We’re delighted to invite members to an informal evening with Sven Sakkov, Estonia’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom – and one of our very own (Cambridge 1996). 

Sven has kindly agreed to spend an hour with our community to share his reflections on his first few months representing Estonia in the UK, along with his personal takes on security policy, geopolitics, and where Estonia-UK cooperation fits into this bigger picture. 

While Sven can stay with us for an hour, those wishing to linger longer are warmly welcome – Kennedy’s will be happy to have us continue the conversation over a pint (and dinner for those who wish).

For anyone in Estonia interested in security policy, Sven Sakkov needs no introduction. He is one of Estonia’s most respected voices on defence and security policy. Before taking up his post in London earlier this year, Sven served as Estonia’s Ambassador to Finland (2020–2025). Prior to that, he led the Tallinn-based think-tank International Centre for Defence and Security (2017- 2020); directed the NATO Cyber Centre of Excellence (2015-2017); and worked as Undersecretary for Policy (Policy Director) at the Estonian Ministry of Defence (2008-2015).

Earlier in his career, he also worked for President Lennart Meri and held postings at the Estonian Mission to NATO and the Estonian Embassy in Washington DC. Sven holds an M.Phil. in International Relations from the University of Cambridge, and is a graduate of Tartu University and the Royal College of Defence Studies in London.