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Dean Barnes is a Black hockey historian, award-winning host of the My Hockey Hero podcast, and a dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion within the sport. His passion lies in celebrating the contributions of underrepresented athletes and promoting racial equality in hockey. As a speaker, Dean addresses topics such as diversity and inclusion, trusting relationships, inspirational leadership, change and influence, and the power of representation in hockey.
Dean’s journey began in Burlington, Ontario, where he developed a love for hockey and started collecting cards with spare change from his father. In 1982, witnessing Tony McKegney play for the Buffalo Sabres marked his first encounter with a Black NHL player, inspiring him to honour pioneers like Willie O’Ree and Grant Fuhr through his collection. During the 2020 pandemic, Dean reignited his passion by completing his childhood O-Pee-Chee set, reconnecting with his younger self and fuelling his mission to promote inclusion in hockey.
Dean’s hockey card collection, featuring nearly 100 Black and biracial NHL players, has toured North America as part of the NHL’s Black Hockey History mobile museum, earning widespread acclaim for showcasing the rich history of diversity in hockey. In 2023, he launched the My Hockey Hero podcast, which ranked as high as 14th on U.S. Apple Hockey Podcasts and 42nd on the Canadian charts, sharing inspirational stories of Black NHL players to promote representation and inclusion in the sport. Partnering with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) in 2024, Dean produced monthly podcasts and live exhibits highlighting stories of indigenous and racialised players, with his collection showcased during the 2024 Memorial Cup.
As a speaker, Dean delves into diversity and inclusion, emphasising the importance of creating trusting relationships within teams and organisations. He explores inspirational leadership, discussing strategies for driving change and influencing others positively. Dean also highlights the power of representation in hockey, illustrating how visibility of diverse athletes can inspire future generations. His unique blend of historical insight and personal experience makes him a compelling choice for events seeking to promote equity and inclusivity.
Dean Barnes is regularly booked to engage audiences at events, read their latest feedback below:
“Dean has been a longstanding advocate for marginalised students disproportionally impacted by negative experiences in schools, and brings a consistent, caring and critical eye to building opportunities for their success.”
“We all enjoyed the presentation. Thanks for coming out and sharing your initiative. I have enjoyed your latest podcasts!! It is so great for the players to know they have left such a legacy for future athletes! Awesome job!”
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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