Theresa Villiers MP DBE

The Rt Hon Dame Theresa Villiers DBE is a former Cabinet Minister and one of the longest-serving Conservative politicians of her generation, with more than two decades in public life. Over the course of her career, she has held several senior government roles, including Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Minister of State for Transport. A respected legislator and experienced negotiator, she has played a key role in major national projects and international agreements, ranging from transport infrastructure and environmental policy to peacebuilding and security.

Theresa began her career in law, graduating with a first-class LLB from the University of Bristol before completing a Bachelor of Civil Law at the University of Oxford. She was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn and practised as a Chancery barrister before becoming a law lecturer at King’s College London, where she co-authored a legal textbook. Her transition to politics began with her election to the European Parliament in 1999 as the Conservative MEP for London, where she served as Deputy Leader of the Conservatives in the European Parliament and rapporteur for the landmark MiFID I legislation, which shaped the regulation of European financial services.

Elected to Parliament in 2005 as the MP for Chipping Barnet, Theresa quickly rose through the ranks of government. She was appointed Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, followed by Shadow Secretary of State for Transport. As Minister of State for Transport, she oversaw major national infrastructure projects including Crossrail, Thameslink and the transport operations for the London 2012 Olympic Games. In 2012, she became Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, leading two landmark cross-party negotiations that resulted in the Stormont House and Fresh Start Agreements, securing the stability of Northern Ireland’s devolved government.

Appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in 2019, Theresa guided the introduction of key environmental legislation, including the Fisheries Act, Agriculture Act and Environment Act. She has since served on the Intelligence and Security Committee, contributing to reports on China, terrorism and international partnerships, and as a member of the Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform. Throughout her distinguished career, Dame Theresa Villiers has combined legal precision with political leadership, earning widespread respect for her integrity, depth of experience and dedication to public service.