Afua Hirsch

Afua Hirsch has been a journalist for more than twenty years. She began reporting for The Voice, Britain’s oldest black national newspaper from the age of just 14. She then went on to work in international development in 15 countries in West and Central Africa. Subsequently, she qualified as a barrister, where she worked in media law, international justice and human rights.

Afua has held senior positions at The Guardian Newspaper, where she continues to write a regular column and Sky News, where she is regular contributor to the flagship debate show The Pledge.

In 2017, Afua’s debut book, Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging, was awarded the Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Prize. Furthermore, she is the Wallis Annenberg Chair of Journalism at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. And she is one of the “rebel” judges on this year’s prestigious Booker Prize.

Afua was a judge for the 2019 Booker Prize and is currently the Wallis Annenberg Chair of Journalism at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Afua has presented documentaries including Britain’s Bloody Heroes (Channel 4, 2018), African Art (BBC4, 2020), Enslaved (Epix, 2020), The White House (BBC2, 2021). She also presents radio documentaries, including a landmark series on the global, rules-based order for BBC Radio 4, and an original Audible podcast series on experiences of the British Empire.

Additionally, Afua is one half of the fashion brand Sika, which creates ethically-made, African inspired men’s and womenswear clothing, made in Ghana, sold globally.

To book Diversity and Inclusion Speaker Afua Hirsch, contact The Speakers Agency on +44(0)1332 810481 or email enquiries@thespeakersagency.com.