James Lyall Sharp (born 12 April 1960) is a British diplomat who served as Ambassador to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan 2002–2005.
Sharp is a son of Sir Richard Lyall Sharp (1915–2002), a civil servant. He was educated at Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet, and Durham University where he graduated in 1982 with a BA degree in Modern Middle Eastern Studies.
1983–1986: Customer Relations, British Aerospace, Riyadh
1987: Entered Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO)
1987–1988: South America Department
1989–1992: Cairo (Second Secretary, Chancery/Information)
1992–1995: Head of Section, Eastern Department
1995–1996: Head of Section, Hong Kong Department
1996–1998: Vienna OSCE (First Secretary)
1998–2000: Head of Section, North East Asia & Pacific Department
2000–2001: Deputy Head, Security Policy Department
2002–2005: Ambassador to Kazakhstan, and concurrently non-resident Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan
2006–2008: Head, Western Mediterranean/JHA/Germany Group, FCO
2008–2012: Asia Pacific Regional Director, UK Border Agency, Hong Kong
2012–2013: Arms Export Policy Department, FCO
2013–present: Director, Migration, FCO
