On the Issues Episode 173: Ambassador Lukman Faily
Today’s guest is Ambassador Lukman Faily, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations. Ambassador Faily has served in various roles in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs including as Ambassador of Iraq to Japan, the United States, and most recently, Germany.
In this episode, Alon and Ambassador Faily discuss diplomacy at the United Nations, especially at a time of great global conflict and advancing technologies like AI, how dialogue and discussion are utilized in managing world affairs in relation to security, development, and human rights, and what impact the redefinition of the US’ national security and role in the world will have globally.
Full bio
Ambassador Lukman Faily is the Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations. Ambassador Faily has served in various roles in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including as Ambassador of Iraq to Japan, the United States, and most recently, Germany.
Ambassador Faily represents a rising generation of professionals, business leaders, and civic activists who have returned home to build a free-market democracy in their native land. Mr. Faily brings extensive experience in diplomacy, business organization management, Information Technology, and civic activism, as well as a familiarity with Anglo-American traditions and institutions, to his role.
From August 2021 until July 2025, Mr. Faily served as Iraq’s Ambassador to Germany. He previously served as Ambassador to Japan from June 2010 until May 2013. Before this assignment, he served as an Ambassador at the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Faily lived in the United Kingdom for 20 years, working in the Information Technology sector for several transnational companies. During his last ten years in the UK, he held senior management positions in two major American companies, Ceridan Centrefile and then Electronic Data Systems, which is now part of Hewlett Packard. In addition, he held consultancy and team-leader positions in the Information Technology sector.
While living and working in the UK, Mr. Faily was an active leader within the large Iraqi exile community and served as a trustee for several non-governmental Iraqi organizations. He also played an active role in opposing Saddam’s dictatorship and advocated for democracy and rule of law in Iraq.
Mr. Faily holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK in 1988. Continuing his postgraduate studies, he has completed a Master in Business Administration (MBA) in Technology Management and a postgraduate degree in Computing for Commerce and Industry.
Fluent in English, Arabic and Kurdish, Ambassador Faily was born in Baghdad in 1966. He is married to Mrs. Lameis Faily and is the father of four boys.