Edward Oakden

Edward Anthony Oakden is a British diplomat, the Ambassador to Jordan from 2015 to 2020.

He was educated at Repton School and Trinity College, Cambridge.

Career In 1981 he joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. From 1984 to 1985 he was Third Secretary (later Second Secretary) in Baghdad. From 1985 to 1988 he was Second Secretary British Embassy in Khartoum. From 1988 to 1992 he was Private Secretary to the Ambassador in Washington, D.C. From 1992 to 1995 he was Deputy Head of the EU, External & Eastern Adriatic Department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. From 1995 to 1997 he was Private Secretary to John Major for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Northern Ireland. From 1997 to 1998 he was Deputy Head EU Department (Internal) in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. From 1998 to 2002 he was Deputy Head of Mission in Madrid From 2002 to 2004 he was Director for International Security in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In 2002 he was head of Security Policy Department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. From 2004 to 2006 he was Director for Defence and Strategic Threats and Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. From 2006 to 2010 he was Ambassador in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). From 2010 to 2012 he was managing director of a Sector Group of UK Trade & Investment. From 2012 to 2013 he was managing director of UK Trade & Investment. From 2013 to 2015 he was Director of the department Middle East, with responsibility for Persian Gulf countries, Iraq and Iran. in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. On he was appointed ambassador to Amman, where he is accredited from to 2020. He was succeeded by Bridget Brind.

Personal life He was married to Dr Ana Romero (divorced 2008) and subsequently to deceased Dr Florence Eid.