Foreign Office Careers Talk ( Published: 18/07/2025)

Year 8 Spanish students were inspired by a visit from Adam Ward at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), who shared his career journey and the real-world value of languages in global diplomacy.

As part of our MFL department’s commitment to opening minds and expanding horizons through languages, our Year 8 Spanish class welcomed a special guest speaker: Adam Ward from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Adam shared insights into his work on the Central America desk at the FCDO, supporting human rights and democracy projects in countries such as Guatemala and El Salvador. He also spoke about recent experiences, including attending the inauguration of Guatemala’s president and working with ambassadors and diplomats across Latin America.

Students were captivated as Adam described his varied career path. From early jobs in a call centre and at Build-A-Bear, Adam pursued studies in law and languages before working at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and the United Nations in Geneva. His career has taken him from supporting independent inquiries in the civil service to working in the Department of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now to his role at the Foreign Office.

A key message Adam shared was the importance of languages. He explained how, even without fluency, speaking another language can help build trust and open doors in international careers. Making the effort to communicate in Spanish, even at a basic level, has helped him connect with diplomats and ambassadors, who appreciate the effort to speak their language. He encouraged students to view language learning as a valuable and transferable skill that shows adaptability and a willingness to learn.

During a lively Q&A session, students asked Adam about the challenges of his role. He spoke honestly about the difficulties of working across multiple time zones, which often means long and irregular hours. When asked about safety abroad and working in countries where firearms are common, Adam explained how the FCDO carefully assesses risks to staff and that safety is always a priority.

Students were also curious about his non-linear career path. Adam reassured them that careers do not always follow a straight line and shared how setbacks and changes of direction helped him find work he enjoys. His career advice to students: focus on your strengths and persevere through challenges.

This inspiring session not only showed students the real-world value of language skills, but also highlighted the wide range of career opportunities in the civil service and beyond.

I thoroughly enjoyed speaking to the students at TEMA about my work at the foreign office. I was very impressed with their great, insightful questions.
Adam Ward, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office