Catherine Ashton is a British politician and diplomat who served as the first High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy from 2009 to 2014. She played a key role in shaping the EU's foreign policy and represented the EU in international negotiations, including those related to the Iran nuclear deal. Before her role in the EU, Ashton held various positions in the UK government, including Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. She was also a member of the House of Lords, where she contributed to discussions on international relations and trade.