Speaker Bio

Henry was appointed as the UK Cyber Security Ambassador in the Department for International Trade (DIT) in April 2019.  In this role he will work closely with UK businesses seeking to secure major international contracts with overseas governments and central banks that are looking to bolster their cyber defences against potential cyber threats. He will initially focus his efforts on the Gulf and South and South-East Asia.

Between November 2014 and April 2016 Henry was an HMGCyber Adviser attached to the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).  This role involved providing a range of support to the activities of the UK Cyber Security Ambassador, DIT Cyber Team and NCSC International Relations Team, including: speaking at major conferences in the UK and overseas; developing National and Defence Cyber Security Strategies for overseas governments; and reviewing current overseas cyber initiatives. The role also involved providing support and assurance on major bids and projects by UK industry.

Between June 2014 and April 2016 Henry was also the National Technical Authority (NTA – originally GCHQ/CESG now the NCSC) Ambassador for Academic Engagement, the first such appointment. This included liaising with UK Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Research, UK Research Institutes in Cyber Security and Centres for Doctoral Training and chairing the annual Joint UK Cyber Security Research Institutes conference.

Between 2001 and 2013 Henry was a full-time embedded Independent Adviser to the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), working closely with the Department’s Chief Information Officer to provide strategic and operational support on cyber security, cryptography and communications and information systems to Ministers and Senior Officials.  He played a leading role in shaping the Department’s support to Defence Industry’s cyber security efforts.  He led the development of business cases for major projects (multi-£Bn) and helped ensure their funding and approval.

From 1982 to 2007 Henry worked in a range of senior positions with the consultancy, Detica (now BAE Systems Applied Intelligence).  This included line management responsibility for the Defence side of the company while retaining a strong involvement in the technical side of the work. He led teams developing a range of communications and information systems strategies for MOD, resulting in the formation of the Defence Communications Services Agency (now the Joint Force Command’s Information Systems and Services organisation).

Henry was educated at The Perse School in Cambridge and then attended Trinity College, Cambridge University where he gained a first-class degree in mathematics and a PhD in Environmental Fluid Mechanics. He was then a Research Fellow at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Los Angeles.

Henry is married to Julia with 5 adult children and step-children. He lives near Guildford. His main leisure activities are golf, bridge, running, walking and listening to music, particularly opera.

He is a Trustee and Executive Committee Member of the Investec International Music Festival and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners.

From 2007 to 2013 he was Chairman of Governors of the Royal Grammar School, Guildford (RGSG) and he remains a Governor of the School. He is also a Governor of the RGSG in Qatar, the RGS’s satellite school in Doha.