John Amaechi OBE

John Amaechi OBE is widely recognised as one of the UK’s most authoritative voices on diversity, equity and inclusion, combining his expertise as an organisational psychologist with lived experience at the highest levels of elite sport and business. As the Founder of APS Intelligence Ltd, he advises organisations on inclusive leadership, culture transformation and high-performance team design. A Chartered Scientist and Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, John is trusted by global organisations to translate complex DEI challenges into practical, measurable change.

John’s early career began in professional basketball, where he made history as the first British player to forge a career in the NBA. Competing at the highest level of international sport, he developed a deep understanding of performance, resilience and team dynamics. Following his sporting career, he transitioned into business and psychology, founding APS Ltd before establishing APS Intelligence. This marked the beginning of his work as a strategic consultant, applying behavioural science to organisational performance and leadership effectiveness.

Alongside his consultancy work, John has built an exceptional portfolio of academic, advisory and leadership roles. He has served on the Diversity and Inclusion Board of Sanofi, the Inclusive Leadership Board of KPMG UK and the Inclusion Advisory Panel of Tesco, as well as contributing to the London 2012 Olympic Games through the LOCOG Diversity Board. His academic appointments include Professor of Leadership at the University of Exeter Business School and Research Fellow at the University of East London. A bestselling author, his books include ‘Man in the Middle’, ‘The Promises of Giants: How You Can Fill the Leadership Void’ and ‘It’s Not Magic: The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders’. His contributions have been recognised with an OBE, Humanist of the Year by Harvard University, and inclusion in HR Magazine’s Most Influential Thinkers.

John is hired as a DEI speaker because he brings both intellectual rigour and personal authenticity to the stage. As one of the first NBA players to come out as gay, he speaks with credibility on identity, belonging and systemic bias, grounding his insights in real-world experience. His approach is evidence-based and commercially focused, equipping leaders with actionable strategies rather than abstract theory. Audiences value his ability to challenge assumptions, reframe inclusion as a driver of performance, and deliver practical tools that create lasting cultural change within organisations.