Chris Patten was born in 1944, educated in London and at Balliol College, Oxford. After completing his degree in Modern History he won a Coolidge Travelling Scholarship to the United States. Chris Patten worked in the Cabinet Office as political secretary to Lord Carrington and Lord Whitelaw and the... Read more
Chris Patten was born in 1944, educated in London and at Balliol College, Oxford. After completing his degree in Modern History he won a Coolidge Travelling Scholarship to the United States.
Chris Patten worked in the Cabinet Office as political secretary to Lord Carrington and Lord Whitelaw and the Conservative Research Department. He was appointed the youngest ever Director of the Conservative Research Department in 1974 and worked there under Margaret Thatcher until 1979. In that year he became the Member of Parliament for Bath, a seat he held until April 1992. In 1983 he wrote The Tory Case, a study of Conservatism.
He held Ministerial positions in the Northern Ireland Office, the Department of Education and Science and the Ministry for Overseas Development. He became a member of the Privy Council in 1989, Secretary of State for the Environment in the same year and in November 1990 was appointed Chairman of the Conservative Party, where he successfully ran his Party’s 1992 Election campaign.
Lord Patten was Governor of Hong Kong from 1992 to 1997, overseeing the return of The Territory to China. He was Chairman of the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland set up under the Good Friday Peace Agreement from 1998 to 1999.
Lord Chris Patten was appointed European Commissioner for External Relations in 1999 and held this post until November 2004. He was appointed a Companion of Honour in 1998 and became a member of the House of Lords in 2005. He was Chairman of the BBC Trust, the strategic authority for the broadcaster, from 2011 to 2014. In 2010 helped to co-ordinate the visit of Pope Benedict to the United Kingdom and became Chairman of the Vatican Media Advisory Committee in 2014.
He holds a number of Honorary Degrees, was Chancellor of Newcastle University from 1999 until 2008, and was elected Chancellor of the University of Oxford in 2003. He chaired the International Crisis Group from 2004 to 2011 and became Co-Chair of UK-India Round Table in 2006.
Lord Patten has written a number of books – East and West (1998), Not Quite The Diplomat about world affairs in 2005 and What Next?: Surviving the 21st Century in 2008.
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You can book Chris Patten through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Chris's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Chris Patten'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 Chris tailored to your event.
Chris Patten speaks on a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Chris to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Chris Patten for events worldwide, subject to Chris'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 Chris Patten 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 Chris can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Chris Patten 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 Chris can offer.
Chris Patten delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Chris Patten's areas of expertise include a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. To get a clear sense of Chris'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.
Chris Patten can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in a range of business, leadership and industry subjects is relevant. Details of Chris'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 Chris Patten 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 Chris Patten, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Chris's current availability for your dates.