Matt Ashworth
Diplomat, British Embassy Beijing
Name: Matt Ashworth
Matriculation Year: 2006
Subject: History
Occupation: Diplomat, British Embassy Beijing
“I graduated in 2009, with the impacts of the financial crisis in full flow initial career options seemed quite limited. I decided to continue my education and after graduating from my undergrad in History I did an MA in International Relations at the University of Birmingham.
Then in 2010, as it seemed many of my cohort did, I headed to London where I took a job in the private sector working for an executive search company who specialised in higher education. I began as a researcher, I went on to head up the research team and enjoyed a brief stint in Sydney, Australia setting up the firms’ Sydney operations as they expanded the business internationally.
In 2014 I decided that while I was enjoying executive search it wasn’t where I wanted to focus my career, so I applied for the civil service fast stream. I took a pay cut and embarked on the European fast stream programme in the autumn of that year to relaunch my career in a new direction.
The civil service is a great environment to be exposed to a range of roles and experience and the fast stream saw me working in departments including DFID, Defra and the MoJ. I undertook a secondment to work on the EU institutions in Brussels (pre-referendum days) and also in Romania.
Post referendum my career shifted again, I completed the fast stream and joined the newly formed Department for International Trade where I joined the investment policy team. In that role I have represented the UK at the United Nations in New York and negotiated with a range of countries on our future trade & investment relationships. A busy but extremely interesting time!
In spring last year I took up my current role in the British Embassy in Beijing. I’m the Commercial Counsellor for Energy & Infrastructure and with my team am responsible for developing trade and investment flows between our countries. China is a fascinating place, and I’ve really enjoyed experiencing the culture and meeting the people – work highlight was probably a helicopter trip 200km out into the South China sea to visit an offshore oil platform (we saw a shark circling the rig).
Very happy to have a virtual coffee and discuss my career and offer any advice. Beijing is 7hrs in the summer and 8hrs ahead in the winter.”
If you would like to get in touch with Matt, contact the Development Office who can forward on your email.