Rory Stewart OBE

Rory Stewart is a renowned British academic, writer, broadcaster, and former Cabinet Minister whose extraordinary career spans diplomacy, politics, humanitarian work, and academia. A highly sought-after keynote speaker, Rory is celebrated for his rare ability to combine vivid storytelling with policy insight and moral clarity. From walking across Afghanistan to sitting in the Cabinet and teaching at Yale, his journey reflects a deep commitment to public service and global understanding. His most recent success, the publication of ‘Politics on the Edge’, became a Sunday Times number one bestseller in 2023, cementing his reputation as one of Britain’s most perceptive political thinkers.

Educated at the Dragon School, Eton College, and Balliol College, Oxford, Rory studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics before joining the Foreign Office. His early postings as a diplomat in Indonesia and as the British Representative to Montenegro placed him at the centre of global change during the Asian Financial Crisis and post-Kosovo conflict. In 2000, he left diplomacy to walk across Asia - a journey that culminated in his acclaimed travel memoir, ‘The Places in Between’, and earned him the Ondaatje Prize in 2005. Following the Iraq War, Rory was appointed Deputy Governor in Maysan and Dhi Qar for the Coalition Provisional Authority, where he oversaw governance and reconstruction during intense conflict, for which he was awarded an OBE in 2004.

Rory’s public life expanded further when he was elected MP for Penrith and The Border (2010–2019). He quickly rose to national prominence, serving as Chair of the Defence Select Committee in 2014, becoming the youngest MP to do so at the time. Under David Cameron, he was appointed Minister of State for the Environment, where he introduced the highly effective 5p plastic bag charge. During Theresa May’s premiership, Rory held a succession of senior roles: Minister of State for International Development, Minister for Africa, and Minister for Prisons, where he led the successful Ten Prisons Project. In 2019, he joined the Cabinet as Secretary of State for International Development and was appointed to the UK National Security Council. That same year, he was sworn into the Privy Council and launched a bold, widely praised campaign in the Conservative leadership contest. In 2022, Rory co-founded the hit podcast ‘The Rest Is Politics’ with Alastair Campbell and served as President of GiveDirectly (2022–2023).

Today, Rory is Brady-Johnson Professor of the Practice of Grand Strategy at Yale University, following previous roles at Harvard and Yale’s Jackson Institute. His keynote speeches explore themes such as leadership, international development, political integrity, and geopolitical strategy - topics of critical importance in today’s complex world. With a rare blend of real-world experience, intellectual depth and engaging delivery, Rory leaves audiences inspired and better informed. Whether addressing senior executives, academics or global institutions, Rory provides clear-eyed insight into the forces shaping our future, making him one of the most compelling speakers on the international stage.