Gemma Ungoed-Thomas joins 5654 & Company as boards increase focus on risk
5654 & Company has today announced the appointment of Gemma Ungoed-Thomas, former Director for State Threats, Cyber and Technology in the UK Government, as a Senior Adviser. At a time when geopolitics, national security and resilience are a growing concern across board rooms, Gemma strengthens 5654’s ability to advise on emerging risks, and how to assess and prepare for them.
The appointment reflects 5654’s continued investment in supporting clients on emerging risks at the intersection of geopolitics, resilience and national security. Her expertise builds on 5654’s growing work with clients preparing for and responding to high-impact cyber incidents. In November 2025, the firm published research examining how businesses are perceived following cyber-attacks, highlighting the critical role of communication in maintaining trust with customers, regulators and stakeholders.
Gemma brings extensive experience from senior roles across UK government, most recently serving for over four years as Director for State Threats, Cyber and Technology. In this role, she advised Ministers and helped shape the UK’s National Cyber Strategy. She previously worked in No.10, the National Cyber Security Centre and GCHQ.
Gemma joins 5654’s broader team of senior advisers including: Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, former Deputy Chief Medical Officer who advised government during the COVID-19 pandemic and on the Strategic Defence Review; Simon Baugh CBE, former Chief Executive of the Government Communication Service and communications adviser to the Government’s COBR Emergency Planning meeting; Vanessa Bowcock, former adviser to Prime Minister Keir Starmer; and, Jonathan Gullis, former Conservative MP and Minister, and now member of Reform UK and Senior Fellow at the Centre for Social Justice. Gemma’s appointment to the team makes it one of the most experienced senior advisory groups in the market.
Welcoming Gemma to the company, founder Ben Thornton said:
“We’re delighted Gemma has chosen 5654. 5654 & Company was founded to help clients act to earn reputation and win support. With risk and uncertainty increasing almost daily, businesses depend on advisers with experience from the frontline – who can look ahead and give advice that leads to action. Gemma further strengthens our senior advisory team and we’re looking forward to working together.”
Gemma Ungoed-Thomas said:
“The challenges organisations are facing today increasingly sit at the intersection of geopolitics, cyber security, technology, resilience and public trust. Boards and senior leaders are having to navigate a far more complex and fast-moving risk environment than ever before. I’m looking forward to working with 5654’s clients and team to help organisations think more strategically about preparedness, crisis leadership and resilience, particularly where national security, technology and reputation converge.”
5654 is a leading independent corporate affairs consultancy founded to help clients communicate and earn support.
In addition to her work with 5654, Gemma is a Senior Visiting Research Fellow at King’s College London, focusing on hybrid warfare, state threats and the strategic implications of emerging technologies for national security and democratic resilience. She is also a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy & Security, where her work centres on cyber resilience and systemic risk.