Alistair Wood

Alistair Wood began his career as a Regular Army officer from 1974 to 1993. He was brought up in both New Zealand and Scotland. On leaving the Army, and following a masters degree from Aberdeen University, he has worked as an Advisor to a number of UK Government Departments including the Home Office, FCO and DfID working on risk and security strategy, principally in conflict and post conflict environments including Sierra Leone and Afghanistan.

Between 2004 and 2012 he was Private Secretary to TRH The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester at Kensington Palace. On leaving the Royal Household he jointly established an organisation that promoted the potential of the Commonwealth, particularly in the maritime space. Between 2016 and 2021 he was Chief Executive of the trading arm of London Scottish House.

He currently runs his own international Advisory Service. Amongst his recent clients has been the Ridley Eye Foundation, established by the pioneer of modern cataract surgery Sir Harold Ridley. The Charity’s 'Seeing at the Top of the World' programme funds surgical camps providing free cataract surgery and eye care to the remote Himalayan communities above 2000 metres in Nepal. He has also advised the government of the Central African Republic on environmental crime and security sector reform policy.

He has served as a Trustee for 6 years for the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group which operates in the West Bank, and Gaza, and was Master of the Worshipful Company of Masons 2022-2023 supporting the natural stone industry in skills training and charity.

He is currently a Trustee of the Vinehill Trust a £40m fund supporting heritage, music and health. He also Chairs the Military Commentators Circle, an 80 year old geopolitical analysis forum. Since 2018 he has been a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society