Hamed Amiri is an author, speaker, technology and transformation leader, and British Red Cross Ambassador whose life has been shaped by one recurring question: why not?
At ten years old, Hamed and his family were forced to flee Afghanistan after his mother was ordered to be executed by the Taliban. During the 18-month journey to the UK, he learned early how to adapt, read unfamiliar situations and stay calm when very little around him felt certain.
His early years in Britain weren't straightforward. Hamed struggled at school and failed his A Levels before his older brother's fight for a second chance at life changed the way he thought about failure, opportunity and what we do with the hand we're dealt. Hamed went on to graduate with a 2:1 in Computer Science and build a career in technology and transformation, including leadership roles at PwC.
That same "why not?" mentality led him to write The Boy With Two Hearts. It became a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week before being adapted for the stage, from Wales Millennium Centre to the National Theatre and later internationally. His second book, The Other Boy, explores belonging, identity and the choices that shape who we become.
Today, Hamed brings those worlds together on stage, exploring leadership, adaptability, change, belonging and human potential through extraordinary lived experience and lessons tested in the workplace.
At the heart of it all is one question:
Why not?
Books
The Boy with Two Hearts: A Story of Hope
The Other Boy: The true story of one refugee family's journey to find home
Hamed Amiri's official speaker topics are listed below:
WHY NOT? – Turning Uncertainty, Setbacks & Discomfort into Possibility
Hamed’s signature keynote brings together his extraordinary personal journey from Afghanistan to the UK with the setbacks, second chances and unexpected opportunities that shaped his life. From failing his A Levels and building a career in technology and transformation to becoming an author and seeing his family’s story reach the National Theatre, Hamed explores what becomes possible when we challenge the limits we place on ourselves. Audiences learn how to adapt without having all the answers, step into discomfort, remain composed when plans unravel and turn uncertainty into an opportunity for growth.
Ideal for: Corporate events, schools, universities, transformation conferences, resilience and personal development programmes
Leadership Under Pressure – Staying Calm When You Don’t Have All the Answers
Effective leadership is rarely about having perfect information. Drawing on his lived experiences alongside his career in technology, transformation and leadership, Hamed explores what it takes to make sound decisions when circumstances are uncertain. He examines how leaders can work through problems when things go wrong, adapt quickly, maintain perspective under pressure and bring people with them through periods of significant change. Combining personal storytelling with practical leadership insight, Hamed demonstrates why calm judgement, adaptability and humanity become particularly important when there is no obvious answer.
Ideal for: Executive teams, leadership conferences, senior management away-days, technology and transformation events
Belonging, Identity & Potential – Seeing Beyond the Labels We Place on Ourselves and Others
Drawing on his personal experiences and themes explored in 'The Other Boy', Hamed examines how identity, belonging and the assumptions placed upon people can shape their sense of what is possible. Exploring social mobility, confidence and opportunity, he challenges audiences to consider the labels they place on themselves and others, and how those perceptions can prevent potential from being recognised. Through powerful storytelling, Hamed encourages individuals and organisations to look beyond circumstance and background, create environments where people can belong and recognise potential that might otherwise be overlooked.
Ideal for: DEI programmes, schools, universities, leadership development, social mobility and community events
- 2023 – Chief of Staff, PwC Digital Operations
- 2022 – Stage adaptation of The Boy with Two Hearts premiered in London and Cardiff
- 2020 – Memoir ‘The Boy with Two Hearts’ selected as BBC Radio 4’s Book of the Week
- 2019 – Ambassador for the Welsh charity Daring to Dream
How to hire Hamed Amiri
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Hamed Amiri 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.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
