
Former Director-General of MI5, Stella Rimington is a pioneering female boss. The first woman to take to the prestigious role, she defined history and her refreshing leadership carved a new direction for the security service. Since, Rimington has gone on to become a prolific fiction author, inspired by her experiences in the roles, from spy missions to intelligence surveillance. Having held one of the most classified jobs in the world, Rimington now utilises her platform to give the public an insight into the confidential intricacies of protecting the country. As a woman who forged her own path, Rimington’s keynote talks motivate others to inherit her steely ambition in their own lives.
Named Director-General of MI5 in 1992, Rimington, who was the first female to take to the role in history, transformed the way in which the secret service interacted with the public. Formerly the security group were a confidential protector, under the guidance of Rimington they established a rapport with the British people, developing a trust between the two, in large down to her determination to be published in the role. Prior to spearheading MI5, Rimington had worked in all three branches of the Security Service covering: counter espionage, counter terrorism, and counter subversion. A skilled and dutiful member, Rimington dedicated much of her career to MI5 from 1969 until 1996, pushing boundaries for working women, and female leaders, a truly pioneering figure.
Extensively experienced in public and the private sector, Rimington has since acted as the Non-Executive Director for several companies. Businesses like M&S and BG Group have benefited from her dedication, comprehensive knowledge and visionary approach to leadership and strategy, qualities audiences of her talks equally value. Having been appointed Dame Commander of the Order of Bath in 1996, upon her retirement for the Secret Service, Rimington’s status was solidified in history, and her unparalleled career story played out in numerous non-fiction publications, along with her highly regarded autobiography ‘Open Secret...’.
Charismatic, relatable, and often humorous in her delivery, a keynote talk from Rimington is invaluable for all in attendance. Whether a corporate client requires implementable advice from one of the foremost leaders in Britain, or a speaker is required to captivate audiences with a compelling life story, Rimington is perfectly placed for all manner of occasion. Having appeared on the likes of Women’s Hour, spoken at the RSA Conference, InfoSec 2017 and dozens of other events, Stella Rimington’s public profile and illustrious career guarantees a memorable talk.
Books

Open Secret: The Autobiography of the Former Director-General of MI5

At Risk

The Liz Carlyle Collection
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.
When she's at corporate events, Stella is known to cover the following topics:
- Leadership and change
- Political and current affairs
- Counter espionage and counter terrorism
- Women pursuing professional careers
"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
"They had an absolutely wonderful time with Dame Stella- thank you so much for arranging, it was a huge hit." - Susie, Travel Design Manager, Dream Escape Magazine
"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
- 1992 - 1996 – Director General of MI5
- First Female Director General of MI5 in History
- 1969 - 1996 - Senior Member of MI5
- 1996 - Appointed Dame Commander of the Order of Bath
- 10x Authored Non-Fiction Books
- 2001 - Published ‘Open Secret: The Autobiography of the Former Director-General of MI5’