Simon Woolley

Biography

Simon Woolley is the founder of Operation Black Vote, an organisation dedicated to addressing the underrepresentation of Black communities in the UK's political and public life. Simon served as Director of Operation Black Vote from its inception in 1996 until 2021, during which time the organisation became a formidable force in advocating for electoral registration, political participation, and civic engagement among the UK’s Black communities. Since 2021, he has been the Principal of Homerton College, Cambridge - the first Black man to head an Oxbridge college.

As well as founding Operation Black Vote, Simon was one the architects of the government’s groundbreaking Race Disparity Unit,  which helps organisations inside and outside government to understand and tackle ethnic disparities, as well as serving as the first chair of its advisory group. 

As a speaker, Simon covers how embedding a system of core values at the heart of an organisation makes it more productive and more creative - as well as being better for company wellbeing and business. He talks about the importance of true allyship within organisations, and how understanding and appreciating the lived experiences of other people within an organisation builds better teams and improves company culture.