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Ashley John-Baptiste is a distinguished British broadcast journalist and presenter, currently working with the BBC. Beyond his journalism career, Ashley is a passionate advocate for racial equality, motivated by his personal experiences growing up in the care system and navigating the challenges of being a Black individual in the UK. His speaking engagements often address topics such as diversity and inclusion, the experiences of care leavers, and the importance of representation in media and education.
Ashley’s journey began with his studies at Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge, where he earned an upper second-class degree in history. During his time at Cambridge, he mentored other students from similar backgrounds, fostering a commitment to supporting underrepresented communities. His media career commenced after he withdrew from the finals of ITV’s The X Factor in 2011 to pursue journalism, securing a place on the BBC Creative Access scheme. This opportunity marked the start of his dedication to storytelling and amplifying marginalised voices.
In recent years, Ashley has achieved significant milestones. He co-hosted the BBC Two series, Stories of Us in 2020, exploring diverse narratives across the UK. The same year, he presented the documentary, Being Black at Cambridge, highlighting the experiences of Black students at the University of Cambridge. Additionally, Ashley was appointed as the first ambassador for the Royal Television Society (RTS) bursary schemes, supporting students in broadcasting and entertainment. In 2022, he presented the BBC documentary, Split Up in Care – Life Without Siblings, advocating for changes in fostering laws. In June 2024, Ashley published his memoir, Looked After: A Childhood in Care, offering a visceral account of his experiences growing up in the British care system.
As a speaker, Ashley delves into subjects such as racial equality, the challenges faced by care leavers, and the necessity for diversity within media and educational institutions. His personal narrative, combined with his professional insights, offers a compelling perspective that resonates with diverse audiences. Organisations seeking an engaging and authentic speaker to address issues of racial equality and social justice will find Ashley’s contributions invaluable.
Ashley John-Baptiste is regularly booked to engage audiences at events, read their latest feedback below:
“Ashley is a wonderful speaker, his story of self-motivation and overcoming barriers is inspirational. Ashley’s relaxed and down to earth presenting style makes him the perfect speaker for all ages of audience, but his age and experiences make him a good role model for young people.”
“The young people were genuinely inspired and blown away by Ashley. It was very moving, there were even a few tear from the support workers seeing how affected the young people were. When Ashley sung to the group we all had goose bumps. We very much hope he can come again one day. Thank you very much.”
“Ashley gave such a heartfelt speech and touched all our foster carers. He came across so well and definitely inspired us all with his experiences and outlook. We feel really fortunate that he feels able to share his story and it’s amazing what he has achieved so far in his life. We would like to wish him all the best and I’m sure we will have him back to talk again in person! I am really delighted with how the evening turned out. I’ve never planned an event on this scale over the virtual world and I was worried how it would turn out. Both Ashley and Richard helped to make it a brilliant evening for everyone to enjoy and one we will be talking about for a long time. Thank you too for your help in making the arrangements and overseeing everything.”
“The virtual call and involvement from Ashley went very well on Friday. We received excellent feedback from the FCs during the call and afterwards- several people were inspired by Ashley’s achievements.”
The BAME Speakers Agency has been one of the UK’s leading bureaus for Black, Asian and minority ethnic speakers since 2020. We supply speakers for corporate and public events across the world, and cater to both in-person occasions and online webinars.
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