Lorraine Heggessey Profile Picture

Keynote SpeakerLorraine Heggessey

The first female Controller of BBC1

Lorraine Heggessey is a trailblazing business leader, who has driven success and transformation in a range of high-profile roles in the public, private and third sector. The first female controller of BBC 1, Lorraine led the channel to become the most popular in Britain, overtaking its main competitor, ITV1, for... Read more

Biography

Lorraine Heggessey is a trailblazing business leader, who has driven success and transformation in a range of high-profile roles in the public, private and third sector.

The first female controller of BBC 1, Lorraine led the channel to become the most popular in Britain, overtaking its main competitor, ITV1, for the first time. With an annual budget of £1billion, she revamped Saturday nights introducing flagship hit shows including Strictly Come Dancing and the new Dr Who. She also brought additional dramas into the schedule many of which became long running series such as Spooks and Waking the Dead.

Moving on to become CEO of talkbackThames, her creative leadership and exceptional ability to motivate talent to drive commercial success revitalized the programming portfolio and saw the introduction of a new digital division. Her tenure also included the introduction of hit entertainment shows, including Britain’s Got Talent and Take Me Out, and resulted in profits increasing by over 50% in her first two years.

In 2012, in search of a new challenge, she secured private equity investment for her vision to build a new independent production group through a combination of acquisitions and backing start-ups. As Executive Chair, Lorraine led Boom Pictures through several deals in quick succession to build the 7th largest independent production company in Britain (worth c£100 million with offices worldwide). It was subsequently acquired by ITV in 2015 and renamed Two Four Group.

More recently Lorraine was CEO of The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. With a brief to use her business acumen to professionalize and grow the Foundation, she helped develop and refine its unique model of venture philanthropy that incubates initiatives to tackle some of today’s biggest challenges. This included mental health – through the Heads Together campaign – and supporting wounded, sick and injured veterans.

Lorraine’s varied career has meant she is no stranger to controversy – known as the woman who sacked Blue Peter presenter Richard Bacon for taking cocaine, turned the tables on reporter Roger Cook by door stepping him for a Channel 4 Documentary and secured the first ever television interview with notorious villain Mad Frankie Fraser for a series on the history of crime in Britain.

A Fellow of the Royal Television Society and frequent judge for BAFTA and the RTS, Lorraine continues to act as an external advisor to Channel 4’s Growth Fund – set up to invest in small to medium sized production companies. She supports the companies in the portfolio helping them to deliver creative and commercial success. She is also Chair of the Grierson Trust, which celebrates and promotes documentary excellence through its annual awards and opens doors to the industry for young people from diverse backgrounds whose voices might otherwise not be heard. She is a regular contributor to the Today Programme and Newsnight on media topics.

Popular Talks by Lorraine Heggessey

  • Making Change Happen

    You can’t escape change in the modern business environment, whether you’re trying to get ahead of the competition, refresh your brand or manage the impact of fast developing technology. Change is very exposing for leaders and organisations. It takes courage to drive it through. Get it right, and you will…
  • Star Quality Leadership

    Most people are promoted into leadership positions because they excel at their job. They will have spent years getting good at what they do, going on the right courses and keeping up to date with what is happening in their field. They therefore assume they can just ‘do’ leadership. However,…
  • Creating an Intrapreneurial, Empowered Work Culture

    Encouraging a freelance mentality, where staff seek out opportunities and feel free to come up with ideas or initiate projects themselves, will create a vibrant, productive and highly motivated culture.  It will also help organisations attract and retain the best talent who want to work somewhere they feel valued and…
  • Women Thriving in Business

    There’s never been a better time for women to achieve their potential and to have the careers they want, but you’ve got to be prepared to seize opportunities and overcome obstacles.   All too often we hold ourselves back, not going for promotion because we don’t tick every single box, whilst…
  • Mental Health at Work

    Drawing on her experience of working with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry on the “Heads Together” campaign, Lorraine talks about the stigma surrounding mental health and how this affects everyone in the workplace from the most senior executive to the most junior trainee. At any given…

How to book Lorraine Heggessey as a keynote speaker

How do I book Lorraine Heggessey for a keynote speech?

You can book Lorraine Heggessey through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Lorraine's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.

What are Lorraine Heggessey's speaking fees?

Lorraine Heggessey'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 Lorraine tailored to your event.

What topics does Lorraine Heggessey speak about?

Lorraine Heggessey speaks on Business & Management, Facilitators & Moderators, Inspirational Women, Leadership, Leadership & Motivation. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Lorraine to align the content with your delegates and goals.

Is Lorraine Heggessey available for international events?

London Speaker Bureau can book Lorraine Heggessey for events worldwide, subject to Lorraine's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.

Does Lorraine Heggessey deliver virtual or online keynotes?

Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Lorraine Heggessey is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).

How long is a typical keynote by Lorraine Heggessey?

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 Lorraine can accommodate.

Can Lorraine Heggessey tailor the keynote to our industry and audience?

London Speaker Bureau will brief Lorraine Heggessey 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 Lorraine can offer.

What languages does Lorraine Heggessey present in?

Lorraine Heggessey delivers keynotes in English. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.

What makes Lorraine Heggessey a strong fit as a keynote speaker?

Lorraine Heggessey's areas of expertise include Business & Management, Facilitators & Moderators, Inspirational Women, Leadership, Leadership & Motivation. To get a clear sense of Lorraine'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.

What kind of events can Lorraine Heggessey speak at?

Lorraine Heggessey can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Business & Management, Facilitators & Moderators, Inspirational Women, Leadership, Leadership & Motivation is relevant. Details of Lorraine'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.

Does Lorraine Heggessey offer workshops, panels or fireside chats in addition to keynotes?

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 Lorraine Heggessey is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.

How far in advance should we book Lorraine Heggessey?

We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Lorraine Heggessey, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Lorraine's current availability for your dates.