Xan Smiley Keynote Speaker

  • Middle East and Africa Editor for The Economist
  • Respected and experienced commentator on foreign affairs
  • Has worked for many leading publications and broadcasters

Xan Smiley's Biography

Xan Smiley has been the Middle East and Africa editor of The Economist since 2003.

He was the magazine’s Europe editor from 1995 to 2003, and before that, from 1992, he was its political editor.

Previously, he was the US correspondent of The Sunday Telegraph, Russia correspondent of The Daily Telegraph, and foreign-affairs leader writer for The Times. From 1977 to 1981, he was editor (and later a co-owner) of Africa Confidential.

Xan started his career in journalism reporting from Africa, where he worked for the BBC, CBS, The Observer, The Spectator, The New York Review of Books, The Atlantic, Foreign Affairs, Time, and others.

Book Xan Smiley as keynote speaker at your next event or conference.

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Videos of Xan Smiley

Africa’s young population: opportunity or risk? (2010)
On scenarios for Zimbabwe (2010)

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