Amar Latif OBE

Amar Latif is a presenter, director, entrepreneur, and blind adventurer. He is the founder of Traveleyes, a touring company specialised in supporting blind travellers, and has presented a number of documentaries, including the BBC’s critically acclaimed Beyond Boundaries.

By the time he was eighteen, Amar had lost 95% of his eyesight due to an incurable condition. Determined to travel and experience the whole world despite his condition, Amar has since trekked 220 miles through Central America and climbed a 1500m active volcano. Prior to exploring the world, Amar trained as an accountant, overcoming obstacles and challenging preconceptions to work his way up to Head of Commercial Finance for BT. After realising that his passion lay in traveling, he turned to face new goals and new challenges.

Amar’s determination to create a more accessible world for those with visual impairments became a reality with Traveleyes. His company gave millions of blind people the opportunity to trek through deserts, ski down some of the highest mountains, and sail across seas. He has also established initiatives and partnerships with schools around the world, raising awareness of disabilities and building relationships between sighted students and blind travellers.

In recounting his remarkable story as both adventurer and entrepreneur, including the many setbacks he has encountered, Amar discusses overcoming adversity, building a resilient mindset, and how to perceive limitations. As a Scot of Asian heritage, as well as being blind, Amar examines the biases and assumptions that marginalise and exclude, and the damage done to individuals and society. He challenges how quick we are to define other with labels and expectations, and considers the inherent value, importance and advantages of diversity and inclusion.