As Head of the UK’s Office of Security and Counter-Terrorism for the last five years, Thomas Hurd was the most senior official in the UK government responsible for Homeland Security, leading cross-government work countering state threats, cyber crime and security, disinformation, money laundering, online harms, child sexual exploitation and terrorism.... Read more
As Head of the UK’s Office of Security and Counter-Terrorism for the last five years, Thomas Hurd was the most senior official in the UK government responsible for Homeland Security, leading cross-government work countering state threats, cyber crime and security, disinformation, money laundering, online harms, child sexual exploitation and terrorism. He also oversaw the domestic operations of the intelligence agencies, CT Police and the National Crime Agency and played a leading role internationally on domestic security issues, especially within the Five Eyes community.
Thomas Hurd believed that mastering data and technology was key to transforming the UK’s approach to Homeland Security. He initiated new relationships within government but also with industry, academia and Big Tech to make this a reality. He was instrumental in helping create the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism which has led social media companies to remove automatically tens of millions of terrorist content from the internet. Building on his expertise on breaking down barriers and building transparency between and within organisations, he created, on behalf of the UK’s Chief Scientific Advisor, a single approach to science and technology innovation across the UK’s national security community to help pull through technology faster to the front line and help the UK harness its cyber and science power on the world stage.
As a result of his experience in mastering data to achieve better outcomes, Hurd was asked in mid-2020 to set up from scratch, and at pace, the UK’s Joint Biosecurity Centre, a data-led organisation that brought data science and public health expertise together in one place to spot earlier and more accurately outbreaks of COVID-19 in the UK and then advise the UK government and local authorities how best to respond. Hurd also led the Joint Biosecurity Centre’s work to define and set COVID-19 national alert levels for the UK. Hurd has remained involved in health security helping ensure the security of the UK’s vaccine supply chain.
Hurd is an expert in crisis management and recovery. He coordinated the UK response to terrorist attacks including breaking the momentum behind the attacks in 2017 in Manchester and London. He chaired, in 2018, the first COBRA meeting in response to the Russian chemical weapon attack in Salisbury and then led elements of the domestic response. As Chief of Assessments Staff in the Cabinet Office from 2012-14, Hurd personally led briefings to the PM at COBRAs. He also compiled the PM’s daily intelligence brief.
Hurd studied Arabic at Oxford University and spent much of his career in postings in the Middle East and in senior leadership positions in government focused on conflict resolution in the region, in particular in Iraq and on Israeli-Palestinian issues.
Thomas Hurd has attended the National Security Council and was a member of the UK’s Joint Intelligence Committee. He was appointed OBE by Her Majesty in 2011 and CB in 2020 for his services to national security.
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You can book Thomas Hurd through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Thomas's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Thomas Hurd'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 Thomas tailored to your event.
Thomas Hurd speaks on Business & Management, Cyber Security, Future & Technology, Middle East, Security. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Thomas to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Thomas Hurd for events worldwide, subject to Thomas'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 Thomas Hurd 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 Thomas can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Thomas Hurd 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 Thomas can offer.
Thomas Hurd 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.
Thomas Hurd's areas of expertise include Business & Management, Cyber Security, Future & Technology, Middle East, Security. To get a clear sense of Thomas'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.
Thomas Hurd 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, Cyber Security, Future & Technology, Middle East, Security is relevant. Details of Thomas'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 Thomas Hurd 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 Thomas Hurd, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Thomas's current availability for your dates.