Stephan Sinclair-Loutit

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Former employer: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Now retired.

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

I graduated from Exeter in 1975, taught English language for 1 year in Morocco, then did a post-grad degree in Politics in France. After, I worked 3 years for humanitarian NGOs in India and Africa, then worked for UNHCR from 1984 until 2013 when I retired. Now live in Cyprus.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

I chose it because it offered international adventure. I enjoyed most going to very remote border areas in both Africa and Asia where my work was part political in nature and part humanitarian.

Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?

I was a member of a film and cinema society.

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

I loved the lectures in Politics by the young academic Ian Hampshire-Monk and the retired military officer turned academic Major-General Clutterbuck. The small group tutorials were also great.

What did you most enjoy about studying here?

The mixture of academic discipline and personal freedom. Coffee in Devonshire House was great too!

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

It had a good reputation and I failed to get into Cambridge.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

A degree was a sine qua non to work for the United Nations. Being able to express myself and write clearly in good English was the most useful skill.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

Get a degree, accept almost any work, build relationships in work and in pleasure, say no only if you really have to, try to find your way to what you really want but do not mind detours.

What are your plans for the future?

Now retired, I have no work plans; just doing plenty of sport and reading.