William Hague

William Hague is a keynote speaker with over two decades of experience in both domestic and international politics. He served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Richmond (Yorks) from 1989 to 2015 and held several prominent government positions including Leader of the House of Commons from 2014 to 2015, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from 2010 to 2015, and Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition from 1997 to 2001.

During his tenure as Foreign Secretary, Hague was integral in addressing international crises such as the conflicts in Libya and Syria, and the Ukraine crisis. He also played a pivotal role in expanding Britain’s diplomatic network and emphasizing export success. His political acumen was further demonstrated when he led the negotiating team that established the coalition government in 2010. After a distinguished three-decade-long political career, he stepped down at the 2015 United Kingdom general election.

In addition to his political career, Hague is an accomplished historian and author. He has written two bestsellers, including a biography of William Pitt the Younger, which earned the “History Book of the Year” at the National Book Awards in 2004. His subsequent book, “William Wilberforce: The Life of the Great Anti-Slave Trade Campaigner,” published in 2007, was shortlisted for the 2008 Orwell Prize for political writing. Hague has continued his work in the humanitarian sphere, notably co-founding the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative with Angelina Jolie and combating the illegal trade in wildlife. A skilled orator, he is known for using personal anecdotes and light humor to discuss leadership in a volatile world, earning high praise for his speaking skills, including a notable endorsement from Hillary Clinton, who described him as “the David Beckham of toasting.”