Robert Hannigan CMG is a leading authority on cybersecurity, cyber conflict, and the application of technology in national security. He is a popular international speaker and author on cybersecurity topics.
Robert is the Chairman of BlueVoyant, a global cybersecurity services firm. He is also Senior Fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Centre, and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology. He has also worked as an advisor for McKinsey & Co, and as Director of GCHQ.
Robert Hannigan has a long history of cybersecurity work, having drawn up the UK’s first cybersecurity strategy, and outlined the government’s ambition of making the UK ‘the safest place to live and do business online’.
Robert spent several years working as Security Advisor to the UK Prime Minister, giving advice on counter terrorism and intelligence. He then became Director General of the Defence and Intelligence department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. During his time in Government, Robert worked as Tony Blair’s senior civil service advisor on the Northern Ireland peace process during a crucial phase in securing lasting peace. He was responsible for negotiations between the political parties, armed paramilitary groups, and the US and Irish governments.
He joined the GCHQ in 2014 as their director; whilst there, he set up the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, and launched the active cyber defense program for the UK. he was responsible, alongside military colleagues, for the UK’s national offensive cyber programme. Over the years, Robert has been involved in many different projects and policies, including the UK skills shortage in cybersecurity and related disciplines; the importance of diversity at GCHQ; the importance of strong encryption; and the social responsibility of tech companies for tech regulation. He resigned from GCHQ in 2017, citing personal reasons.
He is also a member of the UK Government’s Defence Innovation Advisory Panel, Chairs the Industry Advisory Board for LORCA, is an Honorary Fellow of Wadham College, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Senior Fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Centre, and Distinguished Fellow of RUSI. In 2021 he was elected Warden of Wadham College, Oxford University.
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Robert’s many achievements in the world of cybersecurity have seen him awarded with a number of accolades and fellowships, including:
– Senior Fellow of the Harvard Belfer Centre (2018)
– Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (2017)
– Distinguished Fellow of RUSI (2017)
– Honorary Fellow of Wadham College, University of Oxford (2015)
– US Intelligence Distinguished Public Service Medal (2017)
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He was named a CMG in 2013 by the late Queen Elizabeth II for services to UK National Security.
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Robert has featured on a range of podcasts, including Supercreativity With James Taylor on the power of neurodiversity in innovation and cybersecurity; Azeem Azhar’s Exponential View on how the Russia/Ukraine conflict will change cyberwar; The Slaughter and May Podcast on cybersecurity in the era of quantum computing; IBS Intelligence on how you should be thinking about the cybersecurity of your supply chain; and The Global Safety Podcast on safeguarding cyberspace.
He has featured in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, The Economist, Business Inside, The Boston Globe, Computer Weekly, The Telegraph, and Harvard Business Review.
His book Counter Intelligence: What the Secret World Can Teach Us About Problem-Solving and Creativity in 2024. The book – which was named one of The Economist’s Best Books of 2024 – looked at codebreakers, problem solvers, engineers, and mathematicians and how they can teach us about performance and creativity.
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Robert is a highly sought-after cybersecurity expert and is often asked to make keynote speeches or host corporate events. His past credits include:
– ISF World Congress, Rotterdam
– SAID Business School, Oxford University
– Conference of Major Superfunds, Australia
– Evanta CISO Summit
– Gartner Security and Risk Management Summit
– Fiserv Forum, Las Vegas
– Microsoft-BlueVoyant Cyber Defence Summit
– Lauch of the IISS Japan Chair, Tokyo
– Microsoft Industry Insights, London
– Lloyd’s Cyber Risk Summit
– McKinsey ‘Blink’ Conference, London
– ICE71 Meeting, Singapore
– Innovate Finance Global Summit, London
– Infosec 18
– Great Festival of Innovation, Hong Kong
– FT Cyber Security Summit Europe
– Aspen Security Forum, Colorado
– Munich Security Conference
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– Cybersecurity
– Geopolitics
– Leadership
– The Technology Age
– Innovation and Creativity
– Bletchley Park and the Codebreakers
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You have led the renewal of some of our most important national security capabilities… you also set the groundwork for a major transformation of our cyber defences.
Boris Johnson, Former British Prime Minister
[Of the Northern Ireland peace process] Robert was absolutely pivotal to getting the job done.
Tony Blair, Former British Prime Minister
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