June Sarpong OBE, a former panellist on Loose Women, is a politically driven broadcaster and advocate for diversity. As explored in her book, Diversify, June is using her platform as a celebrity host to promote the importance of inclusivity, and the dangers of discrimination in an already divided world. Her work off-screen addresses the gender pay gap and other inequalities faced by minority communities and women, a driving motivation that fuels her event, Women: Inspiration and Enterprise Network. From human rights to discrimination in the workplace, June’s pioneering influence has sent positive ripples throughout all areas of British business, society, and politics. She has been invited to several events, including the DNA Summit, to share her unique and intellectual understanding of inclusion as a keynote speaker.
Bursting into the entertainment industry on the radio station Kiss 100 and MTV UK, June quickly progressed to T4. Over the course of nine years with the show, she interviewed the likes of Tony Blair, kickstarting June’s onscreen interest in politics. Going from strength to strength in her media career, she has also presented Your Face or Mine? with Jimmy Carr, Dirty Laundry and Playing it Straight, a Mexican-based dating show. For three years in a row, she presented the MOBO Awards, a testament to June’s natural skill as an awards host. When booked for events, she discusses the several guest appearances she made on Extras, Question Time and 8 Out of 10 Cats to name a few, providing audiences with a unique view into the world of broadcasting. She has also hosted the Make Poverty History event, the UK leg of Live Earth and Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday celebrations and been a regular panellist on The Pledge- Sky News' current affairs discussion show.
June joined the Loose Women team in 2015, establishing a sizeable fan base thanks to her likeable personality and natural humour. Upon leaving the programme in 2016, June invested her energy in two greatly influential books, titled Diversify: Six Degrees of Integration, published in 2017, and The Power of Women in 2018. She has since also authored The Power of Privilege, adding one more to her collection of best-selling and award-winning literature. June has always played a close role in British sociopolitical discourse, working with schools and businesses alike to improve diversity and dismantle oppression. In order to break down barriers separating groups of people, she has collaborated with academics and other influential leaders to spread her message of unity far and wide. June supplies that same energy at events.
A passionate advocate for anti-discrimination, June has been appointed MBE and OBE for Services to Broadcasting and Charity, becoming one of the youngest people to be appointed MBE. She has also co-founded the WIE Network, an acclaimed conference that brings women such as Sarah Brown, Donna Karan, Arianna Huffington and Melinda Gates together to speak on inspiration and enterprise. She has also launched a publishing imprint, titled The HQ Creative Inclusion Lab, which aims to give a voice to underrepresented communities, especially people with a disability, from working-class backgrounds or from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds. When looking for a speaker who encourages a more diverse and inclusive world and tackles discrimination, look no further than June Sarpong to empower your event audience to make actionable change.
Social Media
Books
Calling Una Marson: The Groundbreaking History of the BBC’s First Black Woman Radio Broadcaster ― Finally Brought to Light
Diversify
The Only One in the Room
The Power of Privilege: How White People Can Challenge Racism
The Power of Women
June Sarpong's official speaker topics are listed below:
Inclusion & Diversity
A core drive of June’s speeches is inclusion and diversity. The topics are especially close to hear heart, and make up the foundation of her books, Diversify: Six Degrees of Integration and The Power of Women. With the pay gap still disadvantaging black, Asian, and other minority groups, June’s influential work is not just raising awareness, but supplying strategies for sustainable change across all industries.
Female Empowerment
June regularly appears at summits and conferences across the globe, including her own co-founded event, WIE: Network, which brings together inspiring female speakers. June’s event shines a light on the inequalities faced by women, both personally and professionally, to inspire inclusion. Working with both smaller communities, business leaders and politicians, June’s female empowerment topic is a vehicle for genuine change.
Broadcasting
From MTV to Loose Women, Debatable to The Pledge, June has appeared on several popular British programmes, a testament to her nationwide fame. This first-hand experience makes her a valuable insider on the industry, able to share her story of the limelight, production, and a few star-studded anecdotes. Audiences come away with a better understanding of the British media, making for an unforgettable occasion.
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
Feedback for In-Person Events:
"June was great, lots of charisma and energy which was great, we loved having her and the feedback has been excellent." - Anna, Marketing Manager UK, Align Technology UK Ltd
"The feedback we have received regarding June presenting has been outstanding - really fabulous to have her join us on site and everyone who attended said it was brilliant" - Jessica, Group Head of Diversity & Inclusion, RS Components
"June was absolutely brilliant last night. Such an amazing host and so warm and friendly to all our guests. Please pass on a huge thank you from us all." - Georgie, MetTVH
Feedback from Virtual Events:
"Lots of positive feedback, and people sharing their takeaways" - NHS North East London
"June was incredible, she was so warm and friendly with everyone on the day. Perfect guest." - Kyle, Engagement Consultant, Bupa
Her keynote speech & the follow-up Q&A has been highlighted as one of the standouts of the day in our post-event survey!
"The feedback was 'through the roof!' - secure to say, members loved June and the valuable insight/delivery! So, yes - all went very, very well and exceeded expectations!! A huge thank you to you, Chris and June and her team for working with me to get the positive message on D&I delivered this IWD!" - Sandra, Network Officer Treasurer, Windrush Team, UK Visas & Immigration
"We absolutely loved the session with June Sarpong. And June made for a formidable duo that rocked the house of Co-Op! Haha, that sounds like a quote out of Pose. But it was truly a fantastic session. June was powerful in her storytelling and very honest in sharing her thoughts around inclusion, bias and allyship. Thank you all for your support in helping us to deliver this session during Black History Month." - Ash, Co-Op
"It was a great event, I really enjoyed June's take on unconscious bias and allyship in particular the practical things everyone can do to challenge themselves. It was awesome to learn more about Shirine. Thank you for bringing this to life for us" - Denise, Co-Op
"What a great session- thanks so much to June and Shirine, I got a lot from hearing their experiences" - Laura, Co-Op
"So glad I managed to join this event, June's storytelling was amazing and such an insightful and engaging session. Well done all involved" - Kerry, Co-Op
"This was a brilliant session... if you didn't manage to dial into the event, take the time out to listen. Will really help you think through the small steps we can all take as individuals. Thank you Rise and Shirine, what a session!" - Tessa, Co-Op
"Please pass on our thanks to June - she was awesome as expected. Her messaging on diversity, equity and inclusion were on point, her storytelling was engaging and thought-provoking- what a great guest speaker and interviewee. We're really pleased. Thanks to June, and also to you for your support" - Liz, Stephenson Harwood LLP
"June was a very positive, energetic and inspiring speaker. There was a lot of opportunity for questions at the end of the session and June's answers were really helpful and appreciated by those who asked a question. Following our briefing call, June related a lot of her examples to our sector and was able to challenge us to think about what we can do to increase diversity and inclusivity both internally and with our customers." - Geraldine, Learning and Development Advisor, RHP
"It was really good thanks. We love having June in the call. She has lots of provoking statement that we asked ourselves. We appreciate her honesty and openness. I listened to her recording as I cant attend during the call but it was very powerful!" - Ria, MDLZ
- 2023 – Awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Roehampton London
- 2020 – Appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to broadcasting
- 2019 – Became the BBC's first Director of Creative Diversity
- 2018 – Published The Power of Women
- 2017 – Published Diversify: Six Degrees of Integration
- 2016 – Co-founded The HQ Creative Inclusion Lab
- 2016 – Left Loose Women to focus on writing and diversity advocacy
- 2015 – Joined ITV’s Loose Women as a regular panellist
- 2010 – Co-founded Women: Inspiration and Enterprise (WIE) Network
- 2007 – Hosted the UK leg of Live Earth
- 2007 – Hosted Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday celebrations in London
- 2005 – Hosted Make Poverty History event
- 2004 - 2006 – Regular host of the MOBO Awards for three consecutive years
- 2005 – Appeared in Ricky Gervais' Extras
- 2004 – Regular panellist on Sky News' The Pledge
- 2004 – Co-hosted Your Face or Mine? with Jimmy Carr
- 2004 – Presented Playing It Straight, a dating show
- 1998 – Started as a presenter on Channel 4’s T4
- 1996 – Began broadcasting career on Kiss 100 radio station
- 2007 – Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to broadcasting and charity
How to hire June Sarpong OBE
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring June Sarpong OBE 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.
