As a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, a co-chairman for President Bill Clinton’s 1996 re-election campaign and chairman of Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign, Terry McAuliffe has been at the forefront of the Democratic Party’s biggest political battles over the past two decades.

As the 72nd governor of Virginia, economic development, discrimination protections, healthcare reform and voting rights have been the centrepieces of his administration since he took office in January 2014 – his own gubernatorial campaign run by Hillary Clinton’s current presidential campaign manager, Robby Mook.

In partnership with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Governor McAuliffe addressed the United States Studies Centre on the future opportunities for his state and for business in areas such as defence and technology, where Virginia has dominated as the “Silicon Valley of the East”.