Dame Alison Mariot Leslie, DCMG FRSE (born 25 June 1954), known as Mariot Leslie,[1] is a former British diplomat whose last post was Permanent Representative to NATO. When she was replaced at NATO it was announced that she would retire from the Diplomatic Service.[2]
Dame Mariot Leslie | |
---|---|
Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to NATO | |
In office 2010–2014 | |
Preceded by | Stewart Eldon |
Succeeded by | Adam Thomson |
Personal details | |
Born | Alison Mariot Leslie 25 June 1954 Edinburgh, Scotland |
Education | |
She was formerly director-general for defence and intelligence at the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office. She began her career in 1977 in the FCO Middle East Department and also held positions in Singapore, Bonn, Paris, Rome and Oslo.
She was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2005 New Year Honours and Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (DCMG) in the 2012 Birthday Honours.[3]
Leslie received an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 2013.[4] She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2021.[5]
Born in Edinburgh in 1954, as Mariot Sanderson, she was educated at George Watson's Ladies College, Edinburgh, Leeds Girls' High School and St Hilda's College, Oxford (1972–75).[6]
Sanderson married Andrew Leslie in 1978; the couple have two daughters.[6]