Mark Shuttleworth

Mark Shuttleworth

Keynote Speaker: Founder of the Shuttleworth Foundation; Founder of Ubuntu & Canonical; First South African in Space

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Mark Shuttleworth Biography

Mark Shuttleworth, born on September 18, 1973, in Welkom, South Africa, is a pioneering entrepreneur and philanthropist best known for his contributions to open-source software and space exploration. He studied finance and information technology at the University of Cape Town before founding Thawte, a company specializing in digital certificates and internet security. Thawte’s success culminated in its sale to VeriSign in 1999 for $575 million, making Shuttleworth one of South Africa’s first internet billionaires and setting the stage for his future ventures in technology and philanthropy.

Following the sale of Thawte, Shuttleworth established the Shuttleworth Foundation, dedicated to advancing education, innovation, and social development across South Africa. In 2002, he became the first African to travel to space, flying aboard the Soyuz TM-34 mission to the International Space Station. He invested approximately £20 million of his own resources into the mission and used the experience to inspire students around the world to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This milestone solidified his reputation not only as a technology visionary but also as a figure committed to expanding opportunities and inspiring the next generation.

In 2004, Shuttleworth founded Canonical Ltd., the company behind Ubuntu, an open-source Linux operating system designed to be accessible and user-friendly. Ubuntu rapidly gained popularity for its focus on desktop and server environments and its mission to make computing available to a broader global audience, including in developing countries. Shuttleworth led Canonical as CEO until 2009, then stepped back to concentrate on product development and partnerships, before returning to the role in 2017. Under his leadership, the company has expanded its focus to cloud computing, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence, cementing its place as a leading force in the open-source ecosystem.

Today, Mark Shuttleworth remains deeply engaged in both his professional and philanthropic endeavors. He continues to guide Canonical while advancing the Shuttleworth Foundation’s work in education and technology, reflecting a lifelong commitment to innovation, accessibility, and social impact. Through his ventures and achievements, Shuttleworth has left an indelible mark on the worlds of technology, space exploration, and global philanthropy, demonstrating how vision and determination can create lasting change.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Mark Shuttleworth and other top speakers and celebrities.

Mark Shuttleworth Videos

Interview with Mark Shuttleworth at the Ubuntu Summit
Mark Shuttleworth Keynote at DockerCon 2021: Less toil
KubeCon Operator Day keynote with Mark Shuttleworth

How do I book Mark Shuttleworth to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Mark Shuttleworth for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Mark Shuttleworth, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Mark Shuttleworth or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Mark Shuttleworth for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Mark Shuttleworth, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Mark Shuttleworth, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Mark Shuttleworth speak about?

Mark Shuttleworth is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Innovation, Executive Leadership, Disruptive Thinking, Business, Entrepreneurship and Space.

Where does Mark Shuttleworth travel from?

Mark Shuttleworth generally travels from Ramsgreave, UK and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Mark Shuttleworth?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Mark Shuttleworth for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Mark Shuttleworth for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Mark Shuttleworth or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Mark Shuttleworth is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Innovation, Executive Leadership and Disruptive Thinking. Please contact us for live or virtual event fee details. Mark Shuttleworth generally travels from Ramsgreave, UK and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Anousheh Ansari, Jenny Fleiss and Yancey Strickler. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Mark Shuttleworth for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 11/09/2025.

Mark Shuttleworth Videos

Interview with Mark Shuttleworth at the Ubuntu Summit
Mark Shuttleworth Keynote at DockerCon 2021: Less toil
KubeCon Operator Day keynote with Mark Shuttleworth
Mark Shuttleworth on the benefits of open-source
Mark Shuttleworth Keynote | AWS Container Day
  • How do I book Mark Shuttleworth to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Mark Shuttleworth for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Mark Shuttleworth, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Mark Shuttleworth or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Mark Shuttleworth for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Mark Shuttleworth, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Mark Shuttleworth, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Mark Shuttleworth speak about?

    Mark Shuttleworth is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Innovation, Executive Leadership, Disruptive Thinking, Business, Entrepreneurship and Space.
  • Where does Mark Shuttleworth travel from?

    Mark Shuttleworth generally travels from Ramsgreave, UK and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Mark Shuttleworth?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Mark Shuttleworth for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Mark Shuttleworth for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Mark Shuttleworth or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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MARK SHUTTLEWORTH

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