Anne Applebaum

Anne Applebaum is a distinguished historian and journalist whose work provides a definitive account of authoritarianism and the evolution of global political systems. A Pulitzer Prize-winning author, she currently serves as a writer for The Atlantic and a Senior Fellow at the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University. Her career began as a foreign correspondent during the fall of the Berlin Wall, leading to senior editorial roles at The Spectator, the Evening Standard, and a long-standing position on the editorial board of The Washington Post. Her extensive bibliography includes acclaimed titles such as Gulag: A History and Red Famine: Stalin’s War on Ukraine, alongside contemporary analyses in Twilight of Democracy and Autocracy, Inc. Through her research, she examines the complex networks sustaining modern autocratic regimes and the impact of disinformation on democratic institutions. A dual US-Polish citizen and member of the Council on Foreign Relations, she brings a wealth of international experience to her roles on the boards of the National Endowment for Democracy and the Renew Democracy Initiative. With a deep understanding of historical precedents and first-hand experience reporting on global transformation, she offers audiences an authoritative perspective on the strategic and moral challenges facing the modern West. Her expertise is highly sought after for its ability to contextualise current geopolitical shifts within a broader historical framework. On stage, Anne Applebaum is best known for talks on Politics & Geopolitics. Audiences leave with a clear, practical view of the subject rather than a generic overview — every keynote is shaped around the brief and the room. Their work resonates with leaders across Education, Politics & Government and Social Impact & Advocacy, where the themes translate directly into team decisions, customer experience and growth strategy. Anne Applebaum is regularly booked for Conference Speaker and Business Speaker, adapting tone, length and format to suit the event — from a 20-minute opener to a full conference keynote with Q&A. Based in Poland, Anne Applebaum travels internationally for engagements. To check availability or request a tailored brief for your event, send an enquiry and we'll come back with fees, dates and a short summary of how Anne Applebaum would approach your audience.