Motivational Monday – Senior Policy Manager

Class of 2015 alumna Lily Ross came to impart wisdom to Sixth Formers about her work at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

At South Hampstead, Lily studied History, French and Psychology for her A Levels. She went on to study History at the University of Bristol, studying topics such as African and Asian history, and the history of humanitarianism. She was also part of social action societies, which strengthened her passion for human rights; after university, she began working for the charity Prisoners Abroad.

After travelling in South America for a few months, she worked on a Restless Development programme, focusing on women’s rights, youth empowerment and advocacy in Uganda. After this, she joined the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), working in the Syria Unit in her first year. She started the Civil Service Fast Stream before taking a year out to complete a master’s qualification in Human Rights at LSE. She then returned to the FCDO’s Development and Open Societies Directorate. Since, she has worked on numerous global crises, travelling to Dubai, New York and Ghana to name a few. Lily will soon be posted to the Middle East, where she will lead the Embassy’s human rights work through policymaking, advocacy and oversight of programming to promote the respect of women’s rights, and the women peace and security agenda.

During her engaging talk to Sixth Formers, Lily noted how South Hampstead prepped her for her career.

‘South Hampstead teaches you that, as a woman, you can do anything. A lot of senior colleagues in my sector are men, which can sometimes be intimidating. Because I was brought up in a school that encouraged me to think critically about the world and challenge injustice, I feel confident standing up for what I believe in. If I hadn’t gone to South Hampstead, I would not be where I am now.’