Speaker Shortlist: Themes in Focus
As you plan your 2026/27 event programmes, we’ve pulled together concise, high-impact shortlists across the themes clients are asking for most this year.
Below each name is a one-line note on what the speaker has done to make them especially relevant for senior audiences today.
Geopolitics & Security
Practical statecraft, frontline perspective and strategic clarity
European defence expert specialising in emerging military technologies and modern warfare
Led the UK’s Secret Intelligence Service with deep operational expertise in international risk
University of Chicago Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science and author of rigorous realist analyses of great-power competition
President of the European Council (2019-2024) with senior multilateral and diplomatic experience
Italian political strategist and author offering sharp analysis of European politics, populism and strategic choices
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister (2020-2024) and frontline diplomat on contemporary European security
Headed the UK intelligence service, translating strategic threat into practical operational advice
Journalist and author of Prisoners of Geography, bringing accessible geopolitical storytelling to broad audiences
Economics & Public Policy
Debate, policy levers and scenarios for growth, inequality and industrial strategy
Economist with senior leadership at the IMF and expert perspective on global macro and shocks
Nobel Prize-winning economist and leading authority on innovation, growth, and creative destruction
Leading macro strategist analysing global financial systems, interest rates, and the future of monetary order
Nobel Prize-winning economist and trenchant commentator on markets, globalisation and inequality
Markets strategist who coined “BRICs” and translates macro trends into commercial opportunity
UK Chancellor (2022–2024) with expertise in economic policy, geopolitics, and public sector reform
Tech, AI & Governance
Regulation, ethics and practical governance of powerful new technologies
European policymaker shaping digital market regulation and competition policy
AI policy leader with hands-on experience building governance frameworks
Author and digital-rights advocate on platform power, privacy and civil liberties
Author and journalist on global finance, markets and technology, known for incisive books on markets and venture capital
UK Deputy Prime Minister (2010–2015) and tech leader specialising in platform governance and global affairs
AI expert and historian of technology exploring the social and ethical implications of artificial intelligence
AI ethics expert and author on privacy, data and the societal impact of technology
Leadership, Resilience & Human Performance
Actionable lessons from sport, expedition and public life on teamwork and decision-making
Elite football manager known for team leadership, culture and performance under pressure
Adventurer and presenter delivering high-energy stories of resilience and survival
High performance expert and author of practical frameworks for influence and impact
Motorsport leader specialising in team performance in high-stakes environments
Advocate for continuous improvement, growth mindset, and high performance through learning and innovation
Diplomat and government minister with experience in adaptive public-service leadership
Climate, Sustainability & Global Stewardship
Policy, finance and mission-driven approaches to the net-zero transition
German political leader focused on energy transition and industrial strategy
Economist advancing mission-based approaches to green industrial policy
Indonesian President’s Special Envoy for International Trade and expert on trade, development, and global economic policy
French Minister of Economy and Finance (2017–2024) focused on industrial policy for decarbonisation
Prime Minister of Italy (2013–2014) and academic specialising in European governance and long-term stewardship
Science, Health & Longevity
Frontier science translated into implications for business, workforces and consumers
Biologist researching ageing and translational approaches to longevity
Space scientist and public-facing science communicator
Futurist and technology expert specialising in emerging technologies and their impact on society and the environment
Interdisciplinary practitioner linking creativity, cognition and technology
AI strategist at Microsoft and bestselling author exploring the future of artificial intelligence and society
Storytelling, trust & media
Communicators who can diagnose trends in public trust and teach better narrative practice
Historian and author on propaganda, civic norms and resilience
Editorial leader with deep insight into journalism, business and change
Writer on the future of cities, offices and the organisation of work
Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator at the Financial Times who connects geopolitics to practical choices
Communications strategist specialising in crisis messaging and campaigning
Documentary filmmaker known for immersive, ethically curious storytelling
Journalist and long-form interviewer who builds emotional resonance
Energy & the transition
Experts across energy markets, regulation and clean-energy investment
Middle East expert at CSIS focused on energy and regional geopolitics
Specialist in energy markets and regional energy strategy
Energy policy analyst concentrating on decarbonisation and regulation
Experienced energy sector leader driving strategic transformation and sustainable growth
Executive Director, International Energy Agency, expert in global energy outlooks
Founder of Liebreich Associates and clean-energy investor and market strategist
Moral Money Editor at the Financial Times specialising in energy transition, climate, and sustainable finance