Politics, Government & Current Affairs speakers

Alastair is a media communicator and strategist best known for his role as former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's spokesman, press secretary and director of communications and strategy. He played a key role helping to create New Labour and return them to power. Alastair did this job for Labour's first term but after helping Tony Blair win a second landslide election victory, he became Director of Communications and Strategy until 2003. He is also an advocate for mental health issues due to facing his own battles with depression and alcoholism.

Alex Salmond is a politician who served as the fourth First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014, he has held seats in both the Scottish and United Kingdom parliaments.

Alexandre Katrangi is highly regarded & consulted for his consultancy and advice in the Middle East & Africa. Optimistic, insurance and clarity makes for his socialism and respect with his work. His straight forward approach, expert analysis and macro analysis on Middle East Area, Africa within the fields of Geopolitics, Geostrategic, Governmental Relations, Politics, Economics, Market specialist, cartography of economic actors and competitors, Advisory and Consultancy services, local practices, uses and habits, network and relations.

Alison is an economist and Sir Roy Griffiths Professor of Public Sector Management at King’s College London. Alison's study focus is based upon the relationship between education and the labour market. Her latest book is The XX Factor, from this basis, turns to focus upon the current reality that is the relationship between women and work. Alison discusses how women are moving boldly into the ranks of the power and business elite, but at the cost of creating a new society.

Alistair Darling is a British Labour Party politician who was a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2015.

Andrew Marr is one of the most familiar reporters, journalists, presenters and interviewers on television. He was the host of weekly BBC ‘The Andrew Marr Show’ up to December 2021, during which Andrew conducted live interviews with a host of high profile guests on topical issues and he also current presents the Radio 4 programme, ‘Start the Week’, on a regular basis. Prior to this, Andrew spent five years as Political Editor at BBC News.

Andrew Neil is a publisher, editor, writer, broadcaster, public speaker and business consultant on media matters working out of London, New York, Edinburgh and France. During his career he has been UK Editor of The Economist, Editor of The Sunday Times, Executive Chairman of Sky Television, Executive Editor of Fox Television News of America and a leading anchorman of political programmes on British television.

Anita Anand is best known for presenting shows such as Any Answers? and the Drive Programme on Radio 5 Live.

Anita Rani is the presenter of the RTS award winning Four Rooms, the antiques show with a twist on Channel Four. She is a member of BBC1’s The One Show presenting team and reporting team, fronts Escape To The Continent and has presented numerous documentaries for the BBC.

Former City Editor of The Standard, Anthony Hilton has won the World Economic Forum’s most prestigious press award. He offers an instant analysis of the indicators, and the challenges facing business leaders.

Archie Norman is a British businessman and politician. He is at present the only person to have been a FTSE 100 chairman and a Member of the House of Commons (MP) at the same time. On 18 November 2009, Norman was announced as the new chairman of ITV plc. He took up his post in January 2010.

Ayesha Hazarika was a senior Labour adviser to Harriet Harman and Ed Miliband and is now a political commentator.

UK based Global Futurist and Exponential Thinker Azeem Azhar helps leaders break down the complexity of emerging technologies and understand their impact on economies and society. He is a corporate innovator, serial entrepreneur and technology investor; Founder, Exponential View; Host, “Exponentially” on Bloomberg TV; Visiting Fellow, Oxford Martin School, Oxford University; Co-Chair, Global Futures Council on Complex Risks, World Economic Forum; Award-Winning, Bestselling Author, “The Exponential Age” (2021); Named one of Vox’s 2023 Future Perfect 50 and to the Thinkers50 2022 Radar List.

Catherine has been appointed as High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Catherine has been European Commissioner for Trade since October 2008. During her time as Trade Commissioner she has initiated an ambitious and far-reaching free trade agreement with South Korea, and solved a number of high-profile trade disputes with major trading partners. She has also championed trade as a means of promoting development around the world, putting the EU's economic relationship with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries on a firmer footing.

Baroness Floella Benjamin was born in Trinidad in 1949 and came to England as a 10 year old child in 1960. She left school at 16 with the aim of becoming Britain's first ever black woman bank manager, but changed direction and became an actress, presenter, writer, independent producer, working peer and an active advocate for the welfare, care and education of children throughout the world. She has also headed a successful film and television production company for the last 28 years.

Baroness Nuala O’Loan, former Ireland's Special Envoy for Conflict Resolution, is an inspirational woman whose message of justice, reconciliation and peace is truly powerful. Baroness Nuala O’Loan DBE is a member of the UK House of Lords. She was also Ireland’s Roving Ambassador for Conflict Resolution and Special Envoy to Timor Leste and for UNSCR 1325, Women, Peace and Security. In June 2013, Baroness O'Loan was conferred with membership a member of the Royal Irish Academy due to her significant contributions to life in Ireland.

Jimmy Mizen was killed in a random act of violence in a southeast London bakery the day after his 16th birthday in 2008. Barry and his wife, Margaret, have become prominent and vocal campaigners for peace within our communities. Barry and Margaret were recognised in the New Year Honours list for the charitable work they have done since their son was killed in 2008.

Ben Wright has worked extensively for the BBC, covering stories around the world, including India, the United States and mainland Europe. Ben currently focuses primaily on issues relating to British politics.

Baron Paddick is a British politician, and was the Liberal Democrat candidate for the London mayoral election, 2008 and the London mayoral election, 2012.

As founder of two leading children's charities, the Place 2 Be and the now defunct Kids Company. Place 2 Be is continuing to deliver services and Kids Company closed "following false sexual abuse allegations, which were taken to the media. The police investigated, and found no crime had been committed. They stated they "found no fault with Kids Company's safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults". Camilla continues her pioneering work in collaboration with several charities and her new book 'Kids' also a collaboration will be out soon.

Caroline Hyde regularly interviews chief executives, finance officers, politicians and research analysts across the region. Hyde has also provided in-depth reports on the UK property sector, charitable institutions and developments in digital, music and visual technology.

She spent over a decade in Fleet Street, latterly with the Financial Times. Since joining Channel 4 News in 2006 she has broadcast a string of investigations and scoops. She was also the only broadcast journalist to travel with Angelina Jolie and the foreign secretary William Hague to the Congo as part of a campaign against sexual violence.

Charlene is the face of ITV News London's flagship broadcast at 6pm, providing the daily news as well as weekend national news programmes for ITV News. Charlene has hosted a multifarious conglomerate of stars, including Prime Minister David Cameron, music star Beyonce, and film hero Will Smith.

Charles Bean was Deputy Governor for Monetary Policy at the Bank of England from 2008-2014. From 2000 – 2008, he served as Chief Economist at the Bank.

Clive Myrie is an English television news journalist.

Colletta Smith has worked for the BBC for the past 10 years, living and working in Belfast, Glasgow and Manchester. Colletta has reported for radio and TV at a national and UK level in the fields of business, economics and consumer affairs, covering everything from the euro-zone crisis, to illegal teeth whitening.

Sir Craig Oliver is David Cameron's former Director of Communications and former Controller of English at BBC Global News.

Dan Glass's experience provides a melting pot of campaign resources and a range of deep methods of transformation & empowerment for positive social change. An educator from the Training for Transformation educational programme born out of the Anti-Apartheid movement, the core of dan's work is the development of critical consciousness and creativity to spur people 'to read their reality and write their own history'. This serves to motivate action that transforms live’s impacted by oppression back into one of pride, dignity and self-determination. In the spirit of our elders in the anti-Apartheid struggle, dan's activism is inspired by the philosophy 'the biggest weapon in the hands of the oppressor is our minds' . His recent programmes involve MC'ing 'Shafted?!' a speakeasy led by people living with HIV and the 'Never Again Ever! Holocaust Survivors Cabaret'.

Lord Finkelstein's career is as broad in its scope as it is distinguished. It has encompassed being Editor of Connexion - Britain's first internet and data communications newspaper, directing the Social Market Foundation think tank and acting as a key advisor to the Conservative Party.

Dan Pink is the author of several provocative, bestselling books about the changing world of work. His books have been translated into over 33 different languages, including being published in the unorthodox style of Japanese Manga. His writing spans a multitude of topics, from the art and science of sales to a modern behavioural economical view on motivation. Dan is a prolific speaker, working in both public and private events, including many talks on TED. Dan held his last real job in the White House, where he served from 1995 to 1997 as chief speechwriter to Vice President Al Gore. He also worked as an aide to U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich and in other positions in politics and government.

Daniel Susskind is Fellow in Economics at Balliol College, Oxford, where he teaches and researches. He worked for the British Government in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, in the Policy Unit in 10 Downing Street, and also as a Senior Policy Adviser at the Cabinet Office. He was a Kennedy Scholar at Harvard University.

David Aaronovitch is one of the best-known journalists and current affairs broadcasters in the UK, winning awards for political journalism and being named 'Columnist of the Year' by What The Papers Say. David’s fascination with some of the more arcane aspects of public life and debate led to the Voodoo Histories book on the impact of conspiracy theories.

Professor David Guest joined King’s College London in 2000 and has since had a spell as Head of Department and Deputy Head of the School of Social Science and Public Policy. He has written and researched extensively in the areas of human resource management, employment relations and the psychological contract, motivation and commitment, and careers. David is currently Chair of the Examination Board for the MSc in Human Resource Management and Organisational Analysis.

David Icke is a writer, public speaker and sports broadcaster. He promotes conspiracy theories and about global politics and has written extensively about them.

David Smith is also chief leader-writer, an assistant editor and policy adviser. He also writes columns for The Times, Tax Journal and other publications. He speaks and broadcasts regularly to a wide variety of audiences. Prior to joining The Sunday Times, he worked for The Times, Financial Weekly, Now! Magazine, the Henley Centre for Forecasting and Lloyds Bank.

Deeyah Khan is the founder and CEO of the production company Fuuse, which creates works in the intersection of art and activism, as well as the co-founder of the Honour Based Violence Awareness Network, an international digital resource centre working to advance understanding and awareness of Honour Killings and Honour Based Violence.

Dharshini is a presenter of financial programmes, who has fronted shows across the BBC and Sky News. She’s a highly experienced business and economics journalist who is as comfortable at analysing and debunking economic developments as she is probing business leaders about their accounts.

National Clinical Director of Mental Health for England, Consultant Psychiatrist for Oxleas NHS and Visiting Professor at UCL partners.

With a wealth of experience and an unparalleled depth of research into the macroeconomic and the geopolitical landscape of the MENA region, Dr. Florence Eid-Oakden is highly sought-after by audiences eager to benefit from her considerable expertise. An accomplished speaker, Eid-Oakden's presentations are seamlessly put together. Her messages are powerful and effective, delivered in her personal and highly professional style. She presents in English, Arabic, French and Spanish.

Campbell now also works and is recognised as a forensic expert witness on computers and communications data. He has providing specialist testimony in over a hundred criminal and civil cases and has given evidence to the House of Commons and the European Parliament on surveillance legislation.

Ed Balls is Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, Visiting Professor to the Policy Institute at King’s College London and Chairman of Norwich City Football Club.

Eliza Manningham-Buller headed Britain’s Security Service (MI5) from 2002 to 2007, leading the organisation though substantial change in the wake of 9/11 and the threat from Al-Qaeda. During her time at the helm MI5 doubled in size, opened eight new offices and altered its approach to the professional development of staff with the establishment of a training academy.

Emily Maitlis started her career in news at NBC Asia as a business correspondent, but also presenting key events such as the transfer in sovereignty in Hong Kong, and the collapse of the tiger economies in 1997. Emily then moved to the UK, acting as a business correspondent for SKY News. In 2001, Emily transferred to BBC News, where she remained, presenting a range of news shows, becoming one of the main and most popular news presenters in the country. Having departed the BBC and signed with Global, the media and entertainment group, the next chapter of her career.

After joining the BBC in 1989 as a Northern Ireland Correspondent, within less than a year Fergal Keane was appointed to become the BBC correspondent in South Africa where he covered stories including townships unrest, the first multi-racial elections at the end of the apartheid and genocide in Rwanda.

Gavin Esler is also an event host, a moderator for business conferences and a lecturer on subjects as diverse as British and American politics, communications and the future of the media. He delivered the prestigious 2017 Magnusson Lecture on how institutions and individuals can build trust — and how to recover if they lose it. He has spoken on similar themes with groups as diverse as senior British military officers, financial consultants, lawyers, senior public officials, politicians and leaders of international corporations. He has hosted conferences with business and political leaders in venues in the United States, Indonesia, Singapore, China, Turkey, the UAE, and all across the UK and Europe.

Geoff's work has been featured by BBC News, Audible, Sky News, The Sunday Times and many more. His latest book, The Lazarus Heist - From Hollywood to High Finance: Inside North Korea's Global Cyber War was adopted from the hit BBC podcast and published by Penguin Random House June 2022. His next book, Rinsed, will reveal technology's impact on the world of money laundering and will be published by Penguin Random House in June 2024. His first book, Crime Dot com, took readers inside the murky world of the digital underground, uncovering cybercrime's emergence as today's global threat. Entertaining audiences from corporate to music festivals to political party conferences and a sell-out hit live phone-hacking stage show at Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Between the general elections in 1987 and 2015, with a gap between 2010 and 2012, Galloway represented four constituencies as a Member of Parliament, elected as a candidate for the Labour Party and later the Respect Party.

George Magnus is an independent economist and commentator, an Associate at the China Centre, Oxford University, and an adviser to some asset management companies.

Gerard Lyons is currently economic adviser to the Mayor of London. He is a regular commentator for Bloomberg and Sky News.

Germaine Greer is an Australian theorist, academic and journalist, who is regarded as having been a major feminist voice of the mid-20th Century.

Guto Harri is the Director of Communications at 10 Downing Street and a key adviser to Boris Johnson having also worked for him at London’s City Hall. Prior to that he spent 18 years at the BBC.

Guy Standing is a Fellow of the British Academy of Social Sciences and co-founder and now honorary co-president of the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN), an international NGO that promotes basic income.

Iain Dale has been a contributing editor for GQ and writes for various national newspapers and magazines, including the Guardian, the Independent, the New Statesman, the Spectator and Attitude.

Ian Bremmer is an American political scientist specializing in US foreign policy, states in transition, and global political risk. He is the president and founder of Eurasia Group, a political risk research and consulting firm.

Ian Goldin is Director of the James Martin 21st Century School at the University of Oxford. Ian was Vice President of the World Bank from 2003-6 and prior to that the Bank's Director of Development Policy from 2001-3. From 1996 to 2001 he was Managing Director of the Development Bank of Southern Africa and served as an adviser to President Mandela. He succeeded in transforming the bank to become the leading agent of development in the 14 countries of Southern Africa.

Ian Morley is one of the leading international figures in the field of Alternative Investments. His experience covers most areas of financial markets and one of his specialist presentation is: 'Capitalism. My part in its downfall, The history of frauds and failures.' He takes you through all the key events, the characters, anecdotes, and war stories in a most amusing and educative manner. He has advised the Bank of England, the Central Bank of Ireland, the OECD, the EU and other international institutions about the managed derivatives and the Hedge Fund Industry.

Dr Imran Awan is an author, academic and researcher who is exploring the role of crime and its impact on society.

Isabel Oakeshott is a political journalist and commentator. She was Political Editor of the Sunday Times from 2011 until 2014.

With over 25 years experience in future analysis, James is a remarkable record as a writer, analyst, and presenter. James is also a leading futurologist and author of considerable reputation. James has a zealous interest in key trends and statistics facing current and future businesses. James' work challenges organisations to better anticipate change and adapt faster.

Globally respected and prominent figurehead in climate change, clean energy, sustainability, and water; the factors regarded as the rasion d'etre for any society seeking, not only to survive, but to evolve. He is currently affiliated with Yale University, and is a world leading academic in the field of environmental law and policy. Former international barrister with an extensive knowledge of government financing and climate change.

James Landale is currently Diplomatic Correspondent for BBC News where he is in the thick of the corporation’s coverage of Brexit, the Trump presidency and other global issues. Prior to this position, James was the BBC’s Deputy Political Editor, at the forefront of the BBC’s political news coverage; covering politics primarily for the BBC's flagship Six and Ten o'clock news and Radio 4 news programmes.

James Naughtie is a British radio presenter and radio news presenter for the BBC. From 1994 - 2015 he has been one of the main presenters of Radio 4's Today programme.

James Woudhuysen expertise spans IT, energy, construction, manufacturing and retailing. He has a knack for spotting trends before others, frequently offering counter-intuitive proposals on what action to take.

Jamie Bartlett is the Director of the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media at the think tank Demos. He specialises in online culture and the dark net.

Jason Schenker is the Chairman of The Futurist Institute and the President of Prestige Economics. Bloomberg News has ranked Jason the #1 forecaster in the world in 25 different categories, which is why executives, corporate boards, industry groups, and central banks rely on his financial market research. Jason has also written 12 books, including seven about disruptive emerging technologies. He is also a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion, an instructor for LinkedIn Learning, the Executive Director of the Texas Blockchain Association, and the Futurist for Hyperloop Massachusetts.

In his 35 years at the German Television Network ARD, he produced over 500 television segments. He served twice as combat correspondent in Iraq. His investigative reports on security policy, espionage activities and weapons technology appear in leading publications in Europe, including Cicero, Focus, Le Point, Stern, Welt and ZEITmagazin. He is author of “High-Tech Espionage”, published in fourteen countries. For his current book, “Evolution Without Us” (Plassen Publishing), he interviewed drone pilots and intelligence sources, futurists and Silicon Valley specialists in a 2 ½ year exclusive research.

Jeff Randall is one of the UK's leading business commentators. He is Editor-at-Large of The Daily Telegraph, and a regular presenter on Sky News and Five Live. Known for speaking his mind, Jeff's speeches mix crystal ball gazing with an insider's take on the runners and riders. As one of the UK's best known and most influential business commentators, Jeff proves to be an ideal moderator and host at various conferences throughout the country. Being relaxed and highly professional he draws on his extensive media experience to provide audiences with a truly memorable event.

Jeffrey is an art collector and amateur auctioneer, conducting around 30 charity auctions a year, and has raised more than ten million pounds in the last ten years for good causes.

Jennifer Pahlka is the founder and executive director of Code for America and is known for her TED talk “Coding a Better Government.”

Jim Harris is a one of North America’s foremost management consultants, authors and thinkers on disruptive innovation, leadership, innovation, organizational change, future trends and mitigating risk

Joanna Wilde is a Chartered Psychologist who specialises in the application of psychology within complex work organisations.

John Gieve is a former British Civil Servant, who served as Deputy Governor for Financial Stability of the Bank of England and an ex officio member of the Monetary Policy Committee from 2006 to 2009.

John Major is a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990 to 1997.

John Mills is an economist and author, noted for his writing on Brexit, the Labour Party and exchange rate policy. He is also the founder and chairman of JML, the consumer goods distribution company.

John Sawers is a former British diplomat and senior civil servant. He was Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and was previously the British Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

John is best known for his role as the BBC's chief political correspondent, a position that he held from 1992-2000. John was voted the "Best Individual Television Contributor of the Year" at the Voice of the Listener and Viewer Awards for 1999. John's long dormant career in comedy was revived in 1998 when he appeared in an edition of "Have I Got News For You" on BBC 2. Ian Hislop said he had been one of the funniest guests in the history of the program. John is a highly acclaimed corporate speaker, brilliant awards host, challenging conference chair and excellent anecdotal after-dinner speaker.

John has worked for BBC all of his life, and since becoming the BBC News World Affairs Correspondent, he has reported from more than 120 countries, including thirty war zones, and has interviewed many world leaders. His impressive reporting career has seen him avoiding bullets in Tiananmen Square Massacre, being one of the first reporters in Afghanistan in 2001 disguised by wearing a burka, and being hunted by Robert Mugabe's forces in Zimbabwe. With over 40 years experience in international journalism he has the ability to cover topics from highly factual and intense World Affairs to more light-hearted and amusing tales from his extensive travels.

Since moving to Washington, Jon Sopel has conducted an exclusive interview with President Obama, has travelled on Air Force One – and famously clashed with President Trump at a White House news conference. His book 'If Only They Didn't Speak English, notes from Trump's America' is due to be published autumn 2017.

Joseph is the co-founder and co-president of Columbia University’s Initiative for Policy Dialogue; as well as a University Professor and co-chair of the Committee on Global Thought for New York University. He is regarded worldwide as a leading economic educator, and his textbooks are available in over a dozen languages. He is also the founder of The Journal of Economic Perspectives, one of the leading journals of economics.

Julian Fellowes is an actor and writer, best known for his work in Downton Abbey (2010), Gosford Park (2001) and The Tourist (2010).

Juilet Mann was a business correspondent for CNN. Previously as Reuters Television’s Paris Correspondent, Juliet contributed to the daily Equities Briefing and Opening Bell, hosting two-way links with London and Tokyo.

Kamal Ahmed is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of The News Movement, a new media business headquartered in London and New York focused on social media channels, new audiences and digital consumption.

Ken Livingstone was the first Mayor of London, a role he held from 8 years, only recently being narrowly edged out of the position by current Mayor, Borris Johnson. His time in office saw important moments, including the introduction of the congestion charge and advocation of public transport in an attempt to tackle London's traffic problems, the expansion of social housing in London, and successfully winning the bid for London to host the Olympic Games in 2012. Ken has also written three successful books, including "If Voting Changed Anything, They'd Abolish It".

Kenneth Clarke CH QC is the Member of Parliament in Rushcliffe, and was first elected to the role in 1970. Ken is also the Father of the house, the title bestowed upon the MP who has served for the longest time in the House of Commons.

Kirsty Wark is a Scottish journalist and television presenter, best known for fronting Newsnight since 1993, and its weekly arts spin-off Newsnight Review from 2002 to 2014.

Laura Kuenssberg has been the BBC 's Political Editor since 2015, when she became the first woman, and youngest journalist to take on the role; leading the corporation's political coverage.

Lord Chris Patten is a British politician who served as the 28th and last Governor of Hong Kong from 1992 to 1997.

Lord Digby has been at the forefront of Britain and International trade and investment for decades. He is a business ambassador of UK Trade & Investment, Former Director General of the CBI and Former Minister of State for Trade and Investment. He is an engaging speaker and valuable mentor.

George Robertson is a British Labour Party politician who was the tenth Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, between October 1999 and early January 2004. As Secretary General of NATO, Lord Robertson was described as 'the most powerful Scotsman in the world.' George believes that greater cooperation is needed between EU states, particularly on security and defence issues, as well as argueing for collaboration to counter several other threats, from global pandemics to organised crime and climate change.

Paddy Ashdown, is a British politician and former diplomat. He was the Chair of the Liberal Democrats' 2015 general election team.

Mac Macartney champions a new story of sustainability, one that emphasises the importance of leadership and action alongside social and environmental focus.

Margaret Mizen came to national attention in 2008 when her 16-year-old son Jimmy was murdered in south-east London. In the immediate aftermath, Margaret spoke of compassion for his killer rather than revenge and promised not to be beaten by Jimmy’s death, believing that something good would come from it.

Mark Barton was one of the founding journalists of the channel’s European operations in London in 1995 and played an integral role in establishing Bloomberg TV as the influential global business news network it is today.

Mark Mardell now presents the ‘world at one’ and ‘world this weekend’ on BBC Radio Four, and in 2019 broadcast a documentary series on the 45-year relationship of the UK in the EU, called “Brexit – a love story?” uncovering the factious yet intriguing story of Britain's relationship with the EU.

Mary Rhodes is a journalist and presenter who has hosted a daily sports magazine programme and now presents bulletins across the BBC’s news outlets.

Matt Forde began his comedy career in 1998 at the age of 16, performing at gigs in his hometown of Nottingham while working for the East Midlands Labour Party. With his political views forming the backbone to his stand-up, Forde debuted his hour-long show, Dishonourable Member, at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe.

Matt Frei is part of the wider presenting team across Channel 4's news and current affairs portfolio, including the award-winning ‘Dispatches’ programme. From September 2016, Matt also started presenting the 10 o’clock show every Saturday on LBC Radio, discussing issues with callers and using his wealth of experience and in-depth knowledge of politics on both sides of the Atlantic to share his own opinions on worldwide matters of interest.

Matthew d'Ancona writes a weekly column for the Guardian. He was previously editor of the Spectator and also writes for the Evening Standard and GQ. He was the Sunday Telegraph's political columnist for 19 years. He is a visiting research fellow at Queen Mary University of London, author of several books including In It Together: The Inside Story of the Coalition, and chairman of the thinktank Bright Blue.

Maurice Glasman is an English academic, social thinker and Labour life peer in the House of Lords. He is a senior lecturer in Political Theory at London Metropolitan University and Director of its Faith and Citizenship Programme. He is best known as the originator of Blue Labour, a term he coined in 2009.

Maxine Mawhinney is one of the most experienced journalists in the UK. In a career spanning more than 35 years she has reported from across the world.

Megan Greene is the chief economist at Maverick Intelligence, which advises governments and companies on political, policy and macroeconomic developments.

Michael Buerk is a British journalist, who has internationally won multiple television reporting awards . He presented BBC Television's flagship news programme, The Ten O'clock News and he also presented the peak-time BBC 1 programme about emergencies, 999. He is chairman of the BBC's discussion programme on moral and ethical issues The Moral Maze (BBC Radio 4), and, also for Radio 4, presented The Choice, a single interview programme about individual dilemmas.

Since leaving politics, Michael has devoted himself to writing and broadcasting. Charming and charismatic, he is a regular on both BBC 1's "This Week" programme and Radio 4's "The Moral Maze". He has made radio and television documentaries on a wide range of subjects, including three series of "Great British Railway Journeys" for BBC 2.

Michelle Mone is the creator of Ultimo, the UK's leading designer lingerie brand. Listed as one of the top 3 female entrepreneurs in the UK, Michelle has built a hugely successful career on an incredibly simple concept: giving today's women what they want. 2009 was a giant milestone for Michelle professionally; not only was Ultimo the first UK lingerie brand to debut on the catwalk at New York Fashion Week, but she opened 20 'shop in shops' within Debenhams in key cities throughout the UK and landed a mammoth deal with Tesco clothing to develop, design and manufacture 'Diamond Boutique' lingerie.

She has presented many television news and radio programmes for the BBC and is currently the newsreader for The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Radio 2.

Nick Clegg is a British Liberal Democrats politician who was the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Lord President of the Council from 2010 to 2015 in the Cameron coalition ministry.

Nick Robinson joined the flagship Radio 4 ‘Today’ programme as a presenter in November 2015, after a decade as the BBC’s Political Editor covering Prime Ministers Blair, Brown and Cameron. Nick’s Twitter feed is followed by 750,000 people. His ‘Election Notebook’ was a Sunday Times bestseller.

Nick Watt is the Political Editor for Newsnight on BBC2. Before joining the BBC, Nick worked as the Guardian’s Chief Political Correspondent and as it’s European Editor based in Brussels.

Nina Hossain is an English journalist and presenter employed by ITN as a main newscaster on ITV Lunchtime News and lead anchor on ITV News London.

Nisha Pillai is a news presenter for BBC World television. Prior to this she worked for the BBC's Current Affairs programme Panorama from 1990 to 1995.

Norman Lamont, Baron Lamont of Lerwick, is a British politician and former Conservative MP for Kingston-upon-Thames. He is best known for his period serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer, from 1990 until 1993.

Parag Khanna is a leading global strategist, world traveler, and best-selling author. He is a Senior Research Fellow in the Centre on Asia and Globalisation at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. He is also the Managing Partner of Hybrid Reality, a boutique geostrategic advisory firm, and Co-Founder & CEO of Factotum, a leading content branding agency.

Patrick Holden is the founder and chief executive of the Sustainable Food Trust, an organisation founded in 2012 and working internationally to accelerate the transition to more sustainable food systems.

Paul Collier is Professor of Economics and Public Policy in the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford.

Before heading the independent research institute Paul was the Treasury’s Director of Public Spending. Now heading arguably the country’s leading economic research organisation, Paul considers the size of cuts to come, welfare and tax. He also examines radical changes in pension policy and how well pensioners are doing relative to those of working age; the behaviour of the labour market; and how we have witnessed a fall in living standards combined with a fall in inequality.

Lord Peter Mandelson is a British politician, who was a leading adviser to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, a member of the British House of Commons (1992–2004), and business secretary (2008–10) under Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Philip Coggan currently writes for The Economist. Previously, he worked for the Financial Times for 20 years.

Pippa Malmgren is an American policy analyst. She served as Special Assistant to the President of the United States for Economic Policy on the National Economic Council and former member of the U.S. President's Working Group on Financial Markets.

Polly Toynbee is a columnist for The Guardian. She was formerly BBC social affairs editor, columnist and associate editor of the Independent, co-editor of the Washington Monthly and a reporter and feature writer for the Observer.

Ricardo Baron Baretzky, the first Democratic President of European Centre for Information Policy and Security (ECIPS), led the International Policy and Security Council (IIPSC), the New World Council of ECIPS to the longest global Cyber policy expansion in our history, including the creation of CyberPOL. He is the founder of Baretzky Foundation which focuses on tackling a number of the Worlds' greatest challenges.

Prof. Lord Robert Winston is famous for his enormous work on gynaecology and fertility. He has written books on fertility, pregnancy and conception. He is best known on television for his pioneering series ‘Child of Our Time’ and is Patron of child bereavement charity Winston’s Wish.

Quentin Wilson is an English TV presenter, motoring journalist, author, TV producer and former car dealer, perhaps most widely known as a presenter of the motoring programmes Britain's Worst Driver and the original incarnation of Top Gear.

Richard is the UK's most celebrated nature writer and a major voice in promoting environmental issues. He is an experienced speaker on topics such as the Environment and Nature. As well as delivering regular lectures, he contributes frequently to BBC radio.

Professor Richard Susskind OBE FRSE is an author, speaker, and independent adviser to international professional firms and national governments. He has advised on numerous government inquiries and, since 1998, has been IT Adviser to the Lord Chief Justice of England. His main area of expertise is the future of professional service and, in particular, the way in which the IT and the Internet are changing the work of lawyers. He has worked on legal technology for over 30 years. He has written and edited numerous books, including Expert Systems in Law, Tomorrow’s Lawyers, and has written around 150 columns for The Times. His work has been translated into 10 languages and the latest book The Future of the Professions is co-authored with his son Daniel Susskind.

Robert Peston is ITVs Political Editor and host of their new flagship politics and current affairs show, Peston on Sunday. He covers the latest happenings in Westminster and beyond, interviewing the important players on the national and international political scenes.

Roger is Executive Chairman of Capital Economics and one of the most respected voices on the current turmoil. He is known for making bold calls on the global economy and markets – and usually being proved right.

Overnight, Ronan Harrington went from senior leadership positions at the British Foreign Office and Extinction Rebellion to being diagnosed with a debilitating lifetime chronic illness. He’s learned the hard way how to lead under pressure and stay strong in the face of adversity. Ronan now teaches on the KPMG Executive Leadership Programme and is a resilience specialist at Tough Cookie, advising leading organisations including Sky, Meta and Accenture on how to create healthy, high performing cultures.

Having started his career as an actor, Ross Kemp has gone on to prove himself as a successful documentary maker having received a BAFTA for his series on gangs and many other nominations and awards for his television work. Ross now has his own production company so if you're looking for a speaker with a diverse career experience and equipped with motivational and teamwork skills, then Ross will be the perfect speaker for you.

The UK's longest serving Deputy Prime Minister, since leaving the Commons John has acted as EU ‘rapporteur’ on climate change, and as himself in an ad for an online comparison site. With Pauline he’s also made films on the class system and the north/south divide.

Sally Magnusson is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and writer, who as well as Songs of Praise has presented a range of programmes for the BBC, including news, current affairs and politics.

Sarah Harper is a British gerontologist. She achieved particular acclaim when she established Oxford's Institute of Ageing, and became the University of Oxford’s first professor of Gerontology.

Sarah Smith is the Scotland Editor of the BBC, covering Scottish news, politics and current events for BBC TV news and radio.

Shami Chakrabarti CBE was, from September 2003 to March 2016, the director of Liberty, the British civil liberties advocacy organisation. In September 2014, she took up the role as Chancellor of the University of Essex.

Simon Anholt is an independent policy advisor who has worked to help develop and implement strategies for enhanced economic, political and cultural engagement with other countries.

Sir Christopher Meyer, KCMG is a former British Ambassador to the United States, former Ambassador to Germany and the former chairman of the Press Complaints Commission.

Sir Crispin is a leading international authority on climate change and environmental issues, and is best known for bringing these issues to the attention of governments at the highest level, and thereby influencing policy. He is author of the ground-breaking book Climate Change and World Affairs (1977 and 1986) and Mary Anning of Lyme Regis (1996). He has contributed to many books on environmental issues (including human population, and conservation of biodiversity).

Sir John Scarlett OBE was Chief of the British Secret Intelligence Service from 2004 to 2009. Prior to this appointment, he had chaired the Cabinet Office Joint Intelligence Committee.

Born and educated in Trinidad in the West Indies, Sir Trevor McDonald began a career in media as a radio reporter, news presenter and sports journalist. In 1969 Trevor worked as a Producer in the BBC Overseas Regional Service. He then went on to produce Current Affairs programmes for the BBC WORLD Service and in 1973 he joined the ITN as a General Reporter. After travelling all around the globe covering sports and politics, Trevor became the Diplomatic Correspondent and Presenter of Channel Four News in 1982 for which he has received many awards

Sophie Walker is the current leader of the UK’s Women’s Equality Party, and was the party’s candidate in the London mayoral election held in May 2016.

Steve Richards has written columns for the Guardian, Independent, New Statesman and Spectator. He regularly presents Radio 4's Week in Westminster and hosts a one-man show, Rock N Roll Politics.

Stewart Wood was an Oxford lecturer who became a full time political adviser to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, first at the Treasury and subsequently in 10 Downing Street. He then became a Shadow Cabinet member under Ed Miliband.

Susannah Streeter is the anchor for World Business Report on BBC World Service and BBC World TV, delivering breaking stories and gaining insight into unfolding economic events from entrepreneurs, economists and analysts.

11 Paralympic Gold Medals, 6 times winner of London Wheelchair Marathon Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson is Britain's greatest Paralympic athlete. She competed in five Paralympic Games, winning 11 Gold Medals, and is acknowledged as one of the most gifted and courageous sportswomen of her generation. In addition to her outstanding Paralympic achievements, between 1992 and 2002 she won the London Wheelchair Marathon a total of six times. Now retired, Tanni still plays an active role in the administration of sport.

Described as ‘Britain’s Malcolm Gladwell,’ and by the New Statesman as ‘perhaps the best popular economics writer in the world’ Tim Harford brings storytelling, humour and intelligence to an oft-maligned discipline.

Tim Shipman is the Political Editor for the Sunday Times. He has been a national newspaper journalist since 1997 and nineteen years writing about politics he has also reported from Westminster for the Daily Mail and the Sunday Express.

Todd is known around the world for his position on CNN as anchor, financial and economic expert, and interviewer. In his 26 year career, Todd interviewed some of the biggest names in the world, including former USSR General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev and US President Bill Clinton.

Economist Todd Buchholz “lights up economics with a wickedly sparkling wit,” says the Associated Press. The former White House senior economic advisor, Tiger hedge fund managing director and best-selling author has jousted with such personalities as James Carville and Ben Stein. His lively and informative speaking engagements have earned him a place in Successful Meetings Magazine’s “21 Top Speakers for the 21st Century, and his best-selling books on economics and financial markets have been widely translated and are taught in universities worldwide.

Tom served as Britain's youngest ambassador, in the Middle East, then write Naked Diplomacy: Power & Statecraft in the Digital Age. Now on the Global Tech Panel, he sets out three geopolitical trends, five lessons from history and questions that every organisation must urgently address "Two thirds of today's young people are likely to work in jobs that do not yet exist".

Professor Tony Travers is the director of LSE Greater London Group, a research centre at the London School of Economics concerned with issues relating to the government and economy of London and South-East England. Tony is a illustrious commentator on the public sector and local government, especially in regards to London. Tony regularly comments on the BBC and in-print publications, including The Guardian newspaper.

Vicky Pryce is a Greek-born British economist, and former Joint Head of the United Kingdom's Government Economic Service.

Victoria Derbyshire is a British journalist and broadcaster. She formerly presented the morning news/current affairs and interview programme on Radio 5 Live between 10am and 12 noon each weekday. She was also a 5 Live presenter for 16 years.