Robert Hannegan

From 2014 to 2017, Robert Hannigan served as a director of GCHQ, the largest intelligence and networking agency in the UK government. Hannigan has been working in cybersecurity and technology for a long time. He formulated the UK's first cybersecurity strategy, showcasing the UK government's ambition to create the safest living quarters and online business sector. Hannigan made great efforts to enhance the technical skills of the leadership team, and during his tenure as a director, he witnessed the biggest internal transformation of GCHQ after the Cold War. Hannigan served as the security advisor to the British Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010, providing advice on counter-terrorism and intelligence matters. As the head of intelligence, security, and recovery at the Cabinet Office of the UK government, he is responsible for providing funding and supervision to three UK intelligence agencies. For the past decade, Hannigan has lived in Belfast and, as Tony Blair's chief administrative advisor, has been involved in advancing the peace process in Northern Ireland. He is responsible for negotiating with various political parties and paramilitary personnel, and liaising with the United States, Ireland, and other governments. He is the only creative civil servant mentioned by Tony Blair in his autobiography. He has a special fondness for GCHQ's predecessor, Bletchley Park, which used to be a code cracking center and the birthplace of computers. On his first day in office at the State Administration of Communications, he criticized multiple social media companies and sparked international controversy. Hannigan made the work of GCHQ public to the media for the first time and was widely praised for uncovering the secret world of the Government Communications Administration. He has always advocated for diversity and inclusivity, which is also part of his broader campaign to improve online skills. He was the first intelligence agency leader to deliver a speech at the Stonewall Work Conference, during which he apologized to Alan Turing and other LGBT employees for their plight. Hannigan's efforts in promoting female participation in technology, BAME recruitment, and neurodiversity have been recognized. In addition, he also established the National Cyber Security Centre in the UK. As part of the Government Communications Administration, the center was officially authorized to open by Queen Elizabeth in 2017.