Chloe Smith Keynote Speaker

Rt Hon Chloe Smith is a senior leader with expertise in technological change, workforce transformation and skills, global economics, regulation, risk and governance. She uses her experience, insight and network to help organisations to navigate these challenges.

Currently she is President of the CIPD (Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development), chair of a technology start-up and strategic adviser to a major international professional services firm.

Chloe was a senior legislator with over a decade of complex ministerial experience including running both the newest and the biggest departments in the UK government with a budget of hundreds of billions. She worked at the heart of Westminster for fifteen years, winning election five times. Her domain expertise is unique, having headed the UK’s technology and labour market ministries. As a Cabinet minister, she built and led the new government department for Science, Innovation and Technology. She now focuses on AI adoption and regulation. She was jointly named the most influential person in technology in the UK in 2023.

Chloe also shares her expertise as Minister for the Constitution and Devolution, from the coalition government to coronavirus via Brexit. First the youngest MP in the Commons at 27, then one of the youngest ministers since Pitt at 28, Chloe joined the Cabinet at 40 before stepping down from Parliament in 2024.

Chloe provides insight into the global economy, labour market, pensions, health and productivity and the future of work from her service as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work. She is passionate about disability, diversity and talent in business – with a unique and practical viewpoint as a custodian of the Equality Act and from her track record of helping people into jobs.

In the top list of 2022 Women in Westminster, the year she overcame breast cancer, Chloe was an advocate for women in leadership. She speaks publicly to encourage others to check for signs of cancer and seek support. She was one of the first in her party to take maternity leave from Parliament, and has played an historic role in providing the first ever maternity cover for a department at the Cabinet table.

She’s known as a compassionate, thoughtful, effective and determined leader who listens, and forges consensus – like when she broke ground by recognising British Sign Language in law. Her style is described as inclusive, inquisitive, inspirational and decisive.

Chloe is proud to be a trustee of charities whose values and work reflect major parts of her life, hearing loss charity RNID and cancer charity Big C. A mother of two, she loves cycling and canoeing.