James Kidner

James Kidner has been working in technology start-ups for the last five years – first with Improbable, who make platforms for games and simulations; then, since 2019, with Rebellion Defence, who build Artificial Intelligence tools for the Armed Forces. This followed three decades in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and in other Whitehall positions, including on the Senior Directing Staff of the Royal College of Defence Studies from 2014-2016, in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, and in the office of the Leader of the House of Commons. Overseas, he has had substantive postings in India, Malaysia and Bulgaria. From 2003 – 2006, he was Deputy Private Secretary to HRH The Prince of Wales.
James was the founding Director of Coexist – a new educational charity working to help people understand religion’s role in today’s globalised society. He has a BA and MA from Oxford University, where he studied History at Christ Church. He lives on a family farm on Dartmoor