Sir Mark Lyall Grant GCMG

Sir Mark Lyall Grant GCMG has enjoyed a distinguished career as a British diplomat, renowned for serving as the National Security Adviser to Prime Ministers David Cameron and Theresa May. Highly committed to public service, Mark is revered as one of the UK’s most senior public servants with over three decades of experience in public presentation, leadership, negotiation and policy making. During his career, he has personally engaged with such influential world leaders as Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. Now a Visiting Professor at King’s College, London, and a regular contributor to UK and International media, Mark is hired as a keynote speaker for corporate and public events. Mark covers topics such as Global security and the rise of China, the role of secret intelligence in international affairs, the future of Cyber and terrorist threats and the US/UK transatlantic relationship to name but a few.

Back in 1980, Mark began his political career working in the South African Department of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, before being appointed as the Second Secretary in Islamabad in 1982. Mark’s next prominent role was as the Private Secretary to Lynda Chalker MP Minister of State. Proving his worth as a highly committed public servant, Mark later became the Head of the European Union Department of the FCO and Deputy Head of Mission in South Africa. He went on to become Director for Africa in the FCO, High Commissioner to Pakistan, and Director General in the FCO before being appointed as British Ambassador to the United Nations. Over more than 5 years in New York, he served as President of the UN Security Council on 4 separate occasions. Boasting almost four decades of political experience, Mark was Knighted in 2006 and appointed King of Arms of the Order of St Michael and St George in 2022.

Having made such an impact as a diplomat, Mark’s expertise is now highly sought after as an academic and consultant. Since 2017, Mark has enjoyed lecturing on geopolitics, national and international security issues as a Visiting Professor at King’s College. In addition to his academic and governmental prowess, Mark is also a qualified Barrister and was appointed as a judge to the Bench of Middle Temple in 2011. Aside from these commitments, Mark is also a committed Trustee of Humanitaid and a Fellow of Eton College – including roles of Chair of Senior Salaries and a member of Partnership & Audit. He is also a Senior Adviser to Ayr Logistics, Chatham House, CTD Advisors and Schillings. When he is not found sharing his expertise as an advisor, Mark can be found working as a NED of ECO Buildings and L3COS. With such diverse and impressive roles on his CV, Mark is now hired as a keynote speaker to share his detailed expertise on national and international security, geopolitics and policy making.

When hired as a keynote speaker, Mark is a trusted industry authority on all things politics and international affairs. Using the knowledge gained from a 35-year diplomatic career across four different continents, Mark has unique insight from working with international World leaders such as President Xi of China, President Trump and President Putin. Highly sought after as a speaker, Mark is regularly seen sharing his expertise on national and international news broadcasts as one of the UK’s foremost experts on international security and global affairs. Mark has already delivered talks to numerous international conferences and corporate events, such as the Oxford and Cambridge Unions, the Royal United Services Institute, the UN Association, the British American Business Board and many others, making Mark a respected authority trusted by the World’s industry leaders. When looking for a decorated politician and public servant who can discuss things such as threats to multilateralism, the power of the English language, the future of Ukraine, Middle East security in a turbulent world and executing UK foreign policy, don’t hesitate to hire Sir Mark Lyall Grant GCMG today.

In September 2023 we sat down virtually with Sir Mark Lyall Grant and discussed his experiences with world leaders and the changing role of Diplomatic Ambassadors. Watch our Exclusive Interview with Sir Mark Lyall Grant.