Eliza Manningham-Buller served as the head of Britain’s Security Service (MI5) from 2002 to 2007 and later as Chair of the Wellcome Trust, one of the world’s largest funders of medical research and health initiatives, from 2015 to 2021. Her leadership in these roles spanned periods of immense pressure, from counterterrorism efforts to addressing global health crises.
Reflecting on her two decades of leadership across vastly different organisations, Eliza highlights the shared challenges of managing unpredictability and safeguarding millions. She emphasizes the need for leaders to adapt to changing demands, tackle unforeseen challenges, and address critical issues such as climate change, pandemics, and diversity. Leaders, she notes, must navigate a complex landscape that affects both organisational success and societal well-being.
During her time at MI5, Eliza led the agency through a period of significant transformation and heightened scrutiny, particularly following the 9/11 attacks and the 7/7 London bombings. Prior to becoming Director General, she held key roles, including a posting to Washington during the first Gulf War, and managed areas ranging from Irish terrorism to surveillance, technical collection, and IT. She eventually became Deputy Director General, overseeing intelligence operations.
As Chair of the Wellcome Trust, Eliza guided the UK’s largest charity through major initiatives in scientific research, particularly in infection and mental health, and played a pivotal role in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. Foreseeing the potential for a global pandemic, the Trust helped establish the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

In her talks, Eliza draws on her extensive experience to share leadership insights, stressing the importance of honest communication and openness to criticism. She advises leaders to be authentic, take responsibility for their teams, and recognise the powerful impact of praise. She also highlights the value of finding humour, even in the most challenging situations.
Eliza is a crossbench peer, Co-president of the foreign policy think tank Chatham House, and served as Chair of Council at Imperial College for four years. She has delivered the prestigious BBC Reith Lectures, where her analysis on the theme ‘Securing Freedom’ became the foundation of her book by the same name.

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