Former Director General of MI5, The First Female Chancellor of The Order of the Garter & Co-President of Chatham House
Eliza Manningham-Buller is the former Director-General of MI5 and a leading authority on international security. She guided the organisation through an era defined by the aftermath of 9/11, the rise of Al-Qaeda, and major counter-terrorism operations, shaping national responses to some of the most complex threats of the modern age. Today, Eliza sits in the House of Lords and continues to contribute to public life while being a highly sought-after speaker. She shares powerful insights on leadership, resilience, and navigating high-pressure environments, offering audiences unique perspectives from the highest levels of intelligence and government.
Eliza began her career as a teacher before entering the Security Service, where she specialised in counter-terrorism and rose through the ranks to senior leadership. After leaving MI5, she transitioned into influential roles across science, governance, and international relations. She became the first female Chair of the Wellcome Trust, one of the world’s most significant biomedical charities, where she oversaw ambitious programmes of research and global health initiatives.
Her contributions to higher education followed, with her election to the Court and Council of Imperial College London, later becoming Chairman, where she played a central role in shaping strategy and governance. In international affairs, she assumed the role of Co-President of Chatham House, guiding one of the world’s foremost think tanks on global security and diplomacy.
Alongside these positions, Eliza was appointed a crossbench member of the House of Lords, where she continues to contribute to parliamentary debate and policy development. Her service has been recognised through peerage as Baroness Manningham-Buller of Northampton, as well as appointments as Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath and Lady Companion of the Order of the Garter. In 2025, she was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society, underscoring her lasting cross-disciplinary influence.
She has shared her expertise widely through publications and media, authoring ‘Securing Freedom’, a compelling reflection on liberty and national security. She has delivered the prestigious BBC Reith Lectures on terrorism, trust, and risk. Her commentary has appeared in outlets including The Times, The Guardian, and The Financial Times, and she has featured on BBC News, Channel 4, and international broadcasters, offering trusted insights on intelligence and global security.
Why Hire Eliza Manningham-Buller?
Booking Eliza Manningham-Buller offers audiences the chance to learn from a leader with exceptional experience in security, governance, and high-stakes decision-making. As a current member of the House of Lords and a seasoned board leader across major institutions, she provides a unique perspective on navigating complexity, assessing risk, and leading with clarity during times of uncertainty. Her talks are rich with practical lessons for organisations seeking to strengthen leadership, build resilience, and foster transparency.
Eliza is also an inspiring advocate for women in leadership, drawing on her career in male-dominated environments to share strategies for inclusion and empowerment. She has addressed audiences worldwide, engaging with corporate leaders, academic institutions, and global forums. Known for her clarity and authority, Eliza’s ability to connect high-level strategy with actionable insights makes her an outstanding choice for organisations seeking to inspire and equip their teams for future challenges.
To book Eliza to speak at your event, call SpeakOut on +44 (0) 20 8914 8966. Alternatively, complete our contact form to begin your enquiry
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“Probably one of the best speakers that we’ve had over the past few years. The Q&A session was fantastic – it felt like she had the audience in the palm of her hand, everyone loved it and she left people wanting more. It will be very hard to find another speaker quite like her.” – IPD Global
“Eliza was an excellent speaker and provided much more personal information than expected. Eliza commanded the Q&A brilliantly and made an extra effort following Q&A to visit each table and speak to attendees; everyone thought this was a lovely touch and something we hadn’t asked for, so thank you. I personally found Eliza very easy to work with, she is extremely approachable and personable and I would recommend her as a speaker. We have only received positive feedback with one client saying Eliza was the best speaker he had heard.” – DLA Pipe
“We have never seen an audience so captivated. It was a joy to watch.” – ConvaTec
“Each year Shaylor Group holds its prestigious annual SiteLink event for around 300 of its employees, and this year we were delighted to host Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller as our guest speaker. Eliza was briefed on our agenda of diversity and women in construction beforehand which enabled her to expertly depict comparisons between the secret world of MI5 and the business world. Our staff were captivated by her inspirational close up look at life in the diverse and intense work required to successfully manage the multiple pressures of dealing with extremism.” – Shaylor Group
The cost of hiring Eliza Manningham-Buller depends on your event format, location, duration and any travel requirements. For an accurate and tailored quote, please contact a SpeakOut booking agent for expert guidance.