The Right Honourable Baroness Catherine Ashton's political career has spanned ministerial roles in the UK's Department for Education and Skills and Department of Constitutional Affairs; becoming the first woman British European Commissioner and the European Union's first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

She has received numerous awards for her diplomatic work, including the Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 2015 New Year’s Honours List, as well as the highest diplomat honours from the King of Jordan and from Germany. Previously, she was named the first Stonewall Politician of the Year for her work on equality, and was also voted Minster of the Year by the House Magazine and Peer of the Year by Channel 4. Ashton was appointed Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Queen's Privy Council in Gordon Brown’s first Cabinet in June 2007. 

Baroness Ashton joins Professor Ngaire Woods to share insights from her diplomatic career following the release of her book: And Then What? Inside Stories of 21st Century Diplomacy.