Richard Kerbaj

Richard Kerbaj is an investigative journalist, author, and BAFTA-winning filmmaker who illuminates the hidden world of espionage and the Five Eyes intelligence network. His investigative work has appeared in The Times, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, whilst his analysis has featured on the BBC, ITV, and HBO. His debut book, The Secret History of the Five Eyes, generated international headlines, and his second book, The Defector, published in Britain in 2024 with a US release in 2026, reveals the untold story of KGB agent Oleg Lyalin. Richard helps audiences understand how high-stakes decisions are made under pressure, challenging assumptions about trust, leadership, and ethical boundaries in intelligence work, whilst equipping them with insights into organisational values and the delicate balance between security and civil liberties.

When KGB agent Oleg Lyalin walked into the arms of British intelligence in 1971, his defection exposed Soviet operations and triggered one of the boldest diplomatic moves in British history: the mass expulsion of 105 Soviet spies. Richard Kerbaj uncovered this forgotten Cold War story through years of painstaking research, publishing The Defector in Britain in September 2025 to widespread acclaim, with a US edition scheduled for September 2026. Over nearly two decades as an investigative journalist, author, and BAFTA-winning filmmaker, Richard has become one of the foremost authorities on espionage and the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, dedicated to illuminating the hidden world of spy agencies that shape global security. His debut book, The Secret History of the Five Eyes, generated international headlines for its revelations about the intelligence partnership between the United States, Britain, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, whilst his forthcoming third espionage history and television drama, developed with Hollywood actor and producer Jamie Lee Curtis, promise to further cement his reputation for making the clandestine world accessible.

Richard's credibility rests on extraordinary access to intelligence officials and government leaders, enabling him to uncover stories that rarely emerge from the shadows. Over six years of research for his first book alone, he conducted more than 100 interviews, including conversations with two British and two Australian Prime Ministers. His investigative work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, The Washington Post, The Times, and The Guardian, whilst his analysis has featured on the BBC, ITV, Amazon, and HBO, as well as prominent podcasts including The Rest is History and The Rest is Classified. As a twice Emmy-nominated filmmaker, Richard produced the BAFTA-winning documentary My Son, the Jihadi and the four-part British television drama Litvinenko, starring David Tennant, which chronicled the assassination of Alexander Litvinenko by Russian agents in London. His ability to secure unprecedented cooperation from intelligence communities has established him as a trusted voice capable of interrogating both the triumphs and failures of household names such as the CIA, FBI, MI6, MI5, and GCHQ.

What makes Richard's insights particularly valuable for audiences is his focus on the human and organisational dimensions of intelligence work. Trust, leadership, culture, and teamwork sit at the heart of his narratives, themes with profound relevance far beyond the world of espionage. Whether recounting acts of bravery during the Second World War, treachery during the Cold War, or cautionary tales of political leaders compromising agencies for personal gain, Richard helps audiences understand how high-stakes decisions are made under pressure and secrecy. His presentations challenge assumptions, provoke critical thinking, and offer fresh perspectives on how intelligence shapes geopolitics and our daily lives. Audiences leave with a redefined understanding of espionage, equipped with insights into organisational values, ethical leadership, and the delicate balance between security and civil liberties that resonates across sectors and industries.