Mansfield Public Talk w/ Dr Claire Hubbard & Anne Keast-Butler: Women in Secret Service

Dr Claire Hubbard-Hall and Anne Keast-Butler

Women’s Intelligence Network founder Dr Claire Hubbard-Hall discusses the overlooked role of women in secret intelligence, alongside another guest speaker.

About the speakers:
Dr Claire Hubbard-Hall is a leading historian and author specialising in the forgotten voices of women in the world of secret intelligence. She also writes and speaks on the subjects of dress and disguise and secret gadgetry. Her debut book Her Secret Service was published by W&N in 2024.

Anne Keast-Butler is the Director of GCHQ, the UK’s Intelligence, Cyber and Security Agency. She was appointed in 2023 and is the 17th person to hold the role.
Prior to her appointment, Anne was Deputy Director General MI5. She was the Director General for all operational, investigative and protective security work. This has included MI5’s – and allies’ - preparation for, and response to, Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Immediately prior to this role, Anne was Director General Strategy, with responsibility for all the enabling functions that support MI5’s operational activities.
Prior to this, Anne spent two years on secondment to GCHQ as Head of Counter Terrorism and Serious Organised Crime, and has also spent part of the last decade on secondment in Whitehall. Whilst there, she helped to launch the National Cyber Security Programme.
During her thirty years in the national security field, Anne has held a number of key operational roles in MI5 and is a passionate advocate of diversity, flexible working and nurturing talent.

Recorded on 08/05/2026
Mansfield Public Talks take place during Oxford university term time and is open and free to all. The full programme can be found here: https://www.mansfield.ox.ac.uk/news-events/mansfield-college-public-talks/

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