Lord Jonathan Evans was Director-General of the British Security Service (MI5) from 2007-13. An expert on security matters, he joined the board of HSBC in 2013 as a Non-Executive Director to help the bank combat financial and cybercrime.
Dubbed by The Independent as ‘The spy who came out from the cold’, Jonathan was Britain’s top domestic spy. His main focus was counter-terrorism, both international and domestic, including initiatives against cyber threats. As Director General he was a senior advisor to the UK government on national security policy and attended the National Security Council. Jonathan can draw satisfaction from the dramatic transformation in Britain’s ability to protect itself against the modern menace of Islamist terrorism that has taken place on his watch.
As head of MI5, Evans was one of the British government’s principal advisors on national security threats including terrorism, cyber security and espionage and was a member of the Prime Minister’s National Security Council. He also led MI5’s work to ensure the security of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London.
In the course of a long career in MI5, Lord Evans worked as both an investigator and an operational officer on a variety of national security threats, specialising in counterterrorism and counterespionage. He became the Director responsible for MI5’s International Counterterrorism work on 1 September 2001, ten days before 9/11. Jonathan gives speeches to select audiences on the security threats and challenges facing Western societies in the 21st century. Drawing on his long 33-year career in security services, he can help companies foresee security threats and take appropriate preventative measures.
Lord Jonathan Evans has a Certificate in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors, an Honorary Doctorate from Bristol University, is a Freeman of the City of London, and is a Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. He is also a Non-Executive Director of the UK National Crime Agency, a Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute and an Honorary Professor at the University of St Andrews.
How to hire Jonathan Evans
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Jonathan Evans for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
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- 2014 – Became a Cross Bench Life Peer
- 2013 – Appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
- 2012 – Led the MI5’s work to ensure complete security at the London Olympic and Paralympic Games
- 2007 – Director General of British Security Service (MI5)
