Grant Shapps Keynote Speaker

Sir Grant Shapps is an experienced politician and former Cabinet member of the UK government, where he held multiple roles between 2010 and 2024.

As Secretary of State for Defence (August 2023 – July 2024), Shapps was instrumental in shaping the UK’s response to global security challenges. According to President Zelenskyy, his strategic oversight has been crucial in addressing the conflict in Ukraine. In post during the 7th October Hamas attack on Israel, Shapps has navigated the complexities of the Middle East conflict, whilst responding to threats from Iran, North Korea, Russia and the rise of China in the Indo-Pacific.

In January 2024, Shapps made a landmark speech at Lancaster House arguing the world has moved on from a post-war to a pre-war era. He led calls for NATO countries to increase defence spending and in April achieved this commitment for the UK, raising defence spend to 2.5% of GDP – amounting to a £75bn boost to the UK’s defence budget. Sir Keir Starmer has followed Shapps’ lead by calling on all NATO countries to match the United Kingdom’s 2.5% minimum.

As the longest-serving Housing Minister for 25 years, Shapps is an acknowledged expert in housing, development and planning. He was one of the original authors of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which governs all planning policy in England.

Serving as Transport Secretary, Shapps championed significant advancements in the UK’s infrastructure, emphasising sustainability and innovation in road, rail, maritime and aviation sectors. A qualified pilot himself, Shapps also Chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Aviation (APPG-General Aviation) making it the largest all-party group in that parliament.

After serving as Secretary of State for Business, Shapps became Energy Security and Net Zero Security where he sought to combat the effects of Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine by designing a scheme to bring relief to British households and businesses by paying up to half of energy bills. He also pioneered an approach to Net Zero which emphasised technological research and development with Shapps becoming the first British Minister to invest public money in new nuclear power generation for four decades.

Shapps is renowned for his exceptional media presence, consistently mastering complex topics and delivering clear, effective communication, even under intense scrutiny.

Engaging, knowledgeable, and driven by a passion for progress, Shapps offers a unique blend of political acumen and visionary foresight, making him a sought-after speaker. His talks not only enlighten but also motivate audiences to think critically about the future of policy, technology, and global security.