Stephen Hickey is the British Ambassador to Italy and San Marino. He took up his post in June 2026.
Until March 2026, he served as Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
From 2019 to 2021, he was the UK Ambassador to Iraq. Prior to that, he served as Ambassador and Political Coordinator at the UK Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
He joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 2001, beginning his career as a Senior Officer in the South-East Asia Department. Over the years, he has also held the following posts:
Deputy Head of Mission in Egypt (2013–2015) and in Syria (2010–2011)
Political Adviser in South Africa (2011–2012)
Head of Office and Deputy Special Representative for Libya (2011)
He speaks Arabic and has devoted much of his career to the Middle East.