John Pienaar – Keynote Speaker

A well-respected figure at the heart of the Westminster scene for two decades both on Radio 5 live and BBC television, John Pienaar combines sublime explanation of the key themes of politics with the authority of a trusted insider. A seasoned reporter, he sees his job as beating a path through the forest of Government spin. Ever since his original, often controversial parliamentary sketch for The Independent, he has acted as tour guide and translator of goings-on in the Westminster village.

Pienaar has worked as BBC Political Correspondent, appearing on all the main news programmes; the One, Six and Ten O’clock News, and on the radio networks, including Radio Four current affairs including Today and the World at One. His contributions vary greatly between hard news and analysis, to chattier and more discursive offerings.

John Pienaar was Political Correspondent for The Independent, joining the paper at its launch in 1986, and working as one of the late Tony Bevins’ original team. He also wrote sketches for the paper and produced a weekly “Westminster Diary”. Pienaar originally trained at South London Press, covering whatever was occurring on his doorstep – be it street crime, domestic violence, sex, drugs or rock’n’roll.

Pienaar is an experienced facilitator and chairman of conferences as well as an incisive speaker on the politics, current affairs and the environment.