Kirsty Hayes

Hayes was born on 2 February 1977 in Aberdeen, Scotland, to Robert Colin and Rowena Antoinette Paton. She is distantly related to the noted explorer, archaeologist, diplomat and politician, Sir Austen Henry Layard. She was educated at Dame Alice Harpur School, an all-girls private school in Bedford, England. From 1995 to 1998, she studied archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA Hons) degree in 1998. She had been offered a place at the University of Cambridge, but turned it down to study at UCL because it offered more opportunities for fieldwork. She later completed a Master of Arts (MA) degree in International Studies and Diplomacy at the University of London and a Master of Arts degree in Human Resources Strategy at Kingston Business School, Kingston University. ==Diplomatic career==

In September 1999, Hayes joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) as part of their Fast Stream entry programme, thereby starting a career in diplomacy. Between March 2008 and March 2009, she additionally worked as a consultant at the United Nations Development Programme Regional Centre in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In addition, she was the UK's lead negotiator at the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. In December 2020, Hayes was appointed to be British Ambassador to Argentina in succession to Mark Kent. She took up the position in September 2021. ==Personal life==

In 2002, Hayes married Peter Hayes, a fellow diplomat. She enjoys horse riding, and competes in eventing and show jumping. ==References==