About
Roderick (Rory) Stewart is a British politician, diplomat, author, and former president of GiveDirectly. He previously served in the UK government as Secretary of State for International Development and held senior ministerial roles covering Africa, the Middle East, Asia, prisons, the environment, and national security. As a member of the National Security Council and Chair of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, Stewart helped shape British foreign and security policy. Before entering frontline politics, he founded the Turquoise Mountain Foundation in Afghanistan to support cultural heritage and economic development and later served as Director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. Stewart is also a bestselling author of five books, a documentary presenter, and co-host of the popular political podcast The Rest Is Politics.