Jim O'NeillFormer Commercial Secretary to the Treasury and Leading Global Economist

Lord Jim O’Neill is a distinguished economist and former Commercial Secretary to the Treasury, renowned for his significant impact on global finance and public policy. During his tenure at Goldman Sachs, where he served as Chairman of Asset Management and Head of Global Economics, Commodities, and Strategy Research, he famously coined the acronym BRICs. This term redefined international investment by highlighting Brazil, Russia, India, and China as the primary growth drivers of the future, a concept further explored in his best-selling book, The Growth Map. He is also responsible for categorising the MINT nations of Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey as the next prominent emerging markets. In government, Lord O’Neill spearheaded major initiatives including the Northern Powerhouse project, focusing on regional financial devolution and local controls for transport and housing. Recognised for his versatility, he also chaired the influential government review into antimicrobial resistance, addressing global threats to public health. His strategic expertise extends to his roles with the UK-India Round Table and boards of international think-tanks such as Bruegel and the Itinera Institute, alongside his charitable commitments as a founding trustee of SHINE. Lord O’Neill offers unparalleled expertise on macroeconomics and the shifting landscape of global trade. Audiences value his ability to decode complex financial trends and his firsthand experience in shaping national economic policy and international investment strategy. On stage, Jim O'Neill is best known for talks on Financial Services, Economics & the Economy and Strategy. 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 Finance & Economics, where the themes translate directly into team decisions, customer experience and growth strategy. Jim O'Neill 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, Jim O'Neill 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 Jim O'Neill would approach your audience.