We work by three core principles:
discretion,
precision,
pace.
Born out of years behind the scenes in international affairs, Global Secretariat followed a simple equation: busy people need calm, capable support.
From inboxes to insights, briefings to boardrooms, we provide discreet executive support, sharp strategic analysis, and calm, coordinated event delivery- trusted by diplomats, analysts, and leaders worldwide.
Global Secretariat Directors
Eleanor Allworthy
Founder and Managing Director
Eleanor founded Global Secretariat after years of working behind the scenes in international affairs, where she saw firsthand the value of calm, capable support- someone who understands the pace, the protocol, and the pressure.
Her career began at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, before she moved to Bahrain to work with their Middle East office. She later spent several years in the United Arab Emirates, working within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and supporting the delivery of high-level international events, from ministerial summits to private diplomatic briefings. Across every role, she has focused on guest communications and logistics for senior figures in government, diplomacy, and business.
Eleanor’s academic background- a First Class degree in Theology and a Master’s in Middle Eastern Studies- has shaped a professional path rooted in understanding context, nuance, and the structures that influence global affairs. She brings this perspective to every project she undertakes.
Now based near London, Eleanor splits her time between international clients and home life with her husband, two children, and a pair of dignified Saluki rescues. When not drafting a briefing or coordinating a guest list, she’s usually up a ladder, renovating their old Kentish Oast house with a paintbrush in one hand and a to-do list in the other.
Mark Allworthy
Director of Analysis and Engagement
With over 25 years of experience at the intersection of geopolitics, defence, and strategic analysis, Mark brings deep expertise and a calm, informed perspective to some of the most complex challenges facing governments and institutions today.
After reading Arabic and Persian at the University of Oxford, Mark began his career in political risk consultancy. He later joined the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London before becoming the Founding Director of its Middle East Headquarters in the Kingdom of Bahrain. There, he led regional initiatives for the IISS, including its flagship diplomatic and defence summits, the Manama Dialogue and the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
Mark served for six years as Senior Advisor to the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence, where he helped design and deliver a strategic analysis capability. He has briefed and advised senior figures in governments across the GCC and has worked closely with national security establishments in the UK, US, and beyond. He has also held senior consulting roles with Janes Defence Intelligence and Deloitte Defence, leading bespoke open-source intelligence projects for ministries, militaries, and the defence industry.
He continues to act as a trusted advisor and interface between regional governments and their international partners, and as a Partner at the Dubai-based space services consultancy AzurX, he supports the development of strategic partnerships for space and advanced technology companies.
Mark now divides his time between international consultancy and home life in Kent, where he's often found in the gym, working on a policy paper, or listening to opera to resist the chaos of his children and dogs.
