David Miliband Keynote Speaker

David Miliband is President and Chief Executive of International Rescue Committee (IRC), the renowned New York-based non-profit humanitarian organisation founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein. Focusing on the political landscape, social responsibility and international aid, David delivers an insightful perspective of political leadership and current affairs.

David moved to the third sector from the heart of British politics having been a star of the New Labour movement. David came to prominence as Policy Director for Tony Blair from 1994-2001, authoring the manifestos upon which the Labour party was elected. He served as the MP for south shields from 2001-13, during which time he was Minister for Schools (2002-04), Minister of state for communities and local government (2005-06), and Environment Secretary (2006-07).

From 2007 to 2010, David served as Foreign Secretary, the youngest person in 30 years to hold the position. He was responsible for a global network of 16,000 diplomats in over 160 countries. He established a distinctive and respected voice for an internationalist Britain, from the war in Afghanistan to the Iranian nuclear programme to engagement with the world’s emerging powers. David’s advocacy of a global role for a strong European foreign policy led to him being widely supported for the new job of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs – a position he declined to continue his work in Britain.

Before moving to New York in April 2013, David Miliband was Vice Chairman of Sunderland Football Club. He regularly attends lectures at MIT, and is a joint participant in a series of geopolitical debates with Condoleezza Rice at Stanford University. He is also Co-chair of the Global Ocean Commission along with President Jose Maria Figueres of Costa Rica.