David Lammy is one of the UK’s most senior statesmen and a defining figure in modern British politics. Formerly the first person of colour to serve as Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, he previously held the position of Foreign Secretary from 2024 to 2025 amid some of the most significant geopolitical upheavals of the 21st century.
Utilising his breadth of connections across the Atlantic and beyond, he steered UK diplomacy through the conflict in Gaza and the US-Iran War while spearheading support for Ukraine with the 100 Year Partnership and pioneering the reset of the UK’s relationship with the European Union. With the government’s China Audit that he presented to the House of Commons in 2025 he charted a new era of strategic competition with China, and together with France and Germany, he led on the UN snapback of sanctions over Iran’s nuclear programme.
A published author and prominent broadcaster, Lammy was educated at SOAS and became the first ever Black Briton to study at Harvard Law School before practising as a barrister in both the US and UK. He became the Member of Parliament for Tottenham in 2000 at the age of 27 and a Minister under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown between 2002 and 2010. In 2017 he oversaw the landmark Lammy Review into racial bias in the criminal justice system. He offers a rare insider’s account of diplomacy, national security and high-stakes leadership at the very top of the British state.
Alongside these traditional geopolitical challenges, David also made emerging technology a priority. Addressing the UN Security Council in September 2025, he argued that AI is becoming a defining issue for diplomacy and security, and that it must strengthen, rather than undermine, peace, stability and democratic processe
The world is becoming harder to read, and harder to plan for. Tariffs, conflict, fractured alliances, technology and political polarisation are reshaping markets, supply chains, investment decisions and reputation.
David offers a first-hand perspective on:
Tariffs, protectionism and the changing relationship between the UK, the US and Europe.
Ukraine, the Middle East and the geopolitical risks facing international organisations.
China, strategic competition and the balance between security and economic opportunity.
AI, democratic stability and the implications of emerging technology.
Leadership and decision-making when trust is fragile and global events move faster than the playbook.
David brings the authority of someone who has operated at the highest level of government, alongside a clear understanding of what these shifts mean for business, boards and leadership teams.
Keynote Topics
America, Europe and the New World Order: Power, alliances and the struggle for global stability
The relationship between the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe finds itself in a new and less predictable era. Trade tensions, renewed protectionism, conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, and intensifying strategic competition with China have exposed the fragility of the assumptions that underpinned the post-Cold War order. As UK Foreign Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister, David worked at the heart of Britain's engagement with Washington, helped reset relations with Europe, maintained international support for Ukraine, and led the UN snapback of sanctions on Iran's nuclear programme alongside France and Germany. He offers a rare insider's account of the decisions shaping the transatlantic alliance, the future of Western security and the implications for leaders navigating an increasingly fragmented global economy.
The State of Political Discourse: Democracy, division and the erosion of public trust
Across Britain, the United States and democracies worldwide, public debate is more polarised than ever, confidence in institutions is declining and the space for serious disagreement is under strain. Few statesmen have confronted this shift as directly as David. Drawing on his experience at the highest levels of government, David examines the forces reshaping political discourse: identity, inequality, the speed and reach of digital media, economic insecurity and a growing sense that established institutions no longer listen. He also considers what leaders must do to restore confidence in democratic life, make the case for common purpose and rebuild relationships and institutions capable of holding disagreement without deepening distrust.
Testimonials
“Funny, personal, charming, engaging!” Schroders
"The energy David brought was infectious.” Microsoft