Geoffrey Adams was born 11 June 1957, the son of Sir Philip George Doyne Adams, KCMG, and Hon. (Mary) Elizabeth, elder daughter of Lord Trevethin and Oaksey (3rd and 1st Baron respectively). He was educated at Eton College and Magdalen College, University of Oxford. In 1999, he married Mary Emma Baxter, having two sons and one daughter.

Adams joined the Diplomatic Service in 1979 and his diplomatic career included: Southern Africa Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 1979-80; Third, later Second, Secretary, Jeddah [Saudi Arabia], 1982–85; Ecole Nationale d’Administration, Paris [France], 1985–87; Economic Relations Department, FCO, 1987–88; Private Secretary to Permanent Under-Secretary of State, FCO, 1988–91; First Secretary, Pretoria and Cape Town [South Africa], 1991–94; European Union Department (External), FCO and European Secretariat, Cabinet Office, 1994–98; Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission, Cairo [Egypt], 1998–2001; Consul-General, Jerusalem [Israel], 2001–03; Principal Private Secretary to Foreign Secretary [Jack Straw], 2003–05; Ambassador to Iran, 2006–09; Director General (Political), FCO, 2009–12; Ambassador to the Netherlands, 2013–17; Ambassador to Egypt, 2018–21.