Emyr Jones Parry
Encyclopedia
Sir Emyr Jones Parry, GCMG
, FInstP
(born 21 September 1947) is a retired British
diplomat
. He is a former British Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN
) and former UK Permanent Representative on the North Atlantic Council (NATO).
at University College Cardiff
(where he was President of the Students' Union) before gaining a PhD
degree in polymer physics
at St Catharine's College, Cambridge
.
in 1973 and his first posting was to the British High Commission in Ottawa
as First Secretary (1974–79). He returned to the FCO to work in the European Community Department (Internal) for the period 1979–82. Following this he entered the Office of UK Representation to the European Community in Brussels as First Secretary (Energy) and then (Institutions) 1982–86. He followed this with a period as Deputy Head at the Office of the President of the European Parliament
(1987–89), before again returning to the FCO as Head of European Community Department (External) (1989–93). His next overseas position was at the British Embassy in Madrid
(1993–97), followed by the post of Deputy Political Director in the Foreign Office, where he was also responsible for Balkans
and Aegean
policy (1996–97).
His next position in 1997 was Director European Union during the 1998 United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union, with overall responsibility for policy, co-ordination and organisation of the presidency. From July 1998 until August 2001 he was again the FCO Political Director.
He took over as Permanent Representative to NATO in September 2001, and held the position until 2003, whereupon he became the Permanent Representative of the UK on the UN Security Council in New York
.
In 2007 he was appointed Chairman of the All Wales Convention
- a body established by the Welsh Assembly Government to review Wales's constitutional arrangements and in particular to spearhead the campaign to increase the powers of the Assembly to a full legislative parliament similar to the Scottish Parliament.
In July 2007, it was announced that Jones Parry would be appointed President of Aberystwyth University, succeeding Lord Elystan Morgan on 1 January 2008.
In March 2008, Jones Parry was appointed as Chair of the Open University Business School's International Advisory board, tasked with supporting the global development of the school.
) to a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG
) in the Queen's Birthday Honours List
of June 2007.
Sir Emyr is a keen supporter of Glamorgan County Cricket Club and Swansea City Football Club.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, FInstP
Institute of Physics
The Institute of Physics is a scientific charity devoted to increasing the practice, understanding and application of physics. It has a worldwide membership of around 40,000....
(born 21 September 1947) is a retired British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
. He is a former British Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
) and former UK Permanent Representative on the North Atlantic Council (NATO).
Education
Jones Parry was educated at Gwendraeth Grammar School, and went on to take Theoretical PhysicsTheoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
at University College Cardiff
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
(where he was President of the Students' Union) before gaining a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree in polymer physics
Polymer physics
Polymer physics is the field of physics that studies polymers, their fluctuations, mechanical properties, as well as the kinetics of reactions involving degradation and polymerisation of polymers and monomers respectively....
at St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St. Catharine’s College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1473, the college is often referred to informally by the nickname "Catz".-History:...
.
Political career
Jones Parry joined the Foreign and Commonwealth OfficeForeign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
in 1973 and his first posting was to the British High Commission in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
as First Secretary (1974–79). He returned to the FCO to work in the European Community Department (Internal) for the period 1979–82. Following this he entered the Office of UK Representation to the European Community in Brussels as First Secretary (Energy) and then (Institutions) 1982–86. He followed this with a period as Deputy Head at the Office of the President of the European Parliament
President of the European Parliament
The President of the European Parliament presides over the debates and activities of the European Parliament. He or she also represents the Parliament within the EU and internationally. The President's signature is required for enacting most EU laws and the EU budget.Presidents serve...
(1987–89), before again returning to the FCO as Head of European Community Department (External) (1989–93). His next overseas position was at the British Embassy in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
(1993–97), followed by the post of Deputy Political Director in the Foreign Office, where he was also responsible for Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
and Aegean
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
policy (1996–97).
His next position in 1997 was Director European Union during the 1998 United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union, with overall responsibility for policy, co-ordination and organisation of the presidency. From July 1998 until August 2001 he was again the FCO Political Director.
He took over as Permanent Representative to NATO in September 2001, and held the position until 2003, whereupon he became the Permanent Representative of the UK on the UN Security Council in New York
United Nations headquarters
The headquarters of the United Nations is a complex in New York City. The complex has served as the official headquarters of the United Nations since its completion in 1952. It is located in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, on spacious grounds overlooking the East River...
.
In 2007 he was appointed Chairman of the All Wales Convention
All Wales Convention
The All Wales Convention was set up by Rhodri Morgan, the First Minister and Ieuan Wyn Jones, the Deputy First Minister of the Welsh Assembly Government, to educate the public about the current system of government in Wales and to promote a debate throughout Wales on the National Assembly for...
- a body established by the Welsh Assembly Government to review Wales's constitutional arrangements and in particular to spearhead the campaign to increase the powers of the Assembly to a full legislative parliament similar to the Scottish Parliament.
In July 2007, it was announced that Jones Parry would be appointed President of Aberystwyth University, succeeding Lord Elystan Morgan on 1 January 2008.
In March 2008, Jones Parry was appointed as Chair of the Open University Business School's International Advisory board, tasked with supporting the global development of the school.
Private life
Sir Emyr is married to Lady Jones Parry (Lynn), with two sons, Mark and Paul. He was promoted from a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMGOrder of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
) to a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
) in the Queen's Birthday Honours List
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
of June 2007.
Sir Emyr is a keen supporter of Glamorgan County Cricket Club and Swansea City Football Club.