The changing face of British intelligence

During the more than 100 years of its existence, MI5 has adapted its role and character to cope with changing threats to national security.

As well as discussing the serious issues, Dame Stella will take a wry look at these changes from her own viewpoint. She joined MI5 in the late-1960s as a clerk and typist when very little was known publicly about British intelligence, then a male-dominated environment that recruited by covert means. She left 30 years later as Director-General, when the names of the heads of the intelligence services were announced, they gave public speeches, recruitment was by advertisement and women were working in all roles.

Why did things change, and what were the strains and stresses involved?

The talk, which is free and does not require booking, will be held at the Lee Seng Tee Hall, Wolfson College on Barton Road. Please arrive for a 5.30pm start. Further directions are available on Newnham College’s website.

The Jane Harrison Memorial Lecture has been hosted by Newnham since 1928. It was created to honour the memory of Jane Ellen Harrison (1850-1928) who studied and lectured in Classics at the college, and was renowned for her public lectures on Greek art and for her unconventional and outspoken views. She wrote on a variety of subjects, from the Russian language and literature to women’s suffrage and herself.

Picture: Francesco Guidicini


Reproduced courtesy of the University of Cambridge

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