Sir Michael Pakenham served almost 40 years in the Diplomatic Service, retiring in 2003 as British Ambassador to Poland. His other overseas postings included Paris, Washington, New Delhi, Nairobi, the EU in Brussels and Luxembourg where he was also Ambassador. Prior to his posting in Poland, Sir Michael served for 3 years as Cabinet Secretary for Defence and Overseas Affairs, as Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee and as Intelligence Coordinator. He was also part of the negotiating team for UK entry to the European Union and the Helsinki Final Act in the 1970's and within the Foreign Office on nuclear weapons and arms control policy, led the negotiations of several treaties in the 1980's. Since retiring in 2003, Sir Michael has been an advisor to and involved with a number of public and private sector endeavors, including as a member of the Council of King's College, London University and Trustee of the Chevening and Portobello Trusts.