John  Thompson Profile Picture

Keynote SpeakerJohn Thompson

Founder, Entrepreneur and Trusted Advisor to Global Investors on Reputation, Fundraising and Sustainability

John Thompson is a founder, entrepreneur and trusted advisor to global investors on reputation, fundraising and sustainability. With nearly two decades of experience, he partners with senior leaders to coach them through high‑stakes communications challenges, from mobilising capital to navigating cross‑border M&A. John is founder and Managing Partner of Burway... Read more

Biography

John Thompson is a founder, entrepreneur and trusted advisor to global investors on reputation, fundraising and sustainability. With nearly two decades of experience, he partners with senior leaders to coach them through high‑stakes communications challenges, from mobilising capital to navigating cross‑border M&A.

John is founder and Managing Partner of Burway an award-winning reputation management consultancy specialising in private markets. He was previously Global Head of Communications at Actis, one of the world’s leading sustainable infrastructure investors, where he directed communications for more than US$10 billion in fundraising and helped channel capital into the energy transition across Asia, Africa and Latin America. He advised boards, CEOs and investment teams in over 20 countries, led a firm‑wide brand transformation, and launched an open‑source Impact Measurement framework at UNGA that became a benchmark for the industry.

John’s career also includes senior consultancy roles and two years in Sub‑Saharan Africa as a journalist, publisher and entrepreneur, giving him a first‑hand perspective on frontier markets.

He is regularly sought out as a keynote speaker and moderator at global conferences, bringing audiences inside the boardrooms and deal rooms where capital and communications collide. John also serves on the steering committee of Private Equity International’s Marketing, Investor Relations and Communications Forum, is a judge for PR Moment’s ESG Awards, and an alumnus of the Milken Institute Young Leaders Circle and is a founding member of the Private Capital Advisor Network (PCAN).

"The team at Burway are exceptionally strategic, know the industry extremely well, and the advice they give is second to none. Our experience with John has been exceptional." Partner, leading global private equity firm

Popular Talks by John Thompson

  • Executive Influence

    How senior leaders can project authority, build credibility and win confidence in high stakes situations.
    Takeaway: Practical coaching...

  • Sustainable Leadership and Positioning Purpose

    Turning values into a leadership asset that attracts capital, talent and trust.
    Takeaway: Why purpose matters, and how...

  • Building Trust

    Trust is the currency of capital markets. Without it, no deal or fundraise succeeds.
    Takeaway: Tools for leaders...

  • Achieving Cut Through in Fundraising

    What really drives engagement in crowded fundraising markets.
    Takeaway: Lessons from global campaigns that raised billions by shaping...

  • Reputational Resilience in Corporate Communications

    Change, crisis or opportunity, reputation is always at stake.
    Takeaway: How to anticipate risks, communicate through disruption, and...