About Stuart Jack

I was born in Scotland in 1949 and on suitable occasions proudly wear a kilt. I was brought up largely in Essex near London. I studied Russian and some French at Oxford. Before joining the Foreign Office I taught at a French-speaking high school in Laos during the Vietnam War as a VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas).To this day have retained an interest in education (I have been Governor of three schools) and in the voluntary sector (I am Chairman of a charity). Although I have spent most of my life as a civil servant I believe that government is not the solution to all our problems and that NGOs, charities and local communities can do a lot of things better, either on their own or together with government or the private sector.

I have had three overseas postings in Japan (I speak Japanese) and two in Russia, including an exciting time setting up a Consulate General in St Petersburg just after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Jobs based in London have allowed me to get a much wider view of the world – including as a secondee to the Bank of England and to the Cabinet Office, as a Diplomatic Service Inspector, Head of Research in the FCO, and for a short while Director Iraq. For work or pleasure I have visited some 80 countries.

One of the most unusual jobs I did was trying to prevent soccer hooliganism at the World Cup in Japan (there was none); and one of the most satisfying was reviewing security policy after a deadly terrorist attack on the British Consulate General in Istanbul (this was all about protecting our staff around the world, so maybe saving lives). Two themes have run throughout much of my career: economics and trade, particularly financial services, and management reviews. Being the Governor of an Overseas Territory is the most challenging job I have ever done, with greater real life responsibilities than most diplomats will ever experience (including leading the country through hurricanes).

I believe strongly in public service, and have set up an award scheme in Cayman to recognise good customer service by civil servants. I also believe strongly that government is about helping people – though you cannot get away from financial issues too.

My wife of almost 32 years, Mariko, is Japanese and has been a writer and conference interpreter. We have two daughters (a teacher and an aspiring lawyer) and one son (still at university).