Geopolitical Speakers

Bronwen Maddox

The ex-Wall Street and City analyst joined The Times as US Editor before taking over as CEO of Prospect magazine and Director of the Institute for Government. Now head of the world renowned Chatham House think tank, Bronwen helps business and policy makers navigate the geopolitical waters. As well as analysing the trends shaping anything from finance to defence, she explores how to govern a divided country and how to solve the big problems besetting Western democracies.

Robert Guest

Robert is The Economist’s Deputy Editor. Previously he was US editor, business editor, Washington correspondent and Lexington columnist covering American news and politics.

Zanny Minton Beddoes

Zanny worked for the IMF on Africa and Eastern Europe, before joining The Economist in London as emerging markets correspondent. She was also responsible for the US edition’s global economics coverage. Zanny analyses whether the US is likely to remain the world’s dynamo, or whether today's recovery is built on an unsustainable pile of debt. She offers up-to-the minute insight on anything from job creation to the deficit's effect on global interest rates and potential financial regulation.

Brett Bruen

Having served as a diplomat and foreign service officer for the US State Department, Brett was appointed to the White House as Director of Global Engagement under the Obama administration. With a wide-ranging view on political and diplomatic relations around the world, as well as America's role internationally, he now considers the key issues any organisation needs to prepare for. Additionally he looks at how to plan for the unexpected, the effects of policy shifts, what effective leadership looks like, and how to assess risk whether it's cybersecurity, ethics, or market fluctuations.

Jean-Claude Juncker

After becoming the EU's longest-serving head of goverment as Prime Minister of Luxembourg for 18 years, Jean-Claude Junker was elected President of the European Commission. A key figure in the Maastricht Treaty and the euro, he led the Union's executive body during one of its most eventful periods, encompassing challenges such as the refugee crisis and, most notably, the UK's departure from the EU.

Rt Hon Lord (William) Hague

William served as Party Leader, Commons Leader and Foreign Secretary – contending with war in Libya, terrorist threats, and relations with Europe. He weighs up the impact of Brexit, China, the invasion of Ukraine, and inflation on government policy, national security and globalisation. How will political leaders respond to the key challenges: from migration and populism to Putin's aggression and Xi Jinping's attitude towards tech and trade battles?

Justin Webb

Before he joined the Today programme Justin was the BBC’s first North America Editor. He also co-hosts the BBC podcast Americast, and writes about the USA for The Times. He explores the key differences and misunderstandings when it comes to Trump and US-UK-Europe relations, and considers leadership and leaders on all sides, with stories from behind the scenes in broadcasting and in the corridors of power. 

Todd Buchholz

As well as serving under George Bush Sr, Todd has headed a $15bn hedge fund, lectured on economics at Harvard and co-produced a Broadway hit. He has also written about global upheaval in Market Shock. Todd looks at macro and geopolitical issues, like the crisis in Syria, and the impact they have on financial markets and business strategy.

Dr Pippa Malmgren

Since serving in the White House, Pippa has founded an advisory firm, co-founded a robotics company, and written bestsellers on the world economy and leadership. She's advised the UK Department of International Trade and the MoD, as well as investors, policy makers and startups. She identifies actionable trends by weaving together geopolitics, technology, policy and economics. Pippa describes herself as an unusually optimistic economist.

Professor Stephen Chan

A leading authority on international politics and relations, particularly involving China, Africa and the West, Stephen advises governments, businesses and NGOs around the world. He's advised the Foreign Office, and worked with the State Council of the Chinese Prime Minister. He served as a member of the Africa-China-US Trilateral Dialogue to establish trading rules and is widely credited with greatly contributing to the understanding of international politics in general, and African politics in particular.

Rt Hon Rory Stewart

Before serving as a cabinet minister and making a widely-praised contribution to the Conservative Party leadership contest, Rory governed two Iraqi provinces, set up a charity, trekked across Afghanistan, and lectured at Harvard. Together with Alastair Campbell, he hosts the podcasts The Rest is Politics and Leading.

Hon Julia Gillard

As Prime Minister of Australia, Julia revamped education at every level, expanded access to healthcare across all ages and oversaw major investment into telecoms and broadband infrastructure. She is now Chair of the Wellcome Trust, the world’s second largest charitable funder of medical research into improving human health. Julia draws on her time in office to cover lessons on leadership, diplomacy, gender equality and mental health, while also highlighting the Trust’s work in combating climate change and preventing the spread of infectious disease.

Tim Marshall

Tim is a journalist, broadcaster and bestselling author who has written and reported widely on foreign affairs, international diplomacy, and post-war geopolitics. He started his broadcasting career at LBC and reported for the BBC, before moving to Sky News, where he worked as a Foreign Affairs Editor and Diplomatic Editor. He has reported from over thirty countries, covering the events of twelve wars and various conflicts.

Lord (Kim) Darroch

With a diplomatic career spanning over forty years, primarily focusing on national security issues and European policy, Kim has now retired from frontline diplomacy but maintains a keen view of relations with the US and the geopolitical uncertainty affecting everything from trade to military conflict to democracy.

Professor Ngaire Woods

Economist Ngaire is the Founding Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government and Professor of Global Economic Governance at Oxford University.