Rory Stewart is the Brady-Johnson Professor of the Practice of Grand Strategy at Yale University and a former UK cabinet minister. Rory served as a Member of Parliament for Penrith and the Border and was the UK Secretary of State for International Development, Minister of State for Justice,  Minister of State in Foreign Office and DFID and Minister for the Environment and Chair of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee.

Rory’s diplomatic career included serving in Jakarta, Montenegro, and Iraq, where he was Deputy-Governor of two provinces post-2003 intervention. He left diplomatic services to undertake a two-year walk across Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, India, and Nepal.

In 2005, Rory established the Turquoise Mountain Foundation in Kabul, working to restore a section of the old city and promote Afghan crafts globally. In 2008, he became the Ryan Professor of Human Rights at Harvard Kennedy School.  

Rory has authored a number of international bestselling books, including, "The Places in Between" and "Politics on the Edge: A Memoir from Within."

In addition to his teaching at Yale Rory Co-presents the UK’s top podcast, "The Rest Is Politics," with Alastair Campbell.