Thought For The Day – Tuesday 24^th June 2025

Today is the International Day of Women in Diplomacy.

The word “diplomacy” refers to talking, managing relations through communication and negotiation.

The origin of the word “diplomacy” originally comes from the Greek for “folded piece of paper”. This referred to the privacy of documented agreements between people’s and nations.

“Meeting jaw to jaw is better than war”, said Winston Churchill in 1954.

The theme for this year’s World Women in Diplomacy Day is:  “For All Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, Empowerment”.

 

At every level of society,  there has been much progress in Women’s leadership opportunities and rights.  Further, there are numerous inspirational Women leaders at every level of society in the present, and the past, and must ensure in the future, now given their proper and rightful credit.  Equality and justice.

But there is much still to do.  As of January of this year, report the United Nations, 25 countries have a woman as a state or government head.  Women make up 23% of cabinet ministers worldwide. 113 countries have never had a woman as state or government head.

We might reflect that more opportunities for leadership from Women and Girls is not just a fundamental right, not just follows “The Golden Rule” but makes the world a better, and safer.  For all.

Diplomacy, or “soft power”, is one way we have keep everyone safe. 

“Back channels”, for example,  may be used to secretly communicate as different groups, and even some enemies, to talk to, and with, each other to achieve and promote peace, reconciliation, harmony and justice.  As ever, and as with everything,  much work goes on behind the scenes.

Another way of keeping people safe is through the  Intelligence and Security Services, which identify, and protect against, threats. The work of the Intelligence and Security Services is also remembered on Remembrance Day in November. 

Yesterday, in this Pride Month, we recalled the work of Alan Turing in the Second World War. Mr. Turing was one of many codebreakers at Bletchley Park.

In the U.K., the Security and Intelligence Services are: “G.C.H.Q.” (the Government Communications Headquarters), “MI5” and “MI6”, for example.  MI5 focusses on the U.K. and connected countries.  It reports to the Home Secretary in the U.K. Government. MI6 focusses on all countries.  It reports to the Foreign Secretary in the U.K. Government.  The fictional spy, James Bond, “007”, who travelled the world, was a member of MI6.

Last week, it was announced from the end of this year that MI6 will led for the first time in its 116-year history by a woman.  This was widely reported in the media.  The name’s Metreweli.  Ms. Blaise Metreweli.

Ms. Metreweli will  be referred to as “C”. “C” was how a former security head, Captain Mansfield Cumming,  signed documents,  with the first letter of his surname. He also wrote in green ink. The Head of MI6 continues that tradition of writing in green. They are the only person working for governing authorities allowed to do so.

Ms. Metreweli is currently Directly General “Q”, the Head of the Technology and Innovation Division. One of those diverse aspects and responsibilities, amongst very many, has been paying attention to Artificial Intelligence. 

Upon her promotion, Ms. Metreweli said she was “proud and honoured” to have been asked to lead. She paid tribute to the Intelligence and Security Services generally. In 2024, Ms. Metreweli  received the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for her services to British foreign policy.

“Blaise is a highly accomplished intelligence officer and leader, and one of our foremost thinkers on technology,” said outgoing Head, Sir Richard Moore, widely praised for his service and leadership.

Ms. Blaise Metreweli has smashed “the glass ceiling”.

In line with organization policy, Ms. Metreweli will be the only member of MI6 that anyone will know the name of.