James Sharp

James Lyall Sharp (born 12 April 1960) is a British diplomat who served as Ambassador to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan 2002–2005.

Sharp is a son of Sir Richard Lyall Sharp (1915–2002), a civil servant. He was educated at Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet, and Durham University (St Cuthbert's Society) where he graduated in 1982 with a 2:1 BA degree in Modern Middle Eastern Studies.

• 1983–1986: Customer Relations, British Aerospace, Riyadh
• 1987: Entered Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO)
• 1987–1988: South America Department
• 1989–1992: Cairo (Second Secretary, Chancery/Information)
• 1992–1995: Head of Section, Eastern Department
• 1995–1996: Head of Section, Hong Kong Department
• 1996–1998: Vienna OSCE (First Secretary)
• 1998–2000: Head of Section, North East Asia & Pacific Department
• 2000–2001: Deputy Head, Security Policy Department
• 2002–2005: Ambassador to Kazakhstan, and concurrently non-resident Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan
• 2006–2008: Head, Western Mediterranean/JHA/Germany Group, FCO
• 2008–2012: Asia Pacific Regional Director, UK Border Agency, Hong Kong
• 2012–2013: Arms Export Policy Department, FCO
• 2013–present: Director, Migration, FCO