The Official Top Ten Speakers on Diversity & Inclusion in AI in 2026

Diverse AI isn’t a ‘nice to have’ for modern organisations; it is how you stop bias, build trust, and unlock better decisions at scale. This guide highlights ten in-demand speakers for 2026 who help HR and business leaders turn responsible, inclusive AI into practical policies, products, and culture for teams.

Why Does Diversity & Inclusion Matter in AI?

AI is already embedded in how people work and how organisations make decisions; IBM reports that 37% of large UK enterprises have deployed AI and a further 41% are exploring it, while CIPD says a third of organisations already use AI or machine learning in recruitment and onboarding, where biased screening can quickly erode trust. Deloitte highlights that women hold 26% of data and AI roles, and techUK stresses that fairness depends on diverse datasets and diverse teams.

What Does This Mean For You?

Microsoft and LinkedIn found that 75% of global knowledge workers use generative AI at work, 78% of AI users bring their own tools into the workplace, and 79% of leaders believe their organisation must adopt AI to stay competitive, so your audience is already living this shift as a daily work habit. For conferences and workshops, the practical value comes from speakers who can translate inclusive AI into real operating decisions, for example a session where HR and legal map where bias can enter an AI-enabled recruitment flow and agree governance checks before rollout, aligning with National Institute of Standards and Technology findings that demographic error gaps can be severe in high-stakes systems.

Who are the Best Diversity & Inclusion in AI Speakers Trending in the UK?

This curated selection from The AI Speakers Agency reflects a vetted roster of speakers who consistently focus on inclusion, governance, privacy, accessibility, and responsible adoption, the themes UK event audiences keep asking for as AI becomes a mainstream management tool. Each speaker below is known for combining credible career experience with clear delivery, so your audience leaves with practical takeaways rather than theory.

• Chris Holmes – AI governance champion and Paralympic legend with direct policy experience
• Tomi Popoola – fintech and generative AI builder focused on financial inclusion and DEI in technology
• Mahault Albarracin – AI ethics and governance specialist linking sustainability and diversity in tech
• Adrian Joseph – senior data and AI leader recognised for advancing equality and inclusion in business
• Steve Nouri – ethical AI educator and community builder focused on access and inclusion in AI skills
• Cha’Von Clarke-Joel – AI ethics, privacy and data protection leader with global governance expertise
• Reem AlMusabbah – women-in-AI community leader and entrepreneur focused on inclusion and social impact
• Beena Ammanath – trusted voice on trustworthy AI, ethics and technology governance with major leadership roles
• Dr Naeema Pasha – behavioural scientist specialising in AI equity, inclusive leadership and the future of work
• Laurence Moroney – AI educator and engineering leader with an “AI for all” focus and strong stage presence

Chris Holmes

Chris Holmes is hired for leadership conferences because he combines frontline governance credibility with an authentic personal story of resilience and performance. He introduced the Artificial Intelligence (Regulation) Bill in 2023, and his work spans AI governance, digital transformation, and inclusion, alongside elite sport achievements as a nine-time Paralympic gold medallist and multiple world record holder.

Event organisers value Chris when they need a speaker who can connect ethics, regulation, and real-world adoption to leadership behaviour, especially in sessions aimed at senior decision-makers and people leaders. His work on London 2012 Paralympic Integration and his board-level experience add practical leadership depth for audiences balancing innovation with risk and fairness.

Chris’s Official Speaking Topics:

• Artificial Intelligence and AI Governance
• Digital Technology for Public Good
• The Paralympics
• Diversity & Inclusion

Tomi Popoola

Tomi Popoola is a strong choice for conferences that sit at the intersection of AI, financial services, and inclusion. As Founder and CEO of Slash Finances, she focuses on using AI to improve accessibility and financial inclusion, and she brings deep technical credibility from roles spanning JP Morgan and Amazon Web Services, including work delivering cloud solutions for large enterprises.

Tomi’s talks work well for mixed audiences because she is positioned as someone who can demystify generative AI, cloud infrastructure, and automation, while keeping the human impact in view. If you are running a workshop for HR and business leaders, she can bridge “how it works” and “who it works for”, particularly in the context of fair access to products, credit, and digital services.

Tomi’s Official Speaking Topics:

• Generative AI and automation
• Financial technology and inclusion
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion in technology
• DevOps and SRE best practices
• Cloud infrastructure and multi-region deployments

Mahault Albarracin

Mahault Albarracin is booked for audiences that want a modern view of AI governance that includes sustainability and human-centred design. As Director of Innovations and R&D at VERSES AI, she focuses on AI ethics, governance, and frameworks such as Active Inference, bringing a research-led perspective that suits organisations building or buying AI at scale.

She is particularly relevant for programmes on diversity in AI because her profile explicitly links technical development to inclusion and ethics, and she has a track record of advocating for gender equality in technology through initiatives and leadership roles referenced in her biography. Mahault is a strong fit for panels, keynotes, and strategy workshops where leaders want to move from abstract “responsible AI” commitments to concrete governance decisions.

Mahault’s Official Speaking Topics:

• AI Governance and Ethics
• Active Inference and AI
• Sustainability in Technology
• Diversity in Technology
• Cognitive Computing and AI Safety

Adrian Joseph

Adrian Joseph is a compelling hire when you need senior-level credibility on data strategy, enterprise AI, and inclusive leadership. His profile includes leadership roles such as Chief Data & AI Officer at BT, work at Google, and service as an expert member of the UK AI Council, giving him practical insight into how AI strategy meets policy expectations.

He brings particular authority on equality and inclusion, including an OBE for services to equality and diversity in business, which helps HR and business leaders connect AI transformation to culture and opportunity. Adrian suits conferences where the brief includes enterprise adoption, leadership accountability, and building an inclusive tech function that produces better outcomes.

Adrian’s Official Speaking Topics:

• Enterprise AI and data strategy
• AI adoption, strategy, and value creation
• Inclusive cultures and equality in business
• Technology leadership and digital transformation

Steve Nouri

Steve Nouri works well for conferences that want energy, optimism, and clear takeaways around ethical and inclusive AI. His profile positions him as an AI thought leader focused on ethical AI practices and inclusive education, and it highlights initiatives such as AI4Diversity, aligning directly with audiences who want to widen participation in AI skills and opportunity.

If you are planning a workshop for leaders, Steve is a practical choice when the goal is to help people move from curiosity to action, especially around responsible use of generative AI and building inclusive learning cultures. His background across AI community leadership, education-focused ventures, and industry advisory work supports a strong mix of strategic and motivational content.

Steve’s Official Speaking Topics:

• Ethical AI
• Future of work and AI skills
• Generative AI and organisational adoption
• Start-ups and innovation in AI education

Cha’Von Clarke-Joel

Cha’Von Clarke-Joel is a high-impact speaker for programmes that combine inclusion, governance, and risk. Her profile highlights leadership roles in privacy and emerging technologies, including senior responsibility at the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Bermuda, and it positions her as a globally recognised authority in AI ethics and data protection.

She is particularly valuable for HR leaders and business decision-makers who need clarity on privacy-by-design, responsible innovation, and the practical governance steps that keep AI aligned with organisational values. For conference hosts, she brings strong panel and keynote capability on responsible tech innovation, linking inclusion to accountability and trust.

Cha’Von’s Official Speaking Topics:

• AI Ethics and Leadership
• Cybersecurity
• Data Protection
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Global Technological Advancements and Societal Impacts
• Policy Governance
• Privacy
• Responsible Tech Innovation
• Risk Management

Reem AlMusabbah

Reem AlMusabbah is hired by organisers who want a forward-looking voice on inclusion, community, and AI innovation. Her profile highlights her leadership in women-in-AI community building in the UAE, plus her work as a technology entrepreneur through ventures such as Retech and Unipreneur Inc., positioning her well for events focused on talent pipelines and participation.

Reem’s sessions are a strong fit if you want to blend inspiration with practical insight about building opportunities for underrepresented groups in technology, particularly across innovation ecosystems. For business leaders, she can bring a clear narrative about AI’s role in transparency, accountability, and sustainable outcomes, which helps link inclusion to strategy rather than slogans.

Reem’s Official Speaking Topics:

• AI Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystems
• Ethical AI and Social Impact
• Machine Learning Applications for Business and Sustainability
• Women in AI and Community-Driven Inclusion

Beena Ammanath

Beena Ammanath is a standout choice when you need a speaker who can set the tone for trustworthy AI, ethics, and governance, while keeping it grounded in business reality. Her profile positions her as a technology trust and ethics leader at Deloitte, leading the Global Deloitte AI Institute and Trustworthy AI/Ethical Technology, and it highlights her authorship of books including Trustworthy AI and Zero Latency Leadership.

Beena is also strongly aligned to diversity in AI through her advocacy and her founding of Humans for AI, a non-profit focused on diversity and inclusion in AI, making her especially relevant for HR and business audiences shaping policy, culture, and talent strategies. She works well as a keynote, fireside chat, or executive workshop facilitator on what “trust” means in practice for AI systems.

Beena’s Official Speaking Topics:

• Equity and Sustainability Through Emerging Tech
• Responsible AI Strategy for Senior Leaders
• Technology Governance and Trust
• Trustworthy AI and Ethical Technology Leadership

Dr Naeema Pasha

Dr Naeema Pasha is a strong booking for organisations that want the behavioural science behind AI equity, inclusion, and leadership change. Her profile highlights senior research and leadership roles spanning the future of work, careers, and equity, and it positions her as a speaker on inclusive AI who addresses bias with a practical, leadership-led lens.

For HR directors and business leaders, Naeema’s value comes from making inclusion operational: she links responsible AI to everyday leadership decisions, talent systems, and accountability. She is well suited to interactive sessions where leaders need a roadmap for fairness, from governance to communication, without losing pace on transformation.

Naeema’s Official Speaking Topics:

• AI Equity: More Than a Buzzword
• AI Future: Humans Still Needed
• Beyond Bias: Building Inclusive AI
• Human Behaviour in the AI Age
• Leading AI Change

Laurence Moroney

Laurence Moroney is a premium hire for technical and non-technical audiences who want clarity, confidence, and practical understanding of AI. His profile highlights senior roles across major technology organisations, including leadership positions at Google and Arm, and it frames his speaking as focused on adoption, education, and “AI for all”, which naturally supports conversations about inclusion.

He is particularly effective for conferences that want to raise baseline AI literacy fast, for example when you have senior leaders, HR, and product teams in one room. Laurence can connect machine learning capability to workforce readiness and skills, and his content includes explicit discussion of the benefits of diversity in AI through agency interviews referenced in his profile.

Laurence’s Official Speaking Topics:

• AI for All
• Artificial Intelligence
• Machine Learning
• Machine Learning Training
• TensorFlow

Book a Diversity & Inclusion in AI Speaker Today

Diversity and inclusion in AI directly affects business outcomes because AI tools are already embedded in hiring, performance management, customer interactions, and decision-making. Bringing in a specialist speaker gives your conference or workshop a clear focal point, raises capability across teams, and helps leaders align governance, culture, and inclusion with how AI is actually being used day to day.

To book one of the speakers featured above, explore the wider roster via The AI Speakers Agency website and use the Contact Us page or call us on 0203 410 9897 to get started today.