James Cleverly

Sir James Cleverly is a distinguished figure in British public life, being one of the few politicians to have held the offices of both Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary. Currently serving as the Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, he has represented the Braintree constituency as an MP since 2015. His extensive ministerial career has seen him manage the UK's diplomatic response to major global events, including the invasion of Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East, alongside overseeing critical domestic portfolios such as counter-terrorism, policing, and education. His professional foundation combines military discipline with entrepreneurial experience. Despite an injury during training at Sandhurst, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve and managed a successful career in digital publishing before launching his own company. He initially entered the political arena through the London Assembly, where he chaired the London Fire Authority and led the Conservative group. Later, as Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party, he was instrumental in the strategy behind the 2019 General Election campaign. Sir James provides an authoritative perspective on managing high-stakes risk and navigating complex institutional change. Having operated at the highest levels of government during significant periods of national and global transition, he is frequently booked for his ability to decode the intersection of geopolitics, security, and organisational resilience. On stage, James Cleverly is best known for talks on Crisis Management, Change Management, Risk & Risk Management and 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 Politics & Government, where the themes translate directly into team decisions, customer experience and growth strategy. James Cleverly is regularly booked for 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 UK, James Cleverly 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 James Cleverly would approach your audience.