South Asian Heritage Month 2025: 10 Inspirational South Asian Speakers to Hire

South Asian Heritage Month celebrates the vibrant cultures, histories, and contributions of South Asian communities. Recognising this month fosters inclusion, understanding, and pride, while challenging stereotypes. It’s a vital opportunity to honour the past, celebrate the present, and inspire future generations across the UK and beyond.

Discover our top pick of inspiring speakers for South Asian Heritage Month in this post, then contact a booking agent to hire an impactful orator for your event.

When is South Asian Heritage Month Celebrated?

South Asian Heritage Month will take place between 18th July and 17th August.

Source: Inclusive Employers

What is South Asian Heritage Month?

South Asian Heritage Month is an annual celebration recognising the history, culture, and contributions of people with roots in South Asian countries – Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives. It aims to educate, inspire, and raise awareness of South Asia’s diverse heritage through arts, culture, and storytelling. The month also commemorates important historical events and milestones, helping communities connect with their identity and history.

Individuals of South Asian heritage make up a substantial part of the British population, with approximately 1 in every 14 people in the UK belonging to this community. Furthermore, South Asian influences can be found in our food, fashion, music, and language, enriching the cultural fabric of our everyday lives and fostering deeper understanding and appreciation.

Source: National Today & South Asian Heritage Month

Who are the Top 10 Keynote Speakers to Hire for South Asian Heritage Month 2025?

The following have been exclusively selected as the best South Asian Heritage Month speakers, based on official event poll data collated across 134 events between 2022 and 2024.

• Tulsi Vagjiani
• Malala Yousafzai
• Ziauddin Yousafzai
• Shivani Uberoi
• Raj Adgopul
• Harnaam Kaur
• Isma Almas
• Asif Sadiq
• Kishan Devani
• Pragya Agarwal

1. Tulsi Vagjiani

Inspirational Plane Crash Survivor & Self-Love Advocate

Tulsi Vagjiani is an inspiring choice for South Asian Heritage Month, offering a powerful message of resilience, identity, and inclusion. A plane crash survivor who lost her immediate family and sustained life-changing burns, Tulsi has transformed personal tragedy into a story of strength and self-acceptance. Her advocacy challenges narrow beauty standards and champions diversity, making her voice especially relevant for South Asian audiences. Through public speaking, charitable work, and wellness coaching, she empowers others to embrace their differences. Tulsi’s lived experience, cultural heritage, and commitment to equality make her an exceptional role model and a compelling speaker choice.

Official Testimonial for Tulsi Vagjiani:

“Tulsi has been a speaker at a couple of our events and is incredible! She has the unique ability to connect with her audience through her candour and thoughtfulness. Her passion for what she shares is obvious and her enthusiasm contagious. Tulsi’s ability to engage her listeners comes from her ability to bring stories to life. She is able to connect with people of all backgrounds, ages, and interests by telling engaging anecdotes about her own experiences. The stories she weaves are captivating, inspiring, and teach her audiences valuable lessons. She is able to remain calm and collected while thoughtfully responding with insight and clarity. The combination of these qualities makes Tulsi a great motivational speaker and we always receive powerful feedback on her talks. She is an invaluable asset to any business or organisation as a speaker.” – Rupinder, CEO, Asian Women Mean Business

2. Malala Yousafzai

Survivor of an Assassination Attempt by The Taliban & Youngest Winner of the Nobel Prize

Malala Yousafzai is a powerful and inspiring speaker for South Asian Heritage Month. As a Pakistani activist and the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize winner, she represents courage, resilience, and the pursuit of equality. Malala’s fight for girls’ education in the face of Taliban oppression, and her recovery from an assassination attempt, has made her a global icon. Her personal experiences and continued work through the Malala Foundation highlight key issues around racial equality, education, and representation. A compelling speaker, she brings lived insight into the South Asian experience and motivates audiences to drive real, meaningful change in society.

3. Ziauddin Yousafzai

Father of Malala Yousafzai & Co-Founder of The Malala Fund

Ziauddin Yousafzai is an inspiring speaker whose powerful journey from a schoolteacher in Pakistan to a global advocate for girls’ education makes him ideal to book for South Asian Heritage Month. As the father of Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, his courage in standing against the Taliban’s oppression has made a lasting global impact. A passionate educational activist, Ziauddin speaks movingly about overcoming adversity, championing equality, and founding the Malala Fund. His lived experience, rooted in South Asian heritage, brings vital insight and inspiration to audiences, making him a compelling voice for justice, empowerment, and the transformative power of education.

4. Shivani Uberoi

Head of Women in Leadership at Sky & Diversity

Shivani Uberoi is an inspiring British Asian speaker whose 20-year journey from finance to thought leadership makes her a perfect to book for South Asian Heritage Month. A dynamic expert in diversity, inclusion, and racial equality, she blends neuroscience with lived experience to deliver powerful, actionable talks. From founding employee networks to coaching thousands through The Wallflower Academy, Shivani empowers individuals and challenges organisations to rethink inclusion. Her TEDx talk, corporate impact, and media presence showcase her ability to connect and drive change. Passionate about heritage, gender equity, and mental health, Shivani brings authenticity, insight, and lasting inspiration to every audience.

Official Testimonial for Shivani Uberoi:

“Shivani gave an outstanding session to our colleagues at PepsiCo. She shared her own journey, experiences, and recommendations before we opened the floor up to questions from the audience. The feedback has been amazing, and she truly inspired the team.” – PepsiCo

5. Raj Adgopul

Life Coach Who Draws on His Challenging Upbringing in a Poverty-Stricken Village in Central India

Raj Adgopul is an inspirational TEDx speaker and life coach whose remarkable journey from a poverty-stricken village in Central India to success in the UK makes him a powerful voice for South Asian Heritage Month. His lived experience of trauma, mental illness, and extreme hardship – including sharing a cramped room with 23 others – gives him profound insight into resilience and adversity. With multiple postgraduate qualifications and a compelling presence, Raj captivates audiences through honest storytelling and motivational insight. His ability to connect deeply with people, particularly around mental health and overcoming life’s toughest challenges, makes him an ideal speaker for the occasion.

Official Testimonial for Raj Adgopul:

“Wonderful talk, very enlightening, made me feel very lucky in life.”

6. Harnaam Kaur

First Bearded Woman to Walk the London Fashion Week Catwalk

Harnaam Kaur is an inspiring speaker whose story powerfully aligns with the values of South Asian Heritage Month. As a British South Asian woman with PCOS, Harnaam challenges beauty standards and promotes acceptance through her advocacy for body positivity, diversity, and inclusion. A model and Guinness World Record holder, she has broken barriers in the fashion industry and beyond. Having faced bullying, racial profiling, and mental health struggles, she now uses her platform to speak out against racism, cyberbullying, and inequality. Harnaam’s message of resilience, empowerment, and pride in identity makes her a compelling and impactful voice for this occasion.

7. Isma Almas

Stand Up Comedian Who Embodies the Best of British Multiculturalism

Isma Almas is a compelling speaker perfectly suited for South Asian Heritage Month. A British Muslim woman raised between Yorkshire and Pakistan, she offers a compelling blend of personal insight, professional expertise, and comedic brilliance. With a background in social work and a career in stand-up comedy, Isma brings depth, warmth, and relatability to discussions on diversity, inclusion, and South Asian identity. Her ability to tackle complex issues with wit and authenticity resonates deeply with audiences. From the BBC to major festivals, she’s a seasoned performer whose lived experience and sharp humour make her a powerful voice for representation and cultural celebration.

8. Asif Sadiq

Senior Vice President for Equity & Inclusion for WarnerMedia

Asif Sadiq is a highly respected diversity and inclusion leader with a proven track record across top organisations including Adidas, The Telegraph, and WarnerMedia. Awarded an MBE and an Honorary Doctorate, Asif has consistently delivered impactful, sustainable change in racial equality and workplace inclusion. His background spans policing, corporate leadership, and international consultancy with the UN. As a keynote speaker, Asif brings powerful insights and real-world strategies that inspire action and foster belonging. Booking him for South Asian Heritage Month would provide audiences with an engaging, informed voice championing equity, inclusion, and the achievements of South Asian professionals in the UK.

Official Testimonial for Asif Sadiq:

“On behalf of all of us I wanted to drop a quick line to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU to Asif for joining us today. He is amazing and has really caused quite a stir at IMO with an engaging and thought-provoking chat. I also want to express our gratitude to him for dedicating us more time than originally scheduled to answer the questions from our staff, there’s an appetite for more from him and it has lit a fire in people’s bellies, I would say. We really appreciate his insights and the ease and familiarity with which he has approached this exercise with us.” – IMO.org

9. Kishan Devani

Chair of Fundraising for the London Liberal Democrats

Kishan Devani BEM, FRSA, is an inspiring and principled speaker whose life and career exemplify resilience, inclusion, and leadership. As the son of Ugandan Asian refugees, his journey from adversity to national recognition underscores his powerful advocacy for diversity and racial equality. With extensive experience in politics, education, and community engagement, Kishan brings both personal and professional insight to his talks. His commitment to building an inclusive society, coupled with his passion for inspiring meaningful action, makes him a sought-after speaker for South Asian Heritage Month—offering thought-provoking perspectives that celebrate heritage while driving forward social cohesion and equity.

10. Pragya Agarwal

Director of The 50 Percent Foundation & Visiting Professor of Social Inequality & Injustice at Loughborough University

Pragya Agarwal is a brilliant speaker for South Asian Heritage Month, offering expert insight into diversity, inclusion, and social justice. As a behavioural and data scientist, acclaimed author, and founder of The 50 Percent Foundation, she combines academic rigour with accessible storytelling. Her talks on unconscious bias, gender dynamics, and race are both thought-provoking and engaging. A Visiting Professor and Fulbright Scholar, Pragya has influenced global audiences through her TEDx talks, media appearances, and bestselling books like Sway and Hysterical. Her South Asian heritage and commitment to tackling inequality make her an inspiring voice for this important cultural celebration.

Official Testimonial for Pragya Agarwal:

“Pragya was brilliant. Not just incredibly well-informed & erudite, as I expected, but warm, funny and razor sharp.” – All About Women Festival at the Sydney Opera House

How to Hire a Speaker for South Asian Heritage Month 2025

If you are interested in hiring one of the South Asian Heritage Month speakers mentioned above, contact The BAME Speakers Agency today! Simply complete our online form or call an agent on 0207 1010 553 to begin the booking process.