Chris Grayling

Chris Grayling is a seasoned British politician and author who specialises in navigating complex governance, transport infrastructure, and organisational leadership at the highest levels. He served in multiple Cabinet roles, including Secretary of State for Transport from 2016 to 2019, where he championed the expansion of Heathrow Airport and committed to delivering all phases of HS2, accelerating the Birmingham to Crewe section to open in 2027. As the first non-lawyer to serve as Lord Chancellor in over 440 years, he led multi-billion pound organisations across justice, employment, and transport. Chris equips audiences with practical insights on strategic decision-making, managing large-scale change, and leading through political and commercial complexity.

When Chris Grayling became Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice in September 2012, he made history as the first non-lawyer to hold the position in over 440 years. His journey from the television and film industry, where he worked for the BBC and Channel 4, through corporate communications at Burson-Marsteller, to the upper echelons of British government reflects a career built on managing complexity and driving transformation. First elected as Member of Parliament for Epsom and Ewell in 2001, he progressed rapidly through the Shadow Cabinet before taking on successive ministerial roles that would see him oversee some of the UK's most significant policy challenges across employment, justice, and transport.

Throughout his Cabinet career, Chris led organisations with multi-billion pound budgets and national remits. As Minister of State for Employment following the 2010 general election, he helped shape workforce policy during a period of economic recovery. His tenure as Lord Chancellor saw him manage the justice system through substantial reform, balancing legal tradition with modern governance demands. As Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council from 2015 to 2016, he navigated parliamentary procedure at a time of intense political debate. During his time as Secretary of State for Transport from 2016 to 2019, Chris championed two of Britain's most ambitious infrastructure projects: the expansion of Heathrow Airport and the delivery of HS2. He secured Parliamentary consent for the National Policy Statement to expand Heathrow, describing it as potentially his most lasting achievement in government, having taken the project further than any administration had managed in 50 years. He committed to delivering all phases of HS2 and accelerated plans to open the Birmingham to Crewe section in 2027, six years ahead of the original schedule. He also oversaw Highways England's £27 billion Road Investment Strategy and managed the complex repatriation of 100,000 UK citizens following the collapse of Monarch Airlines.

Chris equips audiences with practical perspectives on strategic decision-making, managing large-scale infrastructure projects, and leading through political and commercial uncertainty. Drawing from his experience navigating high-stakes policy debates, securing parliamentary support for controversial initiatives, and overseeing major capital programmes, he helps organisations understand how to balance competing priorities, manage stakeholder complexity, and drive long-term transformation. His insights span governance, transport planning, organisational leadership, and the intersection of public policy with business strategy, offering audiences tested frameworks for leading through change and delivering ambitious outcomes in challenging environments.