Speaker: Marcus Willett CB OBE

In the twenty-first century, cyberspace and the ‘real world’ have become inseparable. The stability and security of cyberspace therefore affect, in increasingly profound ways, the economies, international reputations, national security, military capabilities and global influence of states. In their short history, operations in cyberspace have already been used extensively by states and their non-state supporters for many purposes. They are an inevitable aspect of contemporary international affairs while carrying significant risk.

Join us for a book talk on Cyber Operations and Their Responsible Use, in which Marcus Willett, a former deputy head of GCHQ, will seek to bring conceptual clarity and understanding to what cyber operations really are, how they are used, and what they can do. He will shed light on their implications for strategic affairs and international law and discuss what their ‘responsible’ use really entails.

About the Speaker

In a 33-year career at the UK’s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) Marcus Willett CB OBE rose to become its deputy head, with personal responsibility for, amongst other things, all GCHQ cyber operations. Previously, he was GCHQ’s first Director Cyber and led the UK national offensive cyber programme. He also held senior posts across the wider UK intelligence and security community.

Since 2018, Marcus has been Senior Adviser for Cyber at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and has advised government policymakers as well as private companies in the UK, US and elsewhere. His previous publications include articles on the SolarWinds hack, the Ukraine war, and a methodology for measuring the cyber power of states.