Jyoti Hirani-Driver

Jyoti Hirani-Driver has been the Chief Operating Officer of NATO DIANA since January 2024, and is responsible for strategic planning and operations, Government engagement across all Allies, including with NATO Partners, and communications. Ms Hirani-Driver is responsible for identifying and implementing improvements across the organisation and building and transitioning new programme pathways and activities into operations. In addition to her COO responsibilities, Mrs Hirani-Driver is serving as Acting Managing Director, providing strategic leadership and continuity during a period of organisational growth and transition.

Prior to this post, she was a Senior Civil Servant (SCS1)/ 1* in the UK Ministry of Defence, holding the position of Deputy Director of Corporate Governance in the Directorate for Afghan Relocation and Resettlement. She placed operations on a programmatic footing securing long-term funding, improved business performance and outputs and led the organisation during crisis response. National security has been a key theme of Jyoti's career. She was the Chief of Staff for Defence Innovation, leading a team to secure £1.1billion in funding for research, development and innovation for the UK Ministry of Defence. Prior to this, she held multiple policy, strategy and operational crisis roles in counterterrorism, including kidnaps, terrorist financing, and UK - Middle East, Africa and Asia counter-terrorism relations.