Abstract

At the Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC) he witnessed how London and Astana behaved as one of Kazakhstan’s most valuable companies went from hero to zero on the Stock Exchange. Simultaneously, he was an inaugural board member of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). Standing between the Westminster village and the electorate, they laboured to expunge the MPs’ expenses scandal from Britain’s collective psyche.

This year’s Foundation Lecture draws on these rich seams of contemporary experience of governance and probity to distinguish between self-delusion and hypocrisy in public life.

The lecture is free and open to all, but places are limited and booking is essential. Book your place here >>

Ken Olisa OBE (Natural Sciences, Social, Political and Management Sciences, 1971) is an 1869 Fellow Benefactor of Fitzwilliam College. He started his career with IBM and Wang before setting up listed technology merchant bank Interregnum and – more recently – Restoration Partners.

The annual Foundation Lecture was first given in 1969, to mark the centenary of the College’s foundation in 1869.