Taban Shoresh OBE is the Founder and CEO of The Lotus Flower, a charity supporting vulnerable women across Kurdistan, Northern Iraq and the UK. As a former child genocide survivor, Taban has dedicated her career to assisting conflict survivors, having experienced firsthand the impact of how one action can change a life.
At the age of four, Taban and her family were imprisoned by Saddam Hussein’s regime due to her father’s involvement with the Kurdish Military and his presence in Kurdish literature. After two weeks of capture, Taban’s family narrowly evaded a mass live burial when the drivers of the transport vehicle were changed. Arriving in the UK in 1988, Taban was allowed to study and begin a career away from conflict. In 2014, she was approached by the Kurdistan Regional Government to speak about her experiences in the House of Lords for Genocide Remembrance Day. This opportunity would go on to fuel her participation in a rescue mission with the Rwanga Foundation to distribute aid to displaced Yazidis trapped on Mount Sinjar. In 2016, she founded The Lotus Flower, a non-profit helping female refugees access education, mental health support and reintegration into societies. Since its establishment, The Lotus Flower has supported more than 110,000 community members by creating safe spaces and pathways for women to rebuild their lives. Alongside this, Taban is a representative of the Global Refugee Forum and is a member of Girls Not Brides, the Action Network on Forced Displacement, and the ICVA MENA Women Leadership Network. She is also an ambassador for One Young World, further underscoring her commitment to aiding displaced victims of conflict.
As a result of her incredible influence, Taban has been recognised with a range of accolades, including being a finalist at Red Magazine’s Woman of the Year Awards, named GQ Magazine’s Hero for 2024, and awarded an OBE for her outstanding services to refugees. In 2025, she was awarded the UNHCR Nansen Award for MENA, cementing her status as a truly meaningful changemaker. She has featured on the How I Became podcast and the Changemakers podcast, and delivered two TEDx talks, 'The Power of Choice', and 'Turning Pain into Purpose'.
Having worked with globally renowned organisations and brands such as UNHCR, King’s College London, UN Women, Amazon, Cannes Lions, Choose Love and more, Taban is an experienced and regular speaker across international stages delivering impactful and insightful discussions. Her talks cover an array of topics, from purpose, adversity and leadership to women and gender, tech, and climate action. Audiences leave with a deeper understanding of the plight of refugees, recognition of ripple effects, and frameworks to implement effective, compassionate leadership strategies.
Taban Shoresh's official speaking topics are listed below:
THE DOMINO EFFECT
Taban is a child genocide survivor who was imprisoned at the age of four and escaped being buried alive. She captivates an audience with her extraordinary story of survival. She talks about the two men who risked their lives to save hers, and how that one action has transformed the course of not only her life, but the lives of the 105,000 people she has gone on to help through The Lotus Flower.
Key talking points on The Domino Effect:
- How one action can change a life, a community, or a company
- Every decision has unseen ripple effects
- Leadership is the art of starting a chain reaction
- Culture amplifies momentum
- Purpose sustains progress
The Power of Purpose: From Survival to Impact
Theme: Purpose, leadership and transformation
Drawing on her extraordinary life journey, Taban explores how a clear sense of purpose can drive personal growth, inspire others and create meaningful change. Audiences learn how purpose-led leadership fosters innovation, resilience and long-term impact within organisations and communities.
Leading with Lived Experience: Turning Adversity into Leadership Strength
Theme: Authentic leadership and emotional intelligence
Taban demonstrates how overcoming adversity can become a powerful leadership asset. Sharing lessons from her own experiences, she highlights the value of authenticity, empathy and emotional intelligence in building trust, strengthening teams and creating inclusive workplace cultures.
Building Resilient Teams in a Changing World
Theme: Resilience, adaptability and culture
In a rapidly evolving world, resilience has become an essential organisational capability. Taban provides practical insights into fostering adaptability, maintaining unity through uncertainty and creating a shared sense of purpose that enables teams to thrive in challenging environments.
Women, Leadership & the Power of Voice
Theme: Gender equality and empowerment
Taban examines the barriers that continue to affect women in leadership and shares strategies for creating more equitable opportunities. This inspiring keynote encourages organisations to champion female talent, amplify diverse voices and build cultures where everyone has the confidence to lead and contribute.
Tech for Humanity: Harnessing AI and Innovation for Good
Theme: Technology, ethics and social impact
As technology continues to reshape society, Taban explores how artificial intelligence and emerging innovations can be used to address some of the world's most pressing challenges. This thought-provoking keynote examines the intersection of technology, human rights and ethical leadership, encouraging organisations to adopt purpose-led innovation that delivers meaningful social impact.
Climate Action and Sustainable Change
Theme: Sustainability and corporate responsibility
Taban highlights the connection between humanitarian values and environmental responsibility, demonstrating why sustainable action is essential for future generations. Audiences gain insight into how organisations can embed sustainability into their decision-making, drive positive change and balance business objectives with long-term social and environmental impact.
From Conflict to Collaboration: Lessons in Peacebuilding
Theme: Conflict resolution and communication
Drawing on powerful personal experiences, Taban shares valuable lessons on overcoming division and fostering understanding. This keynote explores how empathy, dialogue and mutual respect can transform conflict into collaboration, equipping leaders and teams with practical approaches to build trust, strengthen relationships and create more inclusive environments.
Official Feedback From In-Person & Virtual Events
"We are always honoured when Tabana accompanies Choose Love to events and speaks publicly about her story. When Help Refugees was selected as the Cannes Film Festival charity partner, Taban was invited to talk at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association dinner. As always, she spoke powerfully and articulately; the room was captivated, moved and inspired by her words. We are so proud to work with her." – Josie, CEO, Choose Love
"As the keynote speaker at UNICEF Canada’s Water for Life Gala, Taban shared her incredible story of survival with a passion that captured the audience’s full attention. Her ability to connect emotionally with donors helps drive home the importance of helping marginalised girls access education, giving them vital tools to overcome huge challenges and build fulfilling lives." – Holly, UNICEF Canada, National Events Manager
- 2025 – Awarded UNHCR Nansen Award for MENA
- 2024 – Received OBE for Services to Refugees
- 2024 – Named GQ Magazine Hero
- 2017 – Digital Project Manager, Girl Effect
- 2016 – Founded The Lotus Flower
- 2014 – Director of PR, Media and Marketing, The Rwanga Foundation
How to hire Taban Shoresh OBE
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Taban Shoresh 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.
