Chris Innes-Hopkins

Chris Innes-Hopkins is a former UK diplomat and independent adviser with wide experience of the Middle East and North Africa in a variety of public and private sector roles.

As former Deputy Director of the Middle East Association, Director of Trade & Investment in Saudi Arabia and Co-Founder of the Saudi British Joint Business Council (SBJBC UK), he has worked extensively within the MENA region to promote trade, investment and economic reform and has an extensive public and private sector contact network within the GCC region.

As CEO of SBJBC UK from 2014-2024, Chris helped to position the UK as a key partner in Saudi Vision 2030 implementation through targeted events and initiatives in financial sector reform, sustainable infrastructure, clean energy, digital transformation and public private partnerships.  He is passionate about promoting youth employability and networks built on trust and mutual business benefit.

Chris established his own advisory company UK-Gulf Connect in 2014 which provides strategic guidance on GCC market entry and expansion while connecting UK companies with trusted partners to support sustainable and long-term development.