Penny MordauntFormer Cabinet Minister and Groundbreaking Leader of the House of Commons

Dame Penny Mordaunt is a distinguished former parliamentarian whose career in public service spanned 14 years, including nine ministerial appointments and four positions within the Cabinet. She made history as the first woman to serve as Secretary of State for Defence and as Minister for the Armed Forces. Her ministerial portfolio also included serving as Paymaster General, where she championed the UK's first cross-government defensive cyber strategy and oversaw the modernisation of national resilience planning. As International Development Secretary, she represented the United Kingdom at the World Bank and worked extensively with various United Nations agencies. Throughout her tenure, Dame Penny was a pivotal figure in international commerce, serving as Trade Minister and facilitating the UK’s entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. She famously conducted a post-Churchill record tour of the United States to secure individual state-level economic agreements. Her leadership was notable on the global stage when she served as Lord President of the Council, presiding over the Accession Council and participating in the coronation of King Charles III. Beyond politics, she served as a Royal Navy Reservist for a decade and currently holds the rank of Honorary Captain. A bestselling author and acclaimed public speaker, Dame Penny has been recognised for her communication skills with awards such as Parliamentary Wit of the Year and the Spectator’s speech of the year. She is frequently cited by major publications as one of the country’s most influential women and is one of only four women invited to address the prestigious Saints and Sinners club. Audiences book Dame Penny for her unique perspective on global trade, high-stakes leadership, and the complexities of modern international relations. On stage, Penny Mordaunt is best known for talks on Politics, Leadership, International Relations and Trade and Economic Policy. 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 Leadership & Coaching and Politics & Government, where the themes translate directly into team decisions, customer experience and growth strategy. Penny Mordaunt is regularly booked for Business Speaker and After Dinner 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, Penny Mordaunt 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 Penny Mordaunt would approach your audience.