Lord Chris Holmes

Lord Chris Holmes, one of Britain’s greatest Paralympic swimmers, has won nine gold, five silver and two bronze medals across four Games, and served as Director of Paralympic Integration at London 2012. He is also a Diversity Adviser to the Civil Service and shares his insights as a keynote speaker with corporate, sporting and community-based organizations.

A renowned British Paralympic swimmer, who lost his sight at the age of 14, Lord Chris Holmes (MBE) has won nine gold, five silver and two bronze medals across four Games.

The Director of Paralympic Integration at London 2012, a board member of UK Sport, and a Diversity Adviser to the Civil Service, Chris is well-placed to share his range of expertise in identifying and developing talent as a keynote speaker.

Chris is a passionate advocate for the potential of technology and the benefits of diversity and inclusion.

In Parliament he has been a member of Select Committees on Democracy and Digital Technologies, Intergenerational Fairness, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Skills, Social Mobility and Financial Exclusion and has published reports on Distributed Ledger Technologies and Reducing Friction in International Trade.

This enthusiasm for the opportunities of the 4th Industrial Revolution and expertise in diversity and inclusion make him a popular public speaker.

In 2013, Chris entered the House of Lords as Lord Holmes of Richmond. He serves as a Diversity Adviser to the Civil Service (he was appointed in 2015) and a non-executive director at the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Previously, Chris has also worked as a practicing lawyer, freelance journalist and broadcaster at sporting events across the world.

He is a patron of Help for Heroes, the Youth Sport Trust and the British Paralympic Association, has broken 35 World Records and, in 1992, he was awarded the MBE for 'services to British sport' - at the age of 20.

Chris has extensive experience of public speaking in the UK and abroad. His repertoire includes keynotes, after dinner speeches, conference and panel session chairing and interview or fireside chats.

His life experience teaches any audience that no matter the obstacle, anything is possible and he communicates this powerful message with incredible warmth, humour and humility.