Former Secretary of State · Business Builder · Communicator

Chairing, Speaking & Strategic Advice from a Proven Negotiator

Bringing ministerial authority, international experience and razor-sharp analysis to your conference, boardroom or policy challenge.

Climate Negotiator ADBA Chair Energy Security & Affordability Expert Tsinghua–Cambridge Lecturer Former UN Climate Finance Adviser

Three ways to work together

Across chairing, speaking and consultancy, the thread is the same: deep subject knowledge, political acuity, and the kind of credibility that raises the standing of any event or engagement.

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Chairing & Moderating

Authoritative, impartial, punctual. Chris keeps panels on track and draws out insight — from plenary sessions with hundreds to sensitive private negotiations where agreement must be reached.

  • Conference panels & plenary sessions
  • Stakeholder negotiations & roundtables
  • High-level management away-days
  • Scenario planning sessions
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Keynote Speaking

Engaging, well-prepared, evidence-based. Chris speaks on the topics he has lived — climate and energy policy, the energy transition, data centre power, and the future of sustainability.

  • Conference keynotes & after-dinner addresses
  • Panel contributions & debate
  • Corporate briefings & client events
  • Broadcast appearances & media
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Strategic Consultancy

Rigorous, frank, tailored. Chris advises on strategy, policy and negotiation across the energy transition, sustainable finance, government relations and regulatory affairs.

  • Energy & climate strategy
  • Regulatory & policy navigation
  • Government relations & advocacy
  • Sustainable finance advisory
  • Community engagement for planning

A career in policy, markets and ideas

Chris Huhne is one of the most experienced figures at the intersection of energy policy, financial markets and international negotiation in the UK. As Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change from 2010 to 2012, he put in place the architecture of the UK's low-carbon economy — notably the electricity market reform that auctioned contracts for difference, incentivised big falls in renewable energy prices, and has been copied throughout Europe and in China. He also introduced the first UK support for green gas grid injection.

He led the UK delegations to the landmark COP16 climate summit in Cancun (2011) and COP17 in Durban (2012), and was one of only four Liberal Democrat ministers who negotiated the Coalition Agreement — giving him an unusually direct insight into how government policy is really made and how to influence it.

Before politics, Chris was managing director and chief economist of Fitch Ratings, where he built the team that first rated the post-Soviet transition economies accessing international capital markets. Before that, he was an award-winning financial journalist: Brussels correspondent for The Economist, economics columnist for The Guardian, and twice winner of the Wincott Award as Financial Journalist of the Year.

Since 2013, he has focused on despatchable renewable energy — particularly biogas and biomass — as a consultant to companies navigating the energy transition. He chairs the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) and also advises on the growing power demands of the digital infrastructure sector, having spoken at the DataCloud Global Congress on energy availability for data centres.

2022 – present

Chair, Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA). Senior Adviser, World Biogas Association. Speaker and moderator at major energy and technology conferences worldwide, including the World Biogas Expo and DataCloud Global Congress. Expert witness: testified before the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, December 2025.

2013 – 2022

Strategic adviser and consultant on energy transition, sustainable finance and climate policy. Co-chair, ET Index Research (now Engaged Tracking). Chair, Europe, Zilkha Biomass. Member of the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing.

2005 – 2013

Member of Parliament for Eastleigh. Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (2010–12). Shadow spokesman on the Treasury, Environment and the Home Office.

1999 – 2005

Member of the European Parliament for South East England. Liberal Democrats' spokesman on economics and finance; introduced sunset clauses into European law for the first time.

1994 – 1999

Founded Europe's first sovereign ratings group, becoming managing director and chief economist of Fitch Ratings. Led analysis of Russia, Poland, Ukraine and the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

1976 – 1994

Brussels correspondent, The Economist. Economics columnist, The Guardian. Business editor, The Independent and Independent on Sunday. Author of four books on international debt and European economics. Twice Wincott Award winner (Financial Journalist of the Year).

Chris Huhne

Chris Huhne

Qualifications & Recognition

  • First class degree in PPE, Oxford University
  • Certificat, the Sorbonne–Paris (French speaker)
  • Visiting Fellow, Nuffield College, Oxford (2008–12)
  • Council member, Royal Economic Society (1993–8)
  • Two Wincott Awards, Financial Journalist of the Year
  • Lecturer on climate negotiation (Tsinghua and Cambridge Universities, business groups)

Current Roles

  • Chair, ADBA (Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association)
  • Senior Adviser, World Biogas Association
  • Speaker & moderator, major energy and tech conferences

The chairman who has chaired under real pressure

When the Mexican Presidency of COP16 at Cancun needed a trusted figure to break the deadlock between warring national delegations, they turned to Chris Huhne. He brought the parties together and secured agreement — under the full glare of the international media.

That composure, authority and procedural intelligence is what Chris brings to every meeting he chairs. Whether it is a contentious conference panel, a sensitive board-level strategy session, or a multi-stakeholder negotiation, Chris ensures proceedings run to time and that every voice is heard.

"One of the most enjoyable interviews I have ever done — a wonderful political brain, but also an ability to pay credit to people he disagreed with."

Matt Forde, Unspun
  • Experienced at high-stakes international negotiations
  • Commands authority across scientific, financial and political audiences
  • Adept at surfacing consensus without losing edge or rigour
  • Available for public conferences, private boards and hybrid events
Chris Huhne moderating a panel at the ADBA National Conference

Moderating a panel at the ADBA National Conference

Substance that audiences remember

Chris speaks with the authority of someone who has sat at every table — as journalist, MEP, Cabinet minister, international negotiator and industry leader. His speaking topics include the geopolitics of the energy transition, net zero policy, biomethane and the circular economy, data centre power, sustainable finance and ESG.

"Chris is an engaging and passionate speaker — delegates enjoyed the chance to meet him afterwards."

Conference organiser, Thomson Reuters

Speaking bookings: chris@chrishuhne.org.uk  ·  or use the enquiry form

Where Chris has spoken & chaired

A selection of recent events across energy, digital infrastructure and policy.

Energy · 2026

World Biogas Expo

NEC Birmingham — the UK's leading biogas and biomethane industry showcase, where Chris chairs and speaks as ADBA Chair.

Chair & Keynote Speaker
Energy · 2025

World Biogas Summit 2025

Birmingham — annual global summit on biogas policy, technology and investment, hosted alongside the World Biogas Expo.

Speaker
Digital Infrastructure · 2025/26

DataCloud Global Congress

Cannes — Europe's premier digital infrastructure and data centre event. Chris spoke on power availability, grid bottlenecks and energy policy for the sector.

Speaker & Panellist
Environmental Services · 2025

ESS Expo 2025

Environmental Services & Solutions Expo — keynote on biomethane production and the extended case for anaerobic digestion in the energy, fuels and decarbonisation track.

Keynote Speaker
Policy · 2024

Net Zero Week Webinar

National advocacy event. Chris addressed the economic case for biomethane and CO₂ capture as a cost-effective route to net zero.

Keynote Speaker
Finance · ongoing

Private Client & Corporate Briefings

Available for exclusive briefings for investment firms, corporate strategy teams, government affairs professionals and trade associations.

Available on request
Chris Huhne with Suneel Appan and Alex Marshall at DataCloud Global Congress, June 2026

DataCloud Global Congress, Cannes, June 2026

Chris Huhne speaking at ADBA National Conference

ADBA National Conference, Westminster

Chris Huhne giving evidence to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, December 2025

Expert testimony, House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, December 2025

Chris Huhne chairing a panel with Andrew Muir at ADBA Northern Ireland event

ADBA Northern Ireland — panel with Andrew Muir

Media coverage & comment

What the press has been reporting about Chris Huhne's advocacy and analysis.

The Times
"Unlike many previous incumbents, Mr Huhne combines a genuine concern for the environment with a detailed understanding of finance and economics. That augurs well."
Editorial, The Times
Daily Telegraph
"He has achieved more in a year than most top politicians manage in a lifetime."
Geoffrey Lean, Daily Telegraph
The Guardian
"Britain's most formidable one-man think-tank."
Peter Preston, The Guardian
Utility Week
"If we had US gas prices, consumers would save hundreds of pounds a year… The EU should be jumping up and down about unfair trade practices."
Utility Week
The Independent on Sunday
"Mr Huhne has made the sums add up."
Editorial, The Independent on Sunday
Gasworld
"Does biogas lack support? — with Chris Huhne, Chair of ADBA, discussing the role that policy plays in the biogas industry."
Gasworld

Trusted by leaders across politics, media and business

"He has proved a determined and efficient climate change secretary."
Tony Juniper, former Executive Director, Friends of the Earth
"Chris Huhne is in many ways the huge unexpected success of this Government. He is an extraordinarily good Minister."
Lord Deben (John Gummer)
"Two thirds of those giving conference feedback rated Chris as 'very good' — the top category."
Steven Freudmann, Institute of Travel and Tourism

Strategic advice rooted in real-world experience

Chris advises companies, trade associations and public bodies at all stages — from early-stage strategy through to major regulatory and government relations challenges. His areas of particular expertise include energy security, energy affordability, the energy transition, and sustainable finance. His combination of economic rigour, ministerial experience and media fluency is rare.

He served as a member of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon's Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing and has advised clients including the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (as chair), the British Photovoltaic Association, and Engaged Tracking.

Chris also provides expert evidence to parliamentary and official bodies. Most recently he gave testimony before the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee in December 2025. As one of four Liberal Democrat ministers who negotiated the Coalition Agreement in 2010, and as the minister who shaped the UK's electricity market reform framework, Chris understands exactly how policy is made and how to influence it effectively.

Where Chris adds most value

Net Zero & Energy Transition Energy Security Energy Affordability Biogas & Biomethane Sustainable Finance & ESG Climate & Energy Policy Regulatory Strategy Government Relations EU & UK Policy International Negotiations Data Centre Power Financial Markets Sovereign Risk Media & Communications

Chris holds a first-class PPE degree from Oxford, is a former Visiting Fellow of Nuffield College, and was twice named Financial Journalist of the Year. He lectures on climate negotiation at Cambridge University.

Discuss a brief

Book Chris for your next event or engagement

For speaking, chairing and consultancy enquiries, email Chris directly or use the enquiry form below.

Speaking · Chairing · Consultancy
chris@chrishuhne.org.uk
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