Guest Speakers

A key component to the activities at Netherhall is the guest speaker series. Over the years many academics, politicians, entrepreneurs and journalists have been coming to Netherhall to share their personal experiences and expertise, offering an opportunity for students to broaden their general knowledge and to become informed about contemporary, relevant issues.

The talks typically take place on Mondays during the first and second term. The usual arrangement is for a speaker to come at 6.30pm for a brief tour of the House and an aperitif with a few of the students, followed by dinner at 7pm. The talk takes place at 7.45pm in the lounge, lasting approximately 20-30 minutes, leaving time for questions before finishing by 8.30pm.

2022-2024

  1. The dark side of Organisational Behaviour, 21 November 2022. Dr Jonathan Pinto

  2. The war in the Ukraine: what are the moral and legal issues? 16 January 2023. Prof Anthony Carty

  3. Looking back at a career, 23 January 2023. Robert Wigley

  4. Christians in Politics, 21 February 2023. Lord Michael Farmer

  5. The most important thing in life is not life, but the good life, 9 October 2023. Dr Alfred Sonnenfeld

  6. From doctorate to corporate, 18 October 2023. Dr Peter Bradshaw

  7. Where we are at with research and advances in virology and immunology, 22 January 2024. Prof Ariberto Fassati

  8. Trade and politics, 25 January 2024. Lord Stephen Green

  9. A banking career, 8 February 2024. Torry Berntsen

  10. Eolic polar exploration, 10 February 2024. Manuel Olivera

  11. Geopolitics and Asset management, 19 February 2024. Dr Brian Mangwiro

  12. My life and piano, 4 March 2024. Norma Fisher

2019 - 2022

  1. Urban Sciences, 15 October 2019. Angus Palmer

  2. AI at Amazon, 29 October 2019. Albert Creixell

  3. Formula E, 28 January 2020. Edward Smith

  4. Early Mars: How blue was it? 23 November 2020. Dr Javier Cuadros

  5. The polarisation of American politics, 25 January 2021. Kevin Schilling

  6. The idea of home in the cinema of Terence Malik, 15 March, 2021. Dr Pablo Alzola

  7. 21st century project management, 1 November 2021. Javier Lopez

  8. The art of running an investment company, 8 November 2021. Dominik Nagly

  9. The perpetual outsider - foreign cultural significance,15 November 2021. Stephen Tsang

  10. Software projects at consumer companies, 29 November 2021. Hubert Behaghel

  11. Revolut and the world of Fintech, 31 January 2022. Thomas Tudehope

  12. The European consciousness and the Other, 21 February 2022. Aldri Cela

  13. The Commonwealth, 28 February 2022. Prof. Luis Franceschi

  14. Self-leadership, 14 March 2022. Philip Catterall

2018 – 2019

  1. Russian Church in Russian History, October 9, 2018, Prof. Neil Kent

  2. Finding Cheonggyecheon, October 23, 2018, In Keun Lee

  3. Deployable structures, October 29, 2018, Prof. Zhong You

  4. Designing the new Louvre, November 6, 2018, Ian Maddocks

  5. Influencing a Wired World with Cyber Intelligence, November 13, 2018, Peter Debbins

  6. Ethical challenges in finance, November 20, 2018, James Ryan

  7. Recent discoveries in human evolution, December 3, 2018, Dr. Charles Breeze

  8. The problem of free will, February 12, 2019, Prof. Thomas Pink

  9. Why We Sleep, March 5, 2019, Peter Adams

  10. Double Negative visual effects, 14 May, 2019, Chus Rodriguez

2017 – 2018

  1. Streets of Calcutta, September 25, 2017, Miguel Bravo

  2. Achieving an Education Despite University, October 10, 2017, Dr. Andrew Hegarty

  3. 1917: The Year that made the Modern Middle East, October 16, 2017, Dr. Philipp Wirtz

  4. The Making of Martin Luther, October 23, 2017, Prof. Richard Rex

  5. Financing the NHS front line, November 6, 2017, Oliver Bloor

  6. US Opioid Crisis, January 15, 2018, Dominic Reynolds

  7. HABITAT: Changing Planet and Changing Habitat, January 22, 2018, Dr. Sandra Piesik

  8. The future of DNA, January 29, 2018, Dr. Charles Breeze

  9. The Queen’s Club, January 31, 2018, Major General Andrew Stewart

  10. Boko Haram conflict, February 5, 2018, Arinze Nwokolo

  11. Transgender policies, February 12, 2018, Robert Flello

  12. Battles Beneath the Ocean, February 19, 2018, Mark Ellyatt

  13. Economy of ancient Rome, March 5, 2018, Dr. George Maher

  14. A big bang in a little room, March 12, 2018, Dr. Zeeya Merali

  15. Structure and beauty of the universe, April 10, 2018, Dr. Dominic Dold

  16. Escalating situation in Syria, April 12, 2018, Dale Gavlak

  17. The Enlightenment myth, April 23, 2018, Dr. Matteo Salonia

2016 – 2017

  1. The Life of a Dead Language: Latin before and after the fall of Rome, October 3, 2016, Dr Daniel Hadas

  2. Beauty and wonder in buildings, October 10, 2016, Javier Castanon

  3. Rethinking the Battle of Trafalgar, October 17, 2016, James Davey

  4. Transhumanism: The new age of man?, October 24, 2016, Dr. Charles Breeze

  5. Money, Manipulation and Mandarins, October 27, 2016, Dr. Matthew O’Brien

  6. Why should we pay attention to China?, November 7, 2016, Dr. Sam Beatson

  7. Banking and finance: a force for the good in a materialistic world, November 14, 2016, Spiro Youakim

  8. Post-Mechanical: Embracing our Fluid World, November 21, 2016, Brendan Cawley

  9. So you want to be a good doctor?, November 28, 2016, Dr. Mike Delany

  10. Article 50 and the EU, January 16, 2017, Andrew Tucker

  11. Why do we speak the way we do?, January 30, 2017, Peter McGee

  12. Understanding the Market place, February 6, 2017, Benjamin G. Voyer

  13. Does Science Need Metaphysics?, February 13, 2017, Prof. Roger Trigg

  14. A Restored Earth: Ten Paths to a Hopeful Future, February 21, 2017, Edward Davey

  15. Palace of Peace and Reconciliation in Kazakhstan, February 27, 2017, George Keliris

  16. The Other London, March 13, 2017, John Coleby

  17. African Investment, March 20, 2017, Sangwani Mabhena

  18. Life at CERN, March 27, 2017, Federico Leo Redi

  19. Rising Pakistan: A myth or reality?, April 19, 2017, Dr. Nabeel Goheer

2015 – 2016

  1. Magna Carta: Why all the fuss?, October 5, 2015, Prof. Anne Duggan

  2. Understanding the Market place, October 12, 2015, Dr. Benjamin G. Voyer

  3. The Roman Republic, October 19, 2015, Dr. Valentina Arena

  4. Getting People out of Wheelchairs, October 26, 2015, Prof. Geoff Raisman

  5. The Battle of Waterloo, November 2, 2015, Veronica Baker-Smith

  6. Faith, Reason, Irrationality and Catholic Education, November 9, 2015, Paul Stubbings

  7. Medieval Guilds and the History of Solidarity, November 16, 2015, Prof. Gervase Rosser

  8. Future Medicine: Breakthroughs in Genomics, November 23, 2015, Charles Breeze

  9. Can there be Unregulated Media Freedom in a Time of Conflict, December 1, 2015, Rear Admiral Nick Wilkinson

  10. Battle of Waterloo, January 12, 2016, Sir Barney White-Spunner

  11. The Brits battling ISIS, January 18, 2016, George Tyldesley

  12. French Wine Terrorism, January 25, 2016, Dr. Andrew Smith

  13. The Origins of Islam in North Africa and the Middle East, February 2, 2016, James Huchinson

  14. Wolf Hall: Great acting but bad history, February 8, 2016, Prof. Richard Rex

  15. What do the national statistics tell us of the Church in England and Wales?, February 15, 2016, Dr. Stephen Bullivant

  16. The Cheong Gye Cheon Restoration Project, February 17, 2016, Dr. In Keun Lee

  17. The Other National Theatre, February 29, 2016, Robert Whelan

  18. Leadership, March 7, 2016, Dan Damon

  19. Future Medicine: Part II, March 14, 2016, Charles Breeze

  20. Christianity in Britain, April 28, 2016, Rt Hon Dominic Grieve MP

  21. A history of the world in 8 million objects: what is the British Museum for now?, May 9, 2016, Jonathan Williams

2014 – 2015

  1. Dr Johnson, October 6, 2014, Prof. John Mullan

  2. What was the Industrial Revolution? October 7, 2014, Leslie Tomory

  3. The Victorians, October 13, 2014, Simon Heffer

  4. Where does the Labour Party go from here? October 28, 2014, Rt. Hon. Paul Murphy MP

  5. Britain Against Napoleon, November 3, 2014, Prof. Roger Knight

  6. The Last Days of Richard III and the fate of his DNA, November 11, 2014, John Ashdown-Hill

  7. Margaret Thatcher, November 17, 2014, Robin Harris

  8. Edmund Burke, January 13, 2015, Jesse Norman MP

  9. How the First World War created the Middle East, January 19, 2015, Dr Philipp Wirtz

  10. The Assisted Dying Bill and its implications, February 2, 2015, Matthew Schellhorn

  11. Royal Annulments to 1600, February 9, 2015, Prof. David D’Avray

  12. The Mission of Catholic Voices, February 17, 2015, Jack Valero

  13. The Devils’ Alliance, Hitler’s Pact with Stalin 1939-41, February 23, 2015, Roger Moorhouse

  14. Addressing the Banking Crisis, March 2, 2015, Juan Colombás

  15. What does it mean to love a person? March 9, 2015, Prof. Clemens Sedmak

  16. What military capability should Britain be expected to maintain? March 16, 2015, Field Marshal Charles Guthrie of Craigiebank

1952 – ca. 2000 (selection)

  1. Cyril ABRAHAM, creator of Onedin Line

  2. Christopher CVIIC. East European Correspondent “The Economist”

  3. Leo ABSE, MP

  4. Mr Frank D’ABREU, Consultant Surgeon, Westminster Hospital

  5. Kennett ADAMS. CVO, MA, Comino Fellow, Royal Society of Arts

  6. Professor Sir Ratf DAHRENDORF, Director, London School of Economics

  7. Rupert ALLASON. MP (Nigel west)

  8. Sir Alan DALTON, CBE, DL, Chairman English China Clays

  9. David ALTON, MP

  10. Professor Norman DAVIES. Fellow St Antonys College. Oxford

  11. J A ANDREW, Consutunt Neurosurgeon. Middlesex Hospital

  12. Chris DAYKIN, President, Insitute of Actuaries

  13. B W ANDRZEJQVSKI. School Oriental & African Studies

  14. Professor C E DENT, FRS, Untersity College

  15. Professor Elizabeh ANSCOMBE, Philosophy, Cambridge

  16. Richard DENTON, BBC Television Director

  17. Lord ARCHIBALD. Chairman, Federation of British Film Makers

  18. K DEWHURST. DPhil, Research Institute. Oxford University

  19. W A ARMSTRONG. MA. PhD. King’s College

  20. Jean-Loup DHERSE. Chief Executive Eurotunnel Plc

  21. Sir Eric ASH, Rector, Imperial College

  22. E H K DIBDEN, Director, University of London Careers Advisory Service

  23. E W ASHCROFT, Head of European Service, BBC (retired)

  24. H Loot DICKSON, MA, Publisher and Aubor

  25. Nicholas ASHFORD, Deputy Foreign Editor, “The Independent”

  26. Kenneth DIXON, Chaiman, RNmÜee Mackintosh Plc

  27. Dr John ASHWORTH, Director, The London Schwl of Economics

  28. William DOUGLAS-HOME. Playwright

  29. Professor Colin ATKINSON, Applied Matwmaöcs, Imperial College

  30. Graham R DOWSON, Director. Rank Organisation

  31. Bemard AUDLEY. Founder & Chaiman, AGB Research Ltd

  32. John DREW. Head of EEC Commission in be UK

  33. Philip BACON, Editor. LBC

  34. Frank DUFFY, President Royal Institute of British Architecture

  35. A B BADGER, MA. PhD. Secretary to Marlow Conference

  36. Terry President Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers

  37. Professor Anbnio BAGGIANO. Law. University of Buenos Aires

  38. Sir Kennefr DURHAM, Chaiman, Unilever Plc

  39. D M BALME, CMG. DSO. DFC. Queen Mary College

  40. M P EARLES. PhD, FPS. Senior Lecturer. Chelsea College

  41. David H BARRON, Chaiman, Shell Transport & Trading Company Ltd

  42. Lt M J EGAN. Member he RN PenEhalon team

  43. Bill BARRY, British Champion Sculler

  44. Herb ELLIOT, Olympic 1500m record holder

  45. Lord BAUER. Emeritus Professor of Economics,London School of Economics ELLIS-REES, KCMG, CB

  46. Sir Hugh K A BAYLEY, Chief of Informaton Division, Unilever

  47. Michael ELMER, The Foreign and OMce

  48. Professor A C F BEALES, King’s College

  49. Peter ELSTOB, Intemaöonal Secretary, Essayist & Novelist

  50. T BEDFORD. Consuttant Engineer

  51. Dr M ESSEX-LOPRESTI. Medical Scienffc Film Association

  52. Stafford BEER. Managing Director, Science in General Management Ltd

  53. Robert EVANS, Chairman. British Gas

  54. Terry BELL, Sale and Purchase Manager, Seascope Ltd

  55. Graham EYRE, QC, Inspector, London Inquiries 1981-84

  56. Dr S BENAIM, Consultant Pysichiatrist Halliwick Hospital

  57. Mr Michael BENNET, FRCS, Research Fellow, Royal Free Hospital

  58. Geoffrey A FAULDER, Head of Opinion Polling Dept. Gallup Poll

  59. Lord BENSON. CBE, MC. Chairman Daw Corporation

  60. B FEATHER, Assistant General Secretary, TUC

  61. Humphry BERKELEY, MP

  62. P E L FELLOWES. Trade Relations Shell International

  63. Lennox BERKELEY, CVE. Composer, Professor, Royal Academy of Music

  64. D C FERGUSON, Dewlopment Manager, Reuters

  65. John BIGGS-DAVISON. MP

  66. Alex FERRY, Secretary, Confederation of Ship Building & Engineering Unions

  67. Philip BIRCH, Chairman. Ward White Group

  68. Robert FIDDONS, Director

  69. Michael BIRD, Chaiman. Massey Ferguson Holdings Plc

  70. Dr John M FINNIS, Reader in Law, Oxford University

  71. Lord BLAKENHAM, Chaiman, Pearson Group Plc and Chairman RSPB

  72. Sir Monty FINNISTON. FEng, FRS, Chairman British Steel Corporation

  73. Baroness BLATCH. Minister for Education

  74. Sir Geoffrey FINSBERG. MP

  75. Bridget BLOOM. Africa Correspondent, Financial Times

  76. J J FLOOD, MD, DPM, Medical Dirwtor, The Priory, Roehampton

  77. Sir George BOLTON, Director, Bank of England

  78. Sir Denis FOLLOWS, Chairman, Britsh Olympic Association

  79. de BONO, Founder, Int Creative Forum

  80. J E FOSTER, Assistant Director of Examinations. CMI Service Commission

  81. Christopher BOOKER, first Editor. “Private Eye”

  82. John FOSTER. Director of Trading Food, John Lewis Partnership

  83. John BOOTH, Managing Director, Capiul Growth Europe Ltd

  84. Sir Richard FRANCIS, Director General. The Briüsh Council

  85. Phyllis BOWMAN, National Director, SPUC

  86. K J A FRASER, Head of Marketing. Unilever Plc

  87. Andrea BOYLE, “The World at one”. BBC

  88. Howard FRENCH, Editor, Daily Sketch

  89. Sir Kenneth BRADLEY, Director, Commonwealth Institute

  90. Dr John FRY. MD, FRCS, College of General Pracütioners

  91. Jim BRANDIE. Industrial Relaions Manager, British Airways

  92. J P BROOKE-LITTLE. FSA. Bluemande Pursuivant of Arms

  93. John GARNETT, Director, Industrial Society

  94. Trevor BROOKING. West Ham Fooball Club

  95. Sir Reay GEDDES, KBE. Chairman, Dunlop Holdings Ltd

  96. Leo GENN, Actor

  97. Tony BROOKS. motoring correspondent

  98. Rupert BROOKS, Manager of Graduate Careers, Dunlop Ltd

  99. Robert GEORGE. Faculty of Law, Princeton University, I-JS Supreme Court

  100. Denis GEORGES-PICOT, Financial Attache. French Embassy

  101. Professor Arthur BROWN. University

  102. MP J L GIBBONS, MRCP, DPM. Newcastle University

  103. Richard BUCHANAN,

  104. Col Maurice BUCKMASTER, Head of Special Operations Executive

  105. Basil GIBSON, Director. Minet & co

  106. Sir John BURGH, KCMG, CB, Director General, The British Council

  107. Victoria GILLICK, Director. INFORM

  108. Lionel BURKE. De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd

  109. Tim GILLIGAN, Chairman and MD, Pimey Bowes

  110. Geoffrey C BUTCHER, Briish Petroleum

  111. Paul GIROLAMI. Chairman, Glaxo Holdings Plc

  112. J M BUXTON, MA. Fellow of Nea College, Oxford

  113. Lord GLADWYN, GCMG. GCVO, CB, former British Ambassador in Paris

  114. Marjorie St Clare BYRNE, OBE. Royal Academy of Dramatic Art

  115. Sir Alan GOODSON. KCMG, CVO, former Ambassador to Dublin

  116. Luke GORMALLY, Director, Linacre Centre

  117. Sir Adrian CADBURY, Chairman, Cadbury Schweppes Plc

  118. Mr Lionel GRACEY, Consulbnt Surgeon, Royal Free Hospital

  119. Rear Admiral John CADELL. Director General, Navy Personnel Services

  120. G GRAFTON GREEN, Executive Producer, Rank Organisation

  121. Michael H CAINE, Chairman, Booker McConnell Plc

  122. Patrick GRAFTON GREEN, Partner, Theodore Goddard Solicitors

  123. Lord CAMOYS. Executive Vice-Chairman, Barclays Merchant Bank

  124. Roy GRANTHAM, General Secretary, Apex

  125. Patrick CARROLL. Actuary. Risk Research Ltd

  126. Geoffrey GRAY-FORTON, ex-intemational association football referee

  127. C CASSIDY. MEd, BSc, Divisional Educaöonal Officer, Middlesex

  128. H S K GREENLEES. OBE; Director. Laing & Cruikshank

  129. Bryan CASSIDY, MEP Professor

  130. Brian GRIFFITHS, Dean, The City University Business School

  131. Sir Frederick CATHERWOOD. Chairman, British Institute of Management

  132. H GRISEMOOD, CBE, ex-Chief Assisbnt to Director General of BBC

  133. Professor A J E CAVE, St Bartholomews Hospital Medical College

  134. Max R GROSSMAN. Cultural officer, US Embassy

  135. Lord CHALFONT, Minister of State. Foreign Office

  136. Peter GROSVENOR, Literary Editor, The Daily Express

  137. Michael CHARLTON, BBC News Reporter

  138. Eva GRUNWALD, PhD, University College

  139. Philip CHARLTON. Chief Executive, TSB

  140. Christopher CHATAWAY, MP, former champion athlete

  141. Sir Arnold HALL, Chairman, Hawker Siddeley Group

  142. R A CHISOLM. CBE. General Manager. Iranian Oil SeMces Ltd

  143. The Earl of HALSBURY. FRS, FEng. Chancellor Brunel University

  144. Sir Robert CLARK, Chairman. Hill Samuel; Director, Bank of England

  145. Dr Brian HAMNETT, University of Essex

  146. William CLARKE, Master, The Mercers’ Company

  147. Sir David HANCOCK, Director, Hambros

  148. Colin CLARK, Research Fellow, Monash University. Melboume

  149. Paul HARBIG. Gray’s Inn

  150. Dr E CLARK-KENNEDY, Consultant Physician. London Hospital