Co-Founder & Chair of Lucky Voice, Co-Founder of Lastminute.com, Chancellor of the Open University & President of the British Chambers of Commerce

Baroness Martha Lane Fox is a pioneering entrepreneur, digital innovator, and influential business leader. Best known as co-founder of Lastminute.com and Lucky Voice, she has shaped industries at the intersection of technology and culture. She is Chancellor of the Open University and President of the British Chambers of Commerce, and serves as a Non-Executive Director at Chanel, British Airways, and Multiverse. Recognised with a CBE for her services to technology and society, she was appointed to the House of Lords, where she sits as a crossbench peer championing digital inclusion, education, and responsible innovation.

Credentials and Impact

Martha rose to prominence in 1998 when she co-founded Lastminute.com, one of Europe’s most successful dotcom ventures, which transformed online travel and leisure. Building on her entrepreneurial success, she became a founding trustee of Reprieve, supporting global human rights through legal action. She later joined the board of Channel 4 as a non-executive director, broadening her influence within media and culture.

She went on to found and chair Antigone, her grant-making foundation focused on criminal justice, health, and education, and served as a non-executive director of Marks & Spencer, bringing digital expertise to the retail sector. In 2009, she became the UK’s first Digital Champion, spearheading a national campaign to increase digital inclusion. She later chaired and founded Go On UK, a charity dedicated to improving digital skills, and served on the Board of Advisors for the Government Digital Service, helping to deliver GOV.UK.

Martha also chaired MakieLab, a 3D-printing start-up, and founded Doteveryone, a think tank promoting responsible technology. Her global reach expanded as a director of Twitter, and later as a non-executive director of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and the Donmar Warehouse. Most recently, she served as Chair of WeTransfer. She also supports social causes as Patron of Just for Kids Law, the I Am The Code Foundation, and Day One Trauma Support.

Publications and Media

Martha Lane Fox has written for major outlets including The Guardian, The Financial Times, and The Times, offering commentary on digital inclusion, innovation, and technology’s impact on society. She has also featured on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Desert Island Discs, and appeared on television programmes such as Question Time and Newsnight. Her journalism and media presence have established her as a trusted voice on business, policy, and digital change.

Why Hire Baroness Martha Lane Fox?

Martha Lane Fox is an inspiring speaker whose career spans entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and public service. She has dedicated much of her work to making technology more inclusive, driving social impact, and supporting education and human rights. With experience creating initiatives that connect people to digital opportunities and advocating for responsible innovation, she offers audiences a thoughtful perspective on how technology can be harnessed for progress.

Her speaking style is engaging, witty, and practical, making complex issues accessible to a wide range of audiences. She addresses themes such as digital inclusion, the ethical use of technology, leadership in uncertain times, and the power of education and advocacy to transform lives. Her acclaimed TED Talk, “The Digital World is Having a Mid-Life Crisis,” has resonated globally, encouraging leaders and organisations to rethink technology’s role in society. Martha leaves audiences motivated to act with purpose and vision.

To book Martha to speak at your event, call SpeakOut on +44 (0) 20 8914 8966. Alternatively, complete our contact form to begin your enquiry.