policy making and implementation[25] and is currently Chairman of the Experts Group for the 2014 NATO Summit.[26]

Niblett was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to promoting the UK as a global centre for foreign policy.[27][28]