Lewis Iwu

Lewis is the founder and CEO of Purpose Union. Lewis specialises in  social purpose and building coalitions between corporates and NGOs. Lewis  is a former World Debating Champion and has coached England to win the World Championship in 2016. He is the author of a book about debating social issues called Words that Win.

Lewis was the founding Director of the Fair Education Alliance, a national advocacy coalition of almost 100 non-profits and businesses. Lewis has also worked at leading global corporate reputation agencies, Finsbury and Brunswick, where he specialised in helping clients to build their reputations through distinctive campaigns relating to issues such as education, human rights, the environment and health. Lewis helped to develop and launch Open for Business, a global coalition of companies gathered to help create more tolerance in markets hostile to LGBT rights. More recently he advised the UN on the launch of their People’s Seat initiative which was fronted by David Attenborough. Lewis also led the national campaign to prevent the government’s expansion of grammar schools.

He has written about social issues for The Economist, The Guardian, The Times, The Telegraph, The Independent and the New Statesman and has made numerous TV appearances. Lewis has also given a TEDx talk about social mobility.

Educated at New College, Oxford University, Lewis holds a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics where he was elected President of the Oxford University Student Union. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from University of East London in 2019.