Alyson Bailes

Visiting professor, EU International Relations and Diplomacy Studies Department

Alyson J.K. Bailes (UK) is a Visiting Professor at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik, teaching on general security topics and on Nordic and European security. From July 2002-August 2007 she was Director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Alyson Bailes’ former career was spent largely in the British Diplomatic Service which she joined in 1969 after graduating from the University of Oxford. Her foreign postings included Hungary, the UK delegation to NATO, Bonn, Beijing, Oslo, and finally the post of British Ambassador at Helsinki. In between she had assignments in London including as Head of Security Policy, and a number of career breaks and sabbaticals which included a spell as assistant to the EC's 1979 Committee of Wise Men and three years as Political Director of Western European Union (1997-2000). Her academic attachments included the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) in London and the EastWest Institute at New York.

Professor Bailes has published widely on topics of general security policy development, European security and defence, regional security cooperation, arms control issues and European relations with China. A collection of her speeches, Through European Eyes, appeared in April 2009. Her recent and current research interests include the roles of non-state actors (especially the private sector) in security, comparative Nordic studies and the emerging High North agenda. She is a member of the Boards of several think-tanks, academic organizations and periodicals.