Sir Conor Burns
The Art of Negotiating and Disagreeing with Dignity
We’re at a critical juncture where disagreements both large and small seem to dominate the world. My goal is to restore civility, curiosity and clarity in disagreement, something that I have employed while navigating some of the most contentious rooms in modern politics. Along the way I have discovered that dignity isn’t the norm…it’s a decision.
Notable Titles
International Trade Expert
Business Advisor/Deal Maker
Writer and Commentator
Chairman Margaret Thatcher Foundation
Fellow, Rice University Baker
Institute for Public Policy
Minister for Trade Policy
Minister of State for Northern Ireland
Prime Minister's Special Representative to the United States
United Kingdom's Trade and Investment Envoy to the United States
Knighted in 2023 by the Princess Royal at Windsor Castle
Sworn of the Privy Council by Queen Elizabeth in 2019
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Select Talks
The Art of Disagreeing with Dignity:
A timeless keynote for polarized times.
How to restore civility, curiosity, and clarity in disagreement — in leadership, teams, and public life — informed by Sir Conor’s lived experience navigating some of the most contentious rooms in modern politics, and discovering that dignity isn’t the norm… it’s a decision.
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Sunday Conversations: Leadership Lessons from The Iron Lady
Modern leadership through the lens of Margaret Thatcher.
A fresh, deeply human look at conviction, courage, and decision-making under pressure — what Thatcher got right, what she struggled with, and what today’s leaders can learn from her era.
Key Take-aways
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Replace polarization with principled curiosity
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Communicate with dignity when emotions run high
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Lead with clarity in complex, contentious environments
Key Take-aways
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Conviction-driven leadership sometimes requires personal cost
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Decisiveness under pressure demands both courage and vulnerability
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Historical leadership lessons adapt, not replicate
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Negotiating the World: What Trade Policy Teaches Us About Influence, Pressure and Leadership
Drawing from his tenure as Minister of State for Trade Policy, Sir Conor reveals how to lead through complexity, navigate competing interests, and make decisions when every outcome has global stakes.
Key Take-aways
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Leadership in complexity means managing impossible trade-offs
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Influence is built through understanding competing interests, not overpowering them
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Sustainable leadership requires systems thinking across borders and time horizons
Bio
We’re at a critical juncture where disagreements — both large and small — shape how we lead, work, and live. As a former UK Minister of State for Trade Policy and the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy for North America, I spent years negotiating at the highest levels of government, navigating complex political landscapes, and forging strategic agreements across industries and states.
Those experiences taught me that in the most contentious rooms, progress depends on something deeper than policy or politics — it depends on dignity, clarity, and the ability to disagree without division.
I now serve as Chairman of The Margaret Thatcher Centre, an organization dedicated to cultivating principled leadership, strengthening the transatlantic relationship, and inspiring future generations to pursue public life with character and courage.
As a keynote speaker, my mission is to help audiences restore civility, curiosity, and clarity in disagreement. These are the tools I relied on throughout my career in Parliament and international diplomacy — and the tools every leader needs in an increasingly polarized world. Along the way, I’ve learned a powerful truth: dignity isn’t the norm… it’s a decision.
Today I advise businesses and investors on transatlantic strategy and expansion, connecting decision-makers, trade associations, and industry leaders. I speak to audiences eager for real-world insight into negotiation, diplomacy, political strategy, and the art of disagreeing with dignity.