Current colleagues:
“As a Project Manager at Wilton Park, I work closely with our external partners, policy, logistics and home team to oversee the development of our events. I love taking the creative ideas and objectives of our partners and shaping this into a project which our talented policy team then transform into a detailed programme, where our experienced logistics team take great care of our participants’ invitation process, and our attentive home team ensure everyone coming to Wiston House feels welcomed.
It gives me a great sense of purpose to be able use my organisational and people skills to manage and enable these critical global discussions. To be able to do this in a beautiful 16th century manor in the Sussex countryside, with a family of dependable and supportive colleagues is an added bonus!”
Sandry, Project Manager
“When I turn into the driveway every week it’s like driving into a different world, being in the heart of the countryside and at the foot of the South Downs in a beautiful 16th century manor house gives an instant feeling of calm and awe. It’s the perfect place for participants to come and automatically feel relaxed, they can leave their workplace and distractions behind and focus on the event they are attending.
First and foremost I love the people here at Wilton Park, we have an incredible team and there is a lot of camaraderie and support. We constantly strive to find the best working practises for everyone and are always open to discussion. The work is really rewarding, the participants I have met over the years and the stories I hear make me feel humbled. The work we do here really makes a difference, bringing people together from all over the world and from all walks of life and getting them talking and sharing their stories and their work in this lovely relaxed atmosphere is fantastic. I am proud to work here.”
Judi, Event Supervisor
“My role at Wilton Park is to help all our colleagues to achieve their potential and realise their career and personal development goals. Through delivery of bespoke learning solutions, external resources, our coaching and mentoring programmes and management and leadership training, there is something for everyone in our organisation.
What I enjoy most about my job is that not only do we help all colleagues to reach their potential but we recognise and reward them for all of their achievements.
I have held three different roles during my time at Wilton Park and loved every one of them. Each has brought me different opportunities, including meeting truly inspirational people from all over the world, and travelling to countries I wouldn’t have ever imagined visiting.
Wilton Park is a unique place to work – we are a small organisation that has a global reach, making a huge impact. We have a supportive, community feel within our organisation ensuring our teams thrive in order to achieve our priorities. I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else.”
Julie, Learning and Development Officer
Where are they now?
“I’m now working in the Iraq Team at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in Whitehall, helping to drive our diplomacy with Iraq in London, Baghdad and Erbil.
I did a few different jobs at Wilton Park during my four years there, and when I left, I was Assistant Programme Director.
I always say that working at Wilton Park gave me a ‘wide angle lens’ on foreign policy, but also across so many other areas: global health, gender equality and youth unemployment to name a few. It was a privilege to learn so much about a wide variety of topics through working on Wilton Park events- which I constantly draw from in my new role. I met lots of amazing people and built a really solid network that has stood me in good stead for an international career- as well as building up my confidence and skills. Given my experience at Wilton Park, I’m always the first to be asked to plan an event in my current job, but I take that as a compliment ….!”
Olivia, former Assistant Programme Director
“After Wilton Park, I moved into a strategy role in the civil service. The responsibility I was given and breadth of topics I encountered at Wilton Park were extremely valuable in my personal and professional development.”
Ed, former member of the Policy Team
“I had a fantastic experience working as an intern at Wilton Park before moving on to work at the Department for International Trade, where I focused on South Asia issues with a short posting overseas in Bangladesh.
I valued the opportunity to work across a range of projects with the Wilton Park team, other Whitehall departments and the private sector. The role involved delving into familiar and unfamiliar policy areas while also managing competing priorities across them. This is something I’ve drawn upon regularly since joining Private Office for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
There aren’t many other internships out there that give you the chance to discuss ideas with Ministers, leading experts and policy makers; the internship programme presents a unique opportunity to begin building networks that will help you navigate the Civil Service in the future.”
Ben, former Policy Intern