Michael Hastings

Michael Hastings, The Lord Hastings of Scarisbrick, is a distinguished public leader, educator, and advocate for racial equality. He currently serves as the Professor of Leadership at the Stephen R. Covey Leadership Centre at Huntsman Business School, USA, and is a member of the Concordia Leadership Council. A passionate and eloquent speaker, his lived experience as a Black Briton informs his long-standing commitment to racial justice. His speaking topics cover racial equality in business and education, inclusive leadership, corporate responsibility, and social mobility. With a deeply personal and principled approach, he addresses systemic inequity while inspiring transformative change across sectors.

Michael began his career as a teacher, soon dedicating his energy to racial equity and youth justice. He worked across government on racial equality policies and served for nine years as a Commissioner for the Commission for Racial Equality. He also founded Crime Concern and Catch22 to reform community safety and support young people, leading as Chairman for 21 years. His leadership extended across public, private, and non-profit spheres, including roles as Head of Public Affairs and first Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at the BBC, and later Global Head of Citizenship for KPMG, where he championed inclusive and sustainable business practices globally. He co-founded My Brother’s Keeper, a revolutionary in-prison support initiative, and today chairs the Black Business Association at the London Chamber of Commerce.

Michael’s impact has been recognised with numerous prestigious awards and appointments. He was appointed CBE in 2003 for his work in crime reduction, and granted a life peerage in 2005, joining the House of Lords as an independent crossbencher. He received the UNICEF Award the same year for services to Africa’s children, and was named one of the 100 Most Influential Black People in Britain. In 2014, the University of Kent awarded him a Doctorate in Civil Law, honouring his global leadership in development and responsibility. He is a former Trustee of the Vodafone Foundation, Chairman of SOAS, and Vice President at UNICEF UK and Tearfund.

As a speaker, Michael delves into the intersections of leadership, race, justice, and ethical business. He explores the systemic barriers faced by Black communities and the transformative role organisations can play in dismantling these. From boardrooms to prisons, he speaks with clarity, empathy, and authority on building inclusive cultures. Organisations hire him not only for his unparalleled credentials but because he offers deeply informed, values-driven insight rooted in lived experience and decades of service.