Paul Johnston

Paul Johnston took up his role as Director General of the Irish Universities in November 2025. Paul joined the UK Civil Service in 1990 and has had a wide range of diplomatic roles. Paul became British Ambassador to Ireland in September 2020. Before that he was UK Ambassador to the EU for Political and Security affairs from 2017 to January 2020 and Deputy Permanent Representative to NATO. From August 2011 to August 2015, he was British Ambassador to Sweden.