Jonathan Powell has spent half a lifetime talking to people and organisations labelled as terrorists.

He runs Inter Mediate, a London-based charity for negotiation and mediation that focuses on the most difficult, complex and dangerous conflicts, where other organisations are unable to operate.

In 1997 he met Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness and became instrumental in negotiating peace in Northern Ireland. In 2008 he suggested publicly that western governments should open talks with the Taliban, Hamas and al-Qaeda. Today, he works on different armed conflicts around the world and is the UK Prime Minister's special envoy to Libya.

He is the author of two books, Great Hatred, Little Room and The New Machiavelli. He lives in London with his wife and two daughters.