Sir David Omand

Formerly Security and Intelligence Co-ordinator / Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office

Sir David Omand was first UK Security and Intelligence Coordinator as Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office, responsible for the professional health of the intelligence community, national counter-terrorism strategy and “homeland security”.  He was the Government’s chief crisis manager for civil contingencies, and led the interdepartmental initiative to improve risk management. 

He was Permanent Secretary of the Home Office and before that of GCHQ, and as MOD Deputy Under Secretary for Policy was particularly concerned with long term strategy, with the British military contribution in restoring peace in the former Yugoslavia and the recasting of British nuclear deterrence policy at the end of the Cold War.  He served for seven years on the UK’s Joint Intelligence Committee,

He is experienced in leadership and business change, including introducing MOD’s new management strategy in the early 1990s, as Director GCHQ (1996-1997) reshaping the organization post Cold War and leveraging the opportunities of new technology,  and when Permanent Secretary of the Home Office (1997-2000) leading personnel reforms in the Civil Service.

He is now Visiting Professor at the War Studies Department, King’s College London and strategy adviser to the UK aerospace industry.  He is a regular speaker on security and intelligence and on the ethical dimension of leadership.  He is a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute, Vice Chairman of the Windsor Leadership Trust and a Trustee of the Natural History Museum.  He is currently working for a degree in Mathematics with the Open University.