Michael Williams is one of the UK’s leading experts on Asia. He is currently a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Chatham House in London. He is also a member of the BBC’s Board of Trustees. He was formerly the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East from 2006 – 2011, and before that he served as the special adviser to former British Foreign Secretaries Robin Cook and Jack Straw. He was made a member of the House of Lords in 2010.