Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller

Eliza Manningham-Buller is a highly respected leader and speaker, best known for her role as Director General of MI5, the UK’s domestic security service. Her experience at the forefront of national security, combined with her later work in science governance and public ethics, gives her a rare and insightful perspective on leadership, resilience, and long-term responsibility. Eliza is regularly invited to speak because of her calm authority, moral clarity, and proven ability to lead through complexity. Her career demonstrates a deep commitment to public service, making her a compelling and trusted voice in today’s challenging global landscape.

Eliza began her professional journey as a teacher from 1971 to 1974 before entering the Security Service in 1974, where she steadily rose through the ranks. By the early 1990s, she was leading MI5’s response to Irish terrorism and later oversaw surveillance and technical operations. In 1997, she was appointed Deputy Director General and, five years later, became Director General of MI5, one of the most senior roles in British national security. Her leadership during a time of heightened global threat – particularly post-9/11 – was widely respected, and she was recognised with a DBC in 2005. In 2008, Eliza transitioned from intelligence to broader public service, entering the House of Lords as a crossbench life peer.

Since leaving MI5, Eliza has continued to shape British public life. She became Chair of the Wellcome Trust in 2015 – the first woman to do so – guiding one of the world’s largest funders of health research. She also took on the role of Co-President of Chatham House and has served on the governing body of Imperial College London. Her achievements have continued into the 2020s, including being listed among the world’s most powerful women by “Forbes”, appointed Chair of the Conduct Committee in 2022, and made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society in 2025. Her public lectures, including the prestigious Reith Lectures, and her book on freedom and security, have contributed to her reputation as an insightful and thought-provoking speaker.

Eliza is sought after as a speaker for her ability to connect personal integrity with institutional leadership. Whether discussing the moral dimensions of scientific progress or the responsibilities of national security, she offers audiences a compelling blend of lived experience and principled reflection. Her unique trajectory – from a teacher to the head of MI5 and a leader in science and ethics – gives her a credibility and depth few can match. She is hired not just for her accomplishments, but for the wisdom and calm authority she brings to some of the most pressing challenges of our time.