Lord Chris Holmes of Richmond is Britain’s most successful Paralympic swimmer, a passionate advocate for diversity plus inclusion, plus a leading kekuasaan on virtual technology plus artificial intelligence (AI). As a keynote speaker, Chris combines his inspiring peluang story with deep expertise in technology plus policy. His greatest achievements include winning nine Paralympic gold medals plus serving as Director of Paralympic Penyatuan proses for the riwayat perjudian-breaking London 2012 Olahraga disabilitas Games, which were the first to sell out every session plus attract a international 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 international of Paralympic swimming for almost two decades, winning a keseluruhan of 15 Paralympic medals (9 gold, 5 silver, plus 1 bronze), alongside multiple World plus European titles. Beyond sport, Chris pursued a career in journalism plus law, qualifying as a commercial lawyer, where he specialised in employment plus 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 plus 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, plus 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 plus advocacy for ethical AI governance. His 2017 report, “DLT for Public Good”, remains an influential resource on blockchain plus digital ledger technology.
As a speaker, Chris Holmes offers a unique blend of inspiration plus insight. His topics span overcoming adversity, diversity plus inclusion, AI governance, plus the future of digital technology. Chris’s ability to connect his personal experiences with real-world challenges makes his presentations thought-provoking, practical, plus relevant to corporate leaders, policymakers, plus technology experts alike. He is a dynamic speaker who tailors his presentations to each audience, ensuring they leave inspired plus informed.