Jeremy Fleming Keynote Speaker

Director of GCHQ (2017 - 2023) – the UK’s Intelligence, Cyber and Security Agency.
30+ years in international and domestic intelligence work.
Expert on intelligence and the nexus between geo-politics and technology.

Jeremy Fleming's Biography

Sir Jeremy Fleming is the Former Director of GCHQ – the UK’s largest intelligence agency with a broad mission covering global intelligence, cyber security and cyber operations. He served in this role for over six years.

Jeremy joined MI5 in 1993. He gained extensive operational, investigative and leadership experience across the full range of national security work. He helped shape MI5’s response to the London terrorist attacks in 2005, led the revision and publication of the Government’s counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST and was responsible for MI5’s preparations for the London 2012 Olympics. In 2013 he became deputy head of MI5 with responsibility for all investigations and operations.

Jeremy was appointed GCHQ’s 16^th Director in 2017. He oversaw the development of GCHQ into a world-leading cyber organisation during a period of significant geopolitical turmoil and technology advancement. From managing the impact of cyber attacks on the NHS (‘Wannacry’) to Russia’s use of Novichok in Salisbury, and from the UK’s approach to security during the pandemic to support for Ukraine, Jeremy has been at the heart of the UK’s national security for decades. He established the National Cyber Security Centre (the NCSC), and with the military created the National Cyber Force to deliver cyber operations. Jeremy led a period of significant growth in GCHQ, with a transformation based on strong leadership values, mission focus and innovative approaches to diversity and inclusion.

Jeremy advised the Prime Minister on intelligence, security, cyber and technology issues, including as part of the National Security Council and the JIC. He gained a reputation as an influential public voice on national security and technology, with a mission to improve transparency of the Agency’s work and increase understanding of the threats and opportunities of the latest tech. He guest edited BBC4’s Today programme in 2022.

Before his career in Government, Jeremy read History at Bristol University and qualified as an Accountant.

Jeremy now advises global businesses on cyber, technology trends and geopolitics. As a proven leader of a large technology organisation he cares deeply about the way in which these themes affect people, careers and leadership approaches. He believes this experience is directly relevant to enterprises, large and small.

Cyber power – navigating the age of cyber threats and opportunities

New technologies – the impact of the next generation of technologies on how we need to govern, lead and thrive

Geopolitics and the rise of China – technology as a new domain of competition

Transformational change – in highly complex and values-driven environments

Leadership and inclusion

He led GCHQ from 2017 to 2023, giving leaders first-hand insight into how cyber threats, intelligence and geopolitics intersect in board-level risk and resilience.
He brings deep operational credibility from MI5, including shaping the UK response after the 2005 London attacks and leading national preparations for the London 2012 Olympics, helping organisations understand what real-world security leadership demands.
He translates complex security and technology shifts into clear priorities for senior teams, informed by advising UK Prime Ministers through the National Security Council and intelligence machinery at the heart of government.
He offers practical perspective on building cyber capability at scale, drawing on work to strengthen the National Cyber Security Centre’s role within GCHQ and to help create the National Cyber Force with the military.
He equips global businesses to make better decisions on cyber, technology trends and geopolitical disruption, bringing decades of experience leading large, mission-driven teams through high-pressure transformation.