Speaker
Amar Latif
Amar Latif is an incredibly talented entrepreneur, speaker and television presenter. Known as the blind traveller, Amar lost 95% of his sight by the age of 18 due to an incurable eye condition. Yet it doesn't stop him in any way. Through sheer determination, he has managed to turn an unpromising tale of loss, into one of inspirational achievement.
About Amar Latif
Amar Latif’s talks show that determination and the right attitude can take you far in life. He has spoken for audiences around the world, from Goldman Sachs and Lloyds Banking to the United Nations. Amar took part in the BBC2 reality series, Beyond Boundaries, a jungle endurance expedition which entailed a gruelling 220-mile trek on foot. And of course he was the first blind contestant in Celebrity Masterchef.
Amar Latif became known to millions through the groundbreaking Beyond Boundaries, a jungle endurance expedition across Central America. Screened worldwide, viewers watched his sheer determination helped him turn an unpromising tale of loss, into one of inspirational achievement. He walked across the rugged interior of Nicaragua, from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. Amar had to ford swollen rivers, climb a 5,000 ft. active volcano and navigate the second largest lake in Latin America.
In MasterChef Amar reached the semi-finals and the final six of the competition, attracting a legion of fans along the way. In addition 2019 saw him team up with comedian Sara Pascoe in Travelling Blind. Amar led this BBC documentary through some of Turkey’s most famous attractions. All in the name of showing Sara how much there is to be gained by stepping out of your comfort zone and opening yourself up to new ways of seeing the world.
Amar Latif was once told that blind people couldn’t be accountants. He ignored the above comment and studied Maths and Finance at Strathclyde University. Proving everyone wrong, Amar spent seven years working at BT, finally heading up their Finance Division. There he managed a team of seven accountants and financial responsibility for multi-million pound business deals.
In 2004, Amar founded Traveleyes, the world’s first commercial tour operator to specialise in holidays for blind as well as sighted travellers. Traveleyes has opened the holiday travel industry to millions of blind and partially sighted people around the world. Therefore, giving them the opportunity to walk with lions in Africa, sail the Ionian Sea and ski down mountains.
For his entrepreneurial achievements, Amar received The Outstanding Young Person of the World accolade from the Chamber of Commerce International. Additionally, he received the prestigious Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur Award, presented by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou.
Amar Latif’s work with Schools:
Amar works with schools around the world taking students on a wide range of travel adventures whilst having them describe the sights to other blind travellers. By broadening the mindset of young people today, Amar hopes to create a more accessible world for those with vision impairment in the future.
Testimonials
"This has been the most inspiring and touching presentation I have ever experienced in my twenty five years of working in this company."
HR Director, BT
"Amar’s speech ‘Obstacles! I Can’t See Any Obstacles’ was a hugely inspiring keynote address, which was both motivational and uplifting. We have received extremely positive feedback from audience members, with a number being so touched by his personal story that they would be keen to see him come back to Goldman Sachs in the future so that he can share his story with a wider audience. Most pleasing is the fact that it has now inspired a number of individuals to become more actively involved in forwarding the disability agenda at Goldman Sachs."
Global Diversity Manager, Goldman Sachs
