Matthew Gould Speaker

Matthew Gould Keynote Speaker

  • Former UK Ambassador to Israel and acting UK Ambassador to Iran
  • A diplomat for 25 years and a tech leader for 10
  • Led digital transformation for the NHS through Covid

Matthew Gould's Biography

Matthew Gould is the only person to have been Ambassador or Acting Ambassador to both Israel and Iran, giving him a unique perspective on events unfolding in the Middle East. In addition, he was the Representative of the UK’s Joint Intelligence Committee in Washington DC, as well as serving on the personal staff of two British Prime Ministers and heading the office of two Foreign Secretaries.

After diplomacy, Matthew became a pioneering leader in tech policy for the UK Government, acting as Director of Cyber Security and then the first Director General in the UK Government for Digital Policy. He then served as CEO of NHSX, where he led the digital transformation of health and care in England. His team developed the NHS Datastore, enabling real-time data management during the pandemic, and built the award-winning NHS Covid Pass, providing vital solutions during a period of intense pressure on healthcare.

Matthew served as CEO of the Zoological Society of London (2022–2025), the international conservation charity that runs London Zoo.

Read More

Matthew Gould's Speaking Topics

  • Middle East, foreign policy and diplomacy

  • Technology and Government (as the British Government’s first Director General for Digital Policy)

  • Health and Technology

  • Resilience for leaders (based on experience in the NHS during Covid)

  • Nature & Conservation

  • Matthew is also a skilled chair, panel host and interviewer

Read More

Why Book Matthew Gould as a speaker?

  • He is the only diplomat to have served as Ambassador or Acting Ambassador to both Israel and Iran, giving audiences a rare, first-hand perspective on geopolitics and security in the Middle East.

  • He draws on senior roles across British government, including advising two Prime Ministers and representing the UK’s Joint Intelligence Committee in Washington, to explain how high-stakes political and security decisions are made.

  • He led the digital transformation of health and care in England as CEO of NHSX, sharing practical lessons on leading complex change and deploying data and technology at scale.

  • His briefings help leaders interpret geopolitical risk, understand the strategic impact of technology and make better decisions in a rapidly changing global environment.

Videos of Matthew Gould

Breaking the Species Divide: Data and Gorillas with Credit Cards | DLD Nature

Articles, Media & Podcasts

Comments & Testimonials

I have used Matthew to speak on several RAF senior leadership development programmes. Matthew is a brilliant and inspirational speaker who speaks openly, and candidly, generating insightful reflections for our participants. His broad and varied background enables him to cover a wide variety of topics and in Q&A he is always prepared to allow the conversation to go to where it is most useful for the cohort. I highly recommend him as a speaker.
Group Captain Emma J Keith BA MSc RAF Commandant, Tedder Academy of Leadership
Matthew spoke about the Middle East at one of our dinners for senior business leaders. He was insightful, engaging and thought-provoking, and provided the basis for an excellent discussion.
Niva Thiruchelvam Hakluyt and Co

Check Matthew Gould's speaking fees and availability

Discover other speakers

Mark Carleton-Smith Speaker
Exclusive
Mark Carleton-Smith
Head of the British Army
David Rodin Speaker
Exclusive
David Rodin
Founder of Principia Advisory, the leading consultancy for conduct, ethics & culture change
Ana Birchall Speaker
Exclusive
Ana Birchall
Expert on Geopolitics, Energy Security and Strategic Leadership
Kathryn Schulz Speaker
Exclusive
Kathryn Schulz
Author, Pulitzer Prize Winning journalist, and staff writer at The New Yorker
Casey Michel Speaker
Exclusive
Casey Michel
Award-winning Investigative Author & Journalist
Bim Afolami Speaker
Exclusive
Bim Afolami
Former UK Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister now turned HSBC board director, offering insight into global finance and economic strategy
Simon Coveney Speaker
Exclusive
Simon Coveney
Deputy Prime Minister -(Tánaiste) Held key Ministries including Defense, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Enterprise
David V. Gioe Speaker
Exclusive
David V. Gioe
Professor of Intelligence & International Security in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London
David Frost speaking
David Frost Speaker
Exclusive
David Frost
Conservative member of House of Lords, UK/EU specialist
Ely Ratner Speaker
Exclusive
Ely Ratner
Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense & Expert on China and Indo-Pacific Security