Penny Mordaunt was a Parliamentarian for 14 years, holding nine ministerial roles, four in Cabinet. She was the first and only woman to be Secretary of State for Defence, having also been the first and only woman to be Minister for the Armed Forces. As Paymaster General she was became the UK government’s first cross-government defensive cyber lead and led the rebuild of the UK’s civil contingencies and resilience strategy.
She been Secretary of State for International Development, working with UN agencies, international organisations and she was the UK’s representative at the World Bank. As Trade Minister she brokered new trade deals, oversaw the UK’s accession to CPTPP and established economic agreements with US states, in lieu of a federal deal. In doing so she undertook the longest tour of the US of any Minister since Churchill during WWII. She was also on the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee overseeing the UK’s exit from the EU. She has held other roles in local government, work, health, pensions and disability. Prior to Parliament she worked across all sectors and also in US politics as Head of Foreign Press for the RNC during the Bush 2000 campaign.
She was a Royal Navy Reservist for 10 years and is now an Honorary Captain affiliated to MCM2 Squadron, the UK’s mine hunters and bomb disposal divers. She is co-author of Greater: Britain after the storm, which made bestseller lists in the UK and the US.
She came to the public’s attention in the role of Leader of the Commons and Lord President of the Council, presiding over the Accession Council following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and at the coronation of King Charles III.
She has won Parliamentary Wit of the Year, Spectator speech of the year, was among Gracia and Vogue’s most influential women of the year. Known for her speeches and exchanges in the House of Commons, she is one of only four women to have been asked to address the Saints and Sinners club, the others being Princess Anne, Margaret Thatcher and Dame Vera Lynn.
Testimonials
“Penny is one of the most powerful, incisive, witty speakers I’ve ever heard.”
“Trying to understand the things which matter in a complex and rapidly changing environment is vital for any organisation. In her parliamentary career Penny has held a number of ministerial roles and served on departmental select committees, both domestic as well as international facing. She brings 360 degree awareness combined with a remarkable ability to communicate as well as inspire.”
“Three words sum up Penny Mordant: intelligent, original and lucid. Through the many posts she has held at the heart of government, from Secretary of State for International Development, to Secretary of State for Defence, and Leader of the House of Commons, she has unique insight and a deep understanding of what makes this country tick. A philosopher by training, an optimist by nature, an amateur astronomer in her spare time, Penny sees the world around her in novel and interesting ways. She has the gift of speech and the gift of listening. Time spent with her makes you think and wonder.”
“Penny Mordaunt was an outstanding Minister, leading from the front and engaging her civil servants in all the government departments she worked in. She has great leadership and social skills. She is also highly trained and effective in a crisis, having run the civil contingencies response. As well as getting ‘the best out of people’ as a leader, she is also very adept and aware of geo-political situations given her roles in defence, trade and the workplace. She is one of the few Ministers to have worked effectively in a huge variety of diverse portfolios e.g. DWP, MoD, trade and communities. She is also very articulate and would make an outstanding speaker on leadership, management and organisational issues.”
“From the board of the World Bank, through the UK Cabinet to collaborating with civic entrepreneurs Penny brings learning and experience of innovation across sectors and that link the local and global. When so many teams need to reach up and out, as well as across and down this is gold dust for your organisation in our complex times’
She is a serious, funny, thoughtful speaker and I would recommend Penny to any trade association or senior team wanting to be challenged, encouraged and inspired
With a track record of success in the UK Cabinet, in local leadership and in the arenas of defence, development and disability Penny is the perfect speaker for organisation’s who want to celebrate every colleague’s contribution , and build inclusive boards for modern times”
“I have been profoundly impressed by how easily Penny can assess and understand a situation and then provide insightful advice across multiple levels of analysis, providing both a national and international perspective.”
“I have witnessed Penny’s leadership skills on multiple occasions. I am always amazed at how she can diffuse tension and turn heated argument into constructive discussion. I have learnt so much from her.”
“As director of an Institute in the life sciences, I was often ill-prepared for the complexity of the job. Penny’s advice on staff welfare, equalities, engaging with communities, interacting with charities, and developing a financial strategy has allowed us to thrive and build our scientific enterprise. I cannot thank her enough”.
“Penny is an experienced politician, having served in a range of ministerial roles encompassing trade, defence, development and social policy. She has a wide international network. She has been involved in handling both domestic and international crises, and appreciates the security and humanitarian imperatives. She also has a deep relationship with the armed forces, recognised by her appointment as a Royal Navy Honorary Captain.”
Media reviews of Greater: Britain after the storm
“Eloquent, eccentric and bloody good fun.”
“Utterly uplifting and inspiring.”
“Smart, thoughtful, passionate.”
“Loving, invigorating and delivered with characteristic wit.”
“Uplifting and highly readable.”
“Reminds me of so many things I love about the UK.”
“Thoughtful, affectionate and surprisingly funny.”
“This book lays out a clear plan for Britain. It says we need to modernise, socially, culturally and economically. I cannot recommend it highly enough.”