Sir John Sawers has spent his career dealing with foreign policy and international security. After several years in the intelligence service, MI6, Sir John worked as a diplomat in the Middle East, Africa and the United States. He was foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Tony Blair and went on... Read more
Sir John Sawers has spent his career dealing with foreign policy and international security.
After several years in the intelligence service, MI6, Sir John worked as a diplomat in the Middle East, Africa and the United States. He was foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Tony Blair and went on to be Ambassador to Egypt, Political Director in the Foreign Office and UK Ambassador to the United Nations in New York.
In 2009, he was called back to London to become Chief of MI6, a position he held for five years.
As MI6 Chief, he took part in the UK National Security Council and the Joint Intelligence Committee, contributing to the strategies and policy decisions on how to promote and protect British interests around the World. He led MI6 through a period of international political upheaval and high terrorist threats, including against the 2012 London Olympics. He also modernised the way the Service works and created a more open approach to public accountability.
Since leaving public service, Sir John has advised private sector leaders on geopolitics and political risk. In 2019, he set up his own company, Newbridge Advisory. He was also a Non-Executive Director of BP from 2015 to 2024.
Sir John studied at the universities of Nottingham, St Andrews and Harvard. In addition to his corporate work, he has pro bono roles with King’s College London, Nottingham University, the Council on Foreign Relations, Chatham House, the European Council on Foreign Relations, the Royal United Services Institute, the Bilderberg Association and the Ditchley Foundation.
You can book John Sawers through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with John's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
John Sawers's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for John tailored to your event.
John Sawers speaks on Future, Future & Technology, Leadership, Leadership & Motivation, Security. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with John to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book John Sawers for events worldwide, subject to John's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether John Sawers is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what John can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief John Sawers on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what John can offer.
John Sawers delivers keynotes in English. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
John Sawers's areas of expertise include Future, Future & Technology, Leadership, Leadership & Motivation, Security. To get a clear sense of John's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
John Sawers can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Future, Future & Technology, Leadership, Leadership & Motivation, Security is relevant. Details of John's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what John Sawers is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with John Sawers, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check John's current availability for your dates.