Lord Christopher Patten is the former Governor of Hong Kong overseeing the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997. He was also the Chairman of the Independent Commission for Policing for Northern Ireland, European Commissioner for External Relations, Co-Chair of the UK-India Round Table and in 2011 became chairman of the BBC Trust. He is a best selling writer and an astute commentator on world issues with his experiences. He is an excellent keynote speaker with special interest in emerging markets and world relations.
Lord Patten joined the Conservative Research Department in 1966. He was seconded to the Cabinet Office in 1970 and was personal assistant and political secretary to Lord Carrington and Lord Whitelaw when they were Chairmen of the Conservative Party from 1972-1974. In 1974 he was appointed the youngest ever Director of the Conservative Research Department, a post which he held until 1979.
He was elected as Member of Parliament for Bath in May 1979, a seat he held until April 1992. In 1983 he wrote The Tory Case, a study of Conservatism. Following the General Election of June 1983, Lord Patten was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office and in September 1985 Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science. In September 1986 he became Minister for Overseas Development at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. He was appointed to the Privy Council in 1989 and was appointed a Companion of Honour in 1998. In July 1989 Chris became Secretary of State for the Environment. In November 1990 he was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Chairman of the Conservative Party.
