Stella Rimington is an internationally renowned author with over 10 books in her repertoire. Best known as the first female Director-General of MI5, she has served in the counter-terrorism, counter-subversion and counter-espionage sectors of the service. Stella can now be booked to speak at a wide range of events about her illustrious career and writing.
Stella possesses an MA in English Language and Literature from Edinburgh University and a Postgraduate Diploma in the Administration of Archives and the Study of Records from Liverpool University, which helped her work as an Archivist at the Worcestershire County Archives. Later on, she worked as a part-time clerk typist at the MI5 office in the High Commission, joining full-time only a few years later.
Stella’s association with MI5 lasted till her retirement and she was appointed as Director General in 1992. She was the first female to assume this prestigious post and the first head of Britain’s Intelligence Services to be publicly named. In 1996, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1996. Since then, Stella has dedicated her career to being an author. Her first book was an autobiography entitled "Open Secret". Her other titles include “At Risk”, “Secret Asset”, “Illegal Action” and “The Devil’s Bargain” to name a few. Her newest book, "The Hidden Hand" is available for pre-order and will be published in early 2025.
Named Honorary Doctor of Social Science from Nottingham Trent University and a member of the Chair of Judges for the 2011 Man Booker Prize, Stella is a highly respected figure. Stella is also a remarkable speaker who is often asked to speak at events such as the RSA Conference, InfoSec 2017, and Women’s Hour. Champions Speakers are honoured to represent Dame Stella Rimington as an official booking agent, and Stella is now available to hire for a range of speaking engagements - don’t miss the opportunity to hire one of the foremost leaders in the country. Enquire now!
Books
Open Secret: The Autobiography of the Former Director-General of MI5
At Risk
The Liz Carlyle Collection
Reviews
Dame Stella Rimington has received a 4 star rating across 16 events in 2023.
Agent Recommendation
"If you're seeking a literary agent with unparalleled insight into the thriller genre, Dame Stella Rimington is a standout. As the former Director General of MI5 and a seasoned author herself, she brings a wealth of experience, sharp intuition, and a strategic mindset to representing compelling, impactful stories. Highly recommended!"
Dame Stella Rimington's official speaker topics are listed below:
- Leadership and change
- Political and current affairs
- Counter espionage and counter terrorism
- Women pursuing professional careers
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
Feedback from In-Person Events:
"The keynote speaker Dame Stella Rimington was a clear favourite at the event, with many praising her inspirational talk and story." - Lisa, PA to Nick Ulycz, Chief Operating Officer, Aldermore Bank
"They had an absolutely wonderful time with Dame Stella - Thank you so much for arranging, it was a huge hit." - Susie, Travel Design Manager, Dreamscape
"She is an amazing lady and so very humble with it all. I think our guests were all enthralled and to be honest the only downside is that I think we all feel totally inadequate now!" - Peter, Managing Director, RGA UK
"She was fantastic, everyone loved her and she was such a great addition to the event. Please pass on how much of a pleasure it was for us to have her attend. So interesting, such an amazing life, we really enjoyed having her speak." - Katie, Refinitiv
"I just wanted to reiterate (having been there in person), what a truly wonderful morning this was. Dame Stella was the most superb speaker with a myriad of anecdotes that one can only begin to imagine what a life she led. Thank you so very much for helping us to arrange such a special and memorable occasion." - Sally, Dream Escape Magazine
"Dame Stella was superb. We had an incredible event that had global interest and attracted a capacity audience. Brilliant!" - Bank of America Merill Lynch
- 2024 - Her latest book "The Hidden Hand" is available for pre-order
- 2022 - Bestselling Author of "The Devil's Bargain"
- 2022 - Featured in an article by The Guardian
- 2018 - Awarded CMG in the New Year Honours List
- 2001 - Published ‘Open Secret: The Autobiography of the Former Director-General of MI5’
- 1996 - Appointed Dame Commander of the Order of Bath
- 1993 - Appointed OBE
- 1992 - Director General of MI5
- 1969 - Senior Member of MI5
- First Female Director General of MI5 in History
- 10x Authored Non-Fiction Books
How to hire Dame Stella Rimington
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Dame Stella Rimington 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.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
