Rory Stewart

Rory Stewart is the Brady-Johnson Professor of Grand Strategy at Yale University, a former UK cabinet minister and diplomat, and Member of Parliament for Penrith and the Border. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan; was a professor at Harvard University; and has written a number of bestselling books. He currently teaches at Yale University and co-presents the UK’s top podcast, The Rest Is Politics, with Alastair Campbell, shaping discourse and action on global issues.

Stewart is also a Senior Advisor to GiveDirectly -- the fastest growing non-profit organization in the world last year -- which specializes in unconditional cash transfers to families living in extreme poverty, particularly those in Africa.

Previously, Stewart held a number of ministerial positions in the British government. He was the UK Secretary of State for International Development, Minister of State for Justice, Minister of State in Foreign Office and Department for International Development (covering Africa, Middle East, and Asia), Minister for the Environment and Chair of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee.

After a brief period as an infantry officer, Stewart joined the UK Diplomatic Service, serving overseas in Jakarta; as British representative to Montenegro in the wake of the Kosovo crisis; and as the coalition Deputy-Governor of two provinces of Southern Iraq following the intervention of 2003. He left the diplomatic service to undertake a two-year walk across Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, India and Nepal.

In 2005, he founded the Turquoise Mountain Foundation in Kabul, Afghanistan, with the mission to revitalize a historic part of the city. The foundation established a clinic, a primary school, and an Arts Institute, while also promoting Afghan crafts in international markets. In 2008, he became the Ryan Professor of Human Rights at the Harvard Kennedy School and Director for the Carr Centre for Human Rights Policy.

Stewart has also authored several notable books including "The Places in Between," "Occupational Hazards: My Time Governing in Iraq" (also published as "The Prince of the Marshes") and "Can Intervention Work?" Additionally, his book "The Marches: A Borderland Journey Between England and Scotland," focused on the history of Cumbria and spawned a two-part BBC documentary series, "Borderland." His fifth book, "Politics on the Edge: A Memoir from Within" (published under the title "How Not to Be a Politician: A Memoir" in the US) was named a Best Book of 2023 by Financial Times.

Stewart's life has been described by the New York Times as "one of the most remarkable lives on record." Named by Esquire magazine as "one of the 100 most influential people of the 21st century," his accolades include being the first person to traverse Afghanistan after the US-UK invasion and serving as Deputy Governor of two Iraqi provinces at the youthful age of 29. Fluent in 11 languages, Stewart is not only an accomplished writer and documentarian but has also advised both US Presidents and British Prime Ministers on Afghanistan and Middle East policy. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire by the British government for services in Iraq as well as a number of international medals, and prizes; he holds two honorary doctorates.