Kirsty Hayes

Christine Isobel "Kirsty" Hayes (born 2 February 1977) is a British diplomat and civil servant. She was recently British Ambassador to Argentina. She was British Ambassador to Portugal from 2014 to 2018.

Early life Hayes was born on 2 February 1977 in Aberdeen, Scotland, to Robert Colin and Rowena Antoinette Paton. She is distantly related to the noted explorer, archaeologist, diplomat and politician, Sir Austen Henry Layard. She was educated at Dame Alice Harpur School, an all-girls private school in Bedford, England. Between March 2008 and March 2009, she additionally worked as a consultant at the United Nations Development Programme Regional Centre in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In addition, she was the UK's lead negotiator at the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

In December 2020, Hayes was appointed to be British Ambassador to Argentina in succession to Mark Kent. She took up the position in September 2021.

Personal life In 2002, Hayes married Peter Hayes, a fellow diplomat.

She enjoys horse riding, and competes in eventing and show jumping.