Justin McKenzie Smith

Justin McKenzie Smith is a senior diplomat who has been British Ambassador to Hungary since 2025.

Born and raised in Aberdeen, Scotland, Justin joined the Diplomatic Service in 1994 and has worked in a wide range of UK and Scottish Government roles, at home and internationally. Earlier overseas postings included Russia, Mexico, the United Nations in New York and four years as British Ambassador to Georgia.

In the course of his diplomatic career, Justin has been a witness to moments of history – the transformation of Moscow after the end of the Soviet Union, decisions on peace and security at the UN negotiating table, overseas visits by British Prime Ministers and members of the Royal Family, and the re-emergence of a reshaped and diverse European continent. At the heart of his work, though, has been innumerable, daily contacts with people of different cultures, languages, generations and worldviews.

Scotland is home for Justin and he is passionate about Scotland’s cultural heritage. He is proud to be a Board member of the National Library of Scotland and an advocate of the widest possible access to its extraordinary collections.