Top 10 Crisis Management Expert Keynote Speakers to Hire in 2026
In an era defined by rapid change, economic uncertainty and constant disruption, effective crisis management has become a critical leadership skill. From reputational threats and cyber incidents to operational failures and global instability, organisations are increasingly judged by how they respond under pressure.
In this blog, we highlight the Top 10 crisis management expert keynote speakers to hire in 2026, exploring the thought leaders who equip businesses with the mindset, strategies and resilience needed to navigate crises with confidence and emerge stronger.
Why is Crisis Management a Critical Leadership Skill?
Crisis management has become essential for leaders because nearly 44% of companies experienced at least one major brand-related crisis in 2025, underscoring that no organisation is immune to disruption. In volatile economic, technological, and social environments, leaders must make rapid decisions under pressure, maintain stakeholder trust, and protect reputation and continuity. Effective crisis leadership ensures clear communication, decisive action, and adaptive strategies that minimise operational, financial and reputational damage. Without these skills, organisations risk prolonged disruption and loss of confidence from customers, employees and investors, making crisis readiness a strategic imperative for 2026 and beyond.
How Has Crisis Management Evolved Leading to 2026?
Crisis management has shifted from a reactive, event-driven response function to a proactive, integrated strategic discipline over the past decade. Historically, leaders focused mainly on responding to threats once they occurred. Today, organisations prioritise risk assessment, preparedness, resilience building and cross-functional coordination long before a crisis hits. This evolution reflects the increasing complexity of risks, including cyber threats, geopolitical volatility and extreme weather, and the necessity for agile, data-driven responses that integrate communication, technology and stakeholder engagement. By 2026, modern crisis leadership emphasises early detection, real-time intelligence and adaptive decision making to minimise impact and safeguard reputation.
Source: Chambers and Partners
How Can Crisis Management Speakers Help?
Crisis management speakers provide targeted expertise that helps organisations strengthen leadership capability, improve communication and build resilience before and during disruption. Their insights translate academic models and real-life case studies into practical strategies leaders can apply immediately. Research shows that around only 50% of UK businesses have a formal crisis response plan, even though most have faced significant disruption such as cyber-attacks or operational failures, highlighting a preparedness gap that speakers can help close. By equipping leaders with proactive frameworks and skills, crisis speakers help reduce risk, protect reputation and improve long-term performance.
Who Are the Top 10 Crisis Management Expert Keynote Speakers?
The Motivational Speakers Agency works with leading speakers across the globe, and following the collection of data from 124 keynote events between 2024 and 2025, Mark Matthews has collated this expert list of the best Crisis Management speakers.
- Sarah Armstrong-Smith
- Judy Smith
- Jonathan Shaw
- Brett Bruen
- Frank Gardner
- Danni Brooke
- Robert Hannigan
- Dr James Alvarez
- Chris Voss
- Caspar Berry
1. Sarah Armstrong-Smith
Sarah Armstrong-Smith is a leading authority on cyber security, resilience and crisis management, best known for her tenure as Chief Security Advisor for Microsoft EMEA from 2020 to 2025. With a career spanning more than two decades, she has operated on the front line of major cyber incidents, business continuity challenges and large-scale disruptions, including early work on the Millennium Bug. Sarah has held senior resilience and crisis roles at organisations such as AXA, Ernst & Young, Fujitsu and the London Stock Exchange Group.
A Microsoft Distinguished Speaker, she delivers practical, human-centred insights that help leaders prepare for uncertainty, respond decisively under pressure and turn crises into opportunities for long term organisational resilience and trust.
Official Testimonial for Sarah Armstrong-Smith:
"A huge thank you for today's session - you were absolutely fantastic. You managed to make cloud security (a topic that usually makes people's eyes glaze over) sound not just urgent but genuinely engaging. That's a rarity in this industry, and our audience definitely felt it. I really hope this is the first of many sessions we get to do together. You brought clarity, energy and plenty of aha! moments - and honestly, I'm already trying to figure out how to lure you back for round two. Thanks again for lending us your time and brilliance today. We'd love to collaborate more often - and next time, maybe we'll even manage to make misconfigurations sound glamorous." - Supriya, SecPod
2. Judy Smith
Judy Smith is one of the world’s most influential crisis management authorities and the real-life inspiration behind Scandal. With more than 25 years advising presidents, global leaders and Fortune 50 CEOs, she is renowned for guiding organisations through high-profile reputational, political and ethical crises. Founder of Smith & Company, Judy has led responses to events ranging from corporate scandals and cyber breaches to global health emergencies.
As a keynote speaker, she combines legal insight, strategic communication and powerful storytelling to show leaders how to stay calm under pressure, make principled decisions and protect trust when the stakes are at their highest.
Official Testimonial for Judy Smith:
"Judy Smith was so personable and really blew the crowd away with her willingness to go into the crowd and engage our students. This is one of the largest events our campus has seen that brought together our students, faculty and staff and a great way to kick off future programming here at University of Richmond." - University of Richmond
3. Jonathan Shaw
Jonathan Shaw is a former British Army Major General and one of the UK’s foremost experts on cyber security and crisis leadership. As the first Head of Cybersecurity for the British Army, he played a pivotal role in shaping national cyber defence after three decades of frontline military service. His career spans command roles in the Falklands, Kosovo and Iraq, alongside senior leadership positions within UK defence and the Ministry of Defence.
Drawing on deep experience of geopolitical risk, cyber threats and decision making under pressure, Jonathan delivers authoritative keynotes that help organisations understand real risks, separate threat from hype and respond decisively during crises.
Official Testimonial for Jonathan Shaw:
“He was really excellent at yesterday’s conference; thoughtful, insightful and a powerful presenter. He provided real value to our conference.” – Neil, FutureWorld
4. Brett Bruen
Brett Bruen is a former US diplomat and respected authority on geopolitics, crisis communications and global risk. With 12 years in diplomatic service, he worked at the centre of international conflict resolution and strategic messaging, including as Director of Global Engagement at the White House and on the US National Security Council. Brett played a key role in shaping counter-crisis communication strategies and advising on high-profile global incidents.
Now President of the Global Situation Room and a lecturer at Georgetown University, he delivers compelling keynotes that translate complex geopolitical challenges into practical insights for leaders navigating uncertainty and reputational risk.
Official Testimonial for Brett Bruen:
"You did an amazing job with your presentation! I really appreciated your perspective and the actionable takeaways you provided"- Virginia International Business Council
5. Frank Gardner
Frank Gardner is one of the UK’s most respected voices on security, geopolitics and crisis reporting, best known as the BBC’s first full-time Security Correspondent. Having reported from some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones, including Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen, Frank offers rare frontline insight into how crises unfold in real time. After surviving a life-threatening Al Qaeda attack in 2004, he returned to broadcasting within a year, exemplifying extraordinary resilience under pressure.
As a keynote speaker, Frank combines lived experience, strategic analysis and personal perseverance to help audiences understand risk, uncertainty and leadership in moments of extreme adversity.
Official Testimonial for Frank Gardner:
"Frank Gardner was excellent in giving an introductory speech and performing a 'Chairman' role - he really pulled the whole event together, spoke excellently, highly articulate, very informed and interesting" - Reed
6. Danni Brooke
Danni Brooke is a globally recognised cybersecurity and intelligence specialist whose expertise is rooted in real-world frontline experience. A former Metropolitan Police Officer, she was the most deployed female undercover operative in British policing history, working on high-risk investigations involving organised crime, weapons and trafficking. Now Co-Founder of The OSINT Group, Danni advises organisations on human led threat intelligence, digital safety and cyber resilience.
An award-winning, bestselling author and regular media contributor, she delivers powerful keynotes that translate complex cyber risks into clear, practical lessons on awareness, resilience and crisis response in an increasingly digital world.
Official Testimonial for Danni Brooke:
"We've just finished the session and it was absolutely fantastic. Please can you pass on my thanks to Danni, she was amazing, so engaging and interesting - I could have listened to her all day! She is a complete natural. Thank you both so much for helping us to raise awareness of IWD, we've had some great feedback and the call has only just ended!" - Zoe, Internal Communications Manager, Arvato CRM Solutions
7. Robert Hannigan
Robert Hannigan is one of the UK’s most authoritative voices on cyber security, national resilience and crisis preparedness. With more than two decades in public service, he is best known for serving as Director of GCHQ, where he led the UK’s signals intelligence and cyber defence capabilities and helped establish the National Cyber Security Centre. Now Chairman of BlueVoyant International, Robert advises organisations on managing cyber risk and protecting critical systems.
Drawing on experience at the heart of government and intelligence, his keynotes offer clear, strategic insight into cyber threats, leadership decision-making and crisis response in an increasingly volatile digital landscape.
Robert Hannigan's Official Speaking Topics:
- Cyber Security
- Technology and Innovation
- Business Management
- Computer Science
- Security and Risk
- Cyber Threat
8. Dr James Alvarez
Dr James Alvarez is a consultant psychologist and globally recognised authority on hostage and crisis negotiation, uniquely trusted by both Scotland Yard and the NYPD. He has helped resolve more than 24 kidnap for ransom and maritime piracy cases and authored foundational definitions and training used by elite negotiators, including courses for Broadmoor Hospital. Former European Operations Director of the International Association of Hostage Negotiators and an Honorary Police Surgeon of the NYPD, Dr Alvarez advises FTSE and Fortune 100 organisations, military and intelligence agencies.
His keynotes translate extreme negotiation experience into practical lessons on decision making, behaviour change and leadership under intense pressure.
Dr James Alvarez's Official Speaking Topics:
- Business Strategy Development
- Change Management
- Business Process Redesign
- Organisational Culture Change
- Training Programme Development & Delivery
- Communications
- Leadership Development
- Executive Coaching
9. Chris Voss
Drawing on 24 years at the forefront of FBI hostage and kidnapping negotiations, Chris Voss brings unparalleled real-world insight into crisis decision-making and high-stakes communication. As a lead negotiator on the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, he was involved in more than 150 hostage cases worldwide, including complex international incidents. Now founder of The Black Swan Group and author of the bestselling Never Split the Difference, Chris translates life-or-death negotiation techniques into practical frameworks for business leaders.
His compelling keynotes equip organisations with proven tools to manage conflict, control emotion and achieve better outcomes under pressure.
Chris Voss's Official Speaking Topics:
- Never Split the Difference
- Negotiation Secrets from an FBI Hostage Negotiator
- Why Yes is the Last Thing You Want to Hear
- Two Words that Immediately Transform any Negotiation
10. Caspar Berry
Blending high-stakes decision-making with real-world performance under pressure, Caspar Berry brings a unique perspective to crisis management and leadership. A former professional poker player and successful entrepreneur, Caspar understands how to assess risk, remain calm in uncertainty and make smart decisions when outcomes are unclear. His earlier career as an actor and film director adds a powerful storytelling edge to his keynotes, making complex ideas instantly relatable.
Having delivered more than 1,200 talks for global brands including Google, Barclays and PayPal, Caspar helps leaders reframe risk, manage uncertainty and make confident decisions when it matters most.
Official Testimonial for Caspar Berry:
"Caspar is an inspirational speaker but does it with content and delivery that captures the imagination and challenges the audience to really think in a different way. His delivery is interactive, entertaining and very thought-provoking and is fantastic for delivering a great session with a difference." - Sian, Director of Retail, Orange
Hire a Crisis Management Speaker Today!
If you are interested in learning more about crisis management, don’t hesitate to get in touch today! Contact us by filling in our online contact form or by calling a booking agent directly on 0207 0787 876.
This exclusive article on the top crisis management speakers to hire was written by Mark Matthews, utilising exclusive client feedback from 124 events between 2024 and 2025.
