Lord Chris Holmes of Richmond is Britain’s most successful Paralympic swimmer, a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, and a leading authority on digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI). As a keynote speaker, Chris combines his inspiring life story with deep expertise in technology and policy. His greatest achievements include winning nine Paralympic gold medals and serving as Director of Paralympic Integration for the record-breaking London 2012 Paralympic Games, which were the first to sell out every session and attract a global audience in the hundreds of millions.
Chris's early career was marked by his incredible resilience. After losing his sight at 14, he went on to dominate the world of Paralympic swimming for almost two decades, winning a total of 15 Paralympic medals (9 gold, 5 silver, and 1 bronze), alongside multiple World and European titles. Beyond sport, Chris pursued a career in journalism and law, qualifying as a commercial lawyer, where he specialised in employment and pensions. His determination to succeed beyond the pool led to influential roles in the public sector, including as a Non-Executive Director for UK Sport and the Disability Rights Commission.
In 2013, Chris was appointed a Life Peer in the House of Lords, where he has focused on policy areas such as digital innovation, social mobility, and financial inclusion. A true pioneer in AI governance, Chris introduced the Artificial Intelligence (Regulation) Bill in 2023, proposing a human-centred AI Authority to regulate AI development in the UK. That same year, he was honoured with the Alan Turing Award, one of the most prestigious accolades in the field of AI, recognising his thought leadership and advocacy for ethical AI governance. His 2017 report, "DLT for Public Good", remains an influential resource on blockchain and digital ledger technology.
As a speaker, Chris Holmes offers a unique blend of inspiration and insight. His topics span overcoming adversity, diversity and inclusion, AI governance, and the future of digital technology. Chris’s ability to connect his personal experiences with real-world challenges makes his presentations thought-provoking, practical, and relevant to corporate leaders, policymakers, and technology experts alike. He is a dynamic speaker who tailors his presentations to each audience, ensuring they leave inspired and informed.
In February 2023 we sat down virtually with Lord Chris Holmes and discussed what it takes to be a successful Paralympian. Watch our Exclusive Interview with Lord Chris Holmes.
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Reviews
Lord Chris Holmes received a 5 star rating across 7 events in 2023
Agent Recommendation
"Lord Chris Holmes' remarkable achievements as Britain's most successful Paralympic swimmer, Director of Paralympic Integration for London 2012, and influential member of the House of Lords make him a powerful voice on diversity, inclusion, and resilience. His captivating stories and insights motivate audiences to overcome challenges and achieve greatness."
How to hire Lord Chris Holmes
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Lord Chris Holmes for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
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Chris Holmes' official speaking topics are listed below:
The Paralympics:
Chris speaks powerfully about his incredible Paralympic achievements, both as Britain’s greatest Paralympic swimmer and Director at London 2012.
Chris is Britain’s most successful swimmer, winning a total of 9 gold, 5 silvers and 1 bronze medal, a string of World and European titles and 35 world records. He was a member of the GB Swim team for 17 years and Captain for 5.
As Director at London 2012, Chris drew on political skills, strategic know-how and his incredible determination to deliver another record-breaking list of firsts: the first games to have all sponsors signed to both the Olympics and Paralympics, the first games to sell out all the stadia for every session and the first games to achieve worldwide television audiences in the hundreds of millions.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Chris lost his sight at the age of 14 and says “one of the most challenging aspects was the fact that people immediately stopped seeing me.” The attitudes of those around him became everything. Practical challenges can be solved with practical solutions, but access to practical solutions and the willingness of people to consider or provide them can be the difference between access, inclusion, and opportunity or an insurmountable barrier. Chris’s life experience shows any audience that no matter the obstacle, anything is possible, and he communicates this powerful message with incredible warmth, humour, and humility.
Chris has over 20 years of boardroom experience, including terms at the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Pensions Client Board, UK Sport, the Disability Rights Commission and, currently, Channel 4, where he is Deputy Chair. He has an outstanding ability to deliver commercial results whilst inspiring all members of the team from board level throughout the organisation. His focus is on empowering people to do their best work in an inclusive, diverse environment, deploying data and insights to the full. New ideas are encouraged, doing things differently, ‘data upskilling,’ experimenting, learning fast, and consistently delivering creative and commercial success.
Digital Technology for Public Good:
In and out of Parliament, Chris’s policy focus is on digital technology: innovation, ethical deployment, and effective regulation. Chris writes regularly on technology, financial services, fintech, and regulation for several national publications. He also advises several technology and open banking firms.
Chris is responsible for the Artificial Intelligence (Regulation) Bill currently awaiting its second reading in the House of Lords. He was a member of the House of Lords Select Committee on artificial intelligence (AI) and has brought this expertise into all aspects of his work, helping organisations address how AI is being used in the boardroom and thinking deeply about effective governance, ethical implications, and how to maximise the incredible potential of this game-changing technology.
Artificial Intelligence and AI Governance:
Chris offers expert insights into the future of AI development, regulation, and its societal impact. Drawing on his experience in Parliament and his leadership on the Artificial Intelligence (Regulation) Bill, he advocates for human-led AI and ensuring a 'human in the loop' approach. His talks explore the ethical implications, governance challenges, and regulatory frameworks necessary to harness AI for public good. He also highlights the importance of an agile, adaptable AI authority to oversee responsible AI innovation and development in the UK and globally.
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
Feedback from In-Person Events:
"Chris was engaging, charismatic, funny and had our audience hooked with his amazing and powerful personal story. But his real skill as a speaker was to weave into his own narrative the important themes in our business and to make his story engaging to the 30+ different cultures and nationalities in our audience." - Kimberley Clark
Feedback from Virtual Events:
"Everything went great during our call with Lord Chris Holmes. The team really enjoyed his vibrant personality and his storytelling" - Julia, Adikteev
- 2024 - Keynote Speaker at the Digital Asset Summit
- 2023 – Introduced the Artificial Intelligence (Regulation) Bill in the House of Lords.
- 2023 – Received the prestigious Alan Turing Award for AI governance and innovation
- 2021 - Appointed to the House of Lords Science & Technology Select Committee
- 2017 – Published influential report "DLT for Public Good"
- 2016 - Non-Executive Director of the Channel 4 Board
- 2015 - Special Adviser on Diversity & Inclusion for the Civil Service
- 2013 - Created Life Peer, Baron Holmes of Richmond, Richmond in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
- 2013 - Non-Executive Director to the Equality & Human Rights Commission
- 2012 - Recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Bath University
- 2009 - Director of Paralympic Integration for the 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games
- 2005 - Member of the Board of UK Sport
- 2003 - Ambassador to the London 2012 Olympic Bid
- 2002 - Commissioner for the Disability Rights Commission, Legal & Audit Committee
- 2001 - Sat on the UK Sport Awards Panel
- 1999 - Member of the Implementation Board for the UK Sports Institute
- 1997 - Sports Personality of the Year Variety Club of GB
- 1996 - Recipient of the SAF Paul Zetter Award
- 1993 - Appointed MBE for Services to Swimming for Disabled People
- 1992 - Midlands Today Sports Personality of the Year & Bass Midlander of the Year
- Chancellor at BPP University
- Former Member of the House of Lords Committees on Digital Skills, Social Mobility, Financial Exclusion, Artificial Intelligence, Democracy & Digital Technologies
- 9 x Paralympic Gold medallist
- 5 x Paralympic Silver medallist
- 1 x Paralympic Bronze medallist
