Mike Baker Keynote Speaker

Former CIA Operative
Host of "The President's Daily Brief" podcast
Commentator on Fox News, CNN, Newsmax, and the BBC

Mike Baker's Biography

With nearly two decades of experience as a covert field operations officer for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Mike Baker has honed his expertise in counterterrorism, counternarcotics and counterinsurgency across diverse global theatres. Operating in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the former Soviet Union and beyond, Baker has garnered professional acclaim for outstanding performance and operational success in hostile environments.

Upon leaving government service, Mike Baker co-founded Diligence with the goal of building a premier intelligence and risk management firm. Serving as principal partner, he played a pivotal role in the company’s global expansion. In 2003, he spearheaded the establishment of security operations in Iraq, assembling a team of over 300 expat and local personnel engaged in security and information collection. Following a management buyout in 2019, Baker rebranded the company as Portman Square Group (PSG), incorporating crisis communications and policy work into its service offerings. With offices now in London, New York City, Washington DC, Chicago, Phoenix, Monterrey Mexico and Mexico City, PSG delivers information, intelligence, and investigative support to Fortune 500 companies, leading law firms, and high-net-worth individuals.

Beyond his corporate endeavours, Mike Baker became a prominent figure in the media, where he shares his expertise on intelligence, security and counterterrorism. He is a regular commentator on major news networks like Fox News, CNN, Newsmax and the BBC, while being a frequent guest on the Joe Rogan podcast.

Baker also hosts the highly-ranked Spotify news podcast, “The President’s Daily Brief“, as well as formerly being a television host for the BBC, the Travel Channel, and the face of the acclaimed “Black Files Declassified” series on Discovery network. In the show, Baker delves into top-secret military projects to unveil hidden aspects of military technology and operations. His insights have significantly impacted global security and offer his audience a rare expert glimpse into the realms of espionage and military innovation.

Cybersecurity: Playing Both Defense and Offense in the Hostile World of Cyber Space

In this address, Baker examines the threats, perpetrators, and methodologies involved in cybersecurity. By exploring recent case studies, best practices from the commercial world, and the efforts of intelligence, law enforcement, and military organizations to protect U.S. interests, Baker provides audiences with a deeper understanding of cyber threats—and what they can do within their own organizations to mitigate them.

Economic Espionage: How It’s Done, Who Does It, and What Does It Cost Your Company?

It’s been called the greatest transfer of wealth in history. For the US, aggressive economic espionage by China, Russia and a host of state and non-state actors means lost intellectual property, lost jobs, lost revenues and lost investment potential to the tune of tens of billions of USD per year. As former Operations Officer of the CIA, Mike Baker gives a true examination of the perpetrators, their methodologies and how US corporations, big and small, can protect their interests.

Building an Intelligence Led Organization: How Companies Can Maximize Their Use of Intelligence to Minimize Risk and Maximize Opportunities Globally

In today’s increasingly interconnected and global business community, information is your most valuable commodity. Learn the steps, resources, and mindset necessary for a company to develop an internal business intelligence unit capable of providing senior management with timely, critical information that supports the company’s strategic goals and vision. Baker explains the intelligence cycle and how it relates to the commercial world.

He brings nearly two decades as a covert CIA field operations officer, giving audiences a rare, firsthand view of how intelligence work functions in hostile and fast-moving environments.
He translates counterterrorism, counternarcotics and counterinsurgency experience across multiple global theatres into clear frameworks for risk, situational awareness and decision-making.
SHe has built and scaled intelligence-led security and investigations capabilities in the private sector, helping leaders protect people, reputation and operations when stakes are high.
He combines operational credibility with media-level clarity, making complex security threats understandable and actionable for corporate and public audiences.
He is a seasoned broadcaster and podcast host who delivers compelling, story-driven briefings that keep audiences informed, focused and prepared.