Our Festival of Doing ED&I Differently brings together thought leaders, change-makers, and allies to share their stories and perspectives, bringing their voices to our dialogue. This year our keynote speaker will be the Rt Hon Lord Paul Boateng.
The Rt Hon Lord Paul Boateng born in Hackney and brought up in Ghana is a civil rights activist lawyer, politician, and diplomat.
He was elected to the Greater London Council in 1981 and to Parliament in 1987 as MP for Brent South. He became Britain’s first Black Minister in 1997 when he was appointed Minister for Social Services and Mental Health and subsequently Minister for the Police.
He then went on to become Britain’s first Black Cabinet Minister as Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 2002. He stood down from Parliament in 2005 to return to Africa as British High Commissioner to South Africa where he served till 2009.
Elevated to the House of Lords as Baron Boateng of Akyem and Wembley, he currently serves in Parliament on the International Relations and Defence Committee, He also serves on several commercial and philanthropic boards with a focus on Africa, economic development, and the arts.
He is a Methodist Lay Preacher and Chairs the Archbishops Commission on Racial Justice. He is Chancellor of the University of Greenwich.
Lord Boateng is married to Barbadian born human rights activist and local government pioneer Janet, Lady Boateng MA and they have five children and seven grandchildren.
