The Rt. Hon. Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
Rt Hon Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean is a senior Labour member of the House of Lords and a business leader. Formerly Deputy Leader of the House of Lords, Baroness Symons was a Minister in the UK Government from 1997 until stepping down in 2005.
- Among her government posts she was Minister for the Middle East, Minister for International Trade and Minister for Defence Procurement, and the Prime Minister’s envoy to the Gulf.
- She has a wide range of experience in the Middle East in particular, and currently chairs the UK Parliament’s all party group on Qatar, the Saudi-British Joint Business Council and the British Egyptian Society.
- Previously a trade union general secretary, she was an Equal Opportunities Commissioner and a governor of the London Business School.
- As well as working closely with DLA Piper, Baroness Symons is now involved with a number of other commercial organisations, including roles as a non-executive director of both British Airways, and as an advisor to other companies, including those with strong Middle East links, and with a number of not-for-profit organisations, including the International Red Cross.
