Sir Ben WallaceFormer Secretary of State for Defence and Security Authority

Sir Ben Wallace is a highly distinguished statesman who served as the Secretary of State for Defence from 2019 to 2023. During a tenure that spanned the administrations of three Prime Ministers, he became the longest-serving Conservative Defence Secretary in history. His time in office was defined by his leadership during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the formation of the AUKUS pact. He was also instrumental in the creation of the National Cyber Force, ensuring the United Kingdom's defences evolved to meet modern digital threats. His career is built on a foundation of military and private sector experience. After commissioning into the Scots Guards and reaching the rank of captain, he transitioned into politics via the Scottish Parliament before moving to the private sector as Overseas Director for the security firm QinetiQ. Upon returning to Westminster as an MP, he held pivotal roles including Minister for Security and Economic Crime. In this capacity, he managed the national response to the Salisbury poisonings and oversaw critical counter-terrorism and cyber-security strategies. Having stepped down from Parliament at the 2024 general election, Sir Ben remains a pre-eminent authority on the intersections of geopolitics, global security, and industrial resilience. He is booked for his deep first-hand knowledge of international relations and his ability to translate complex global risks into clear strategic contexts for modern business leaders. On stage, Sir Ben Wallace is best known for talks on Defence, Security, Foreign Affairs and Politics. 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 Defence & Security and Politics & Government, where the themes translate directly into team decisions, customer experience and growth strategy. Sir Ben Wallace is regularly booked for Business Speaker and Conference 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 UK, Sir Ben Wallace 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 Sir Ben Wallace would approach your audience.