- UK
Giles Duley Keynote Speaker
- Award-winning documentary photographer and Founder of the Legacy of War Foundation
- Former UN Global Advocate for Persons with Disabilities in Conflict (2022–2025)
- MBE recipient recognised for services to survivors of conflict
Giles Duley's Biography
Giles Duley MBE is an acclaimed documentary and portrait photographer, writer, chef, presenter, and the CEO & founder of the international NGO Legacy of War Foundation.
He is also known for his advocacy work on behalf of civilians and persons with disabilities affected by conflict. His work highlights the long-term humanitarian impacts of war and displacement, combining visual storytelling with advocacy to drive real-world change.
Initially a music photographer, Duley captured major artists including Mariah Carey, Oasis, Underworld and Lenny Kravitz, with his work named by Q Magazine as among the 100 greatest rock photographs of all time. In the early 2000s, he shifted his focus to documentary photography, working with charities such as Save the Children, UNHCR, EMERGENCY and Humanity & Inclusion to document under-reported humanitarian crises across Iraq, South Sudan, DR Congo, Bangladesh, Ukraine and beyond.
In 2011, while on assignment in Afghanistan, he was severely injured by an improvised explosive device (IED), resulting in the loss of both legs and his left arm. After extensive treatment and rehabilitation, he returned to work as a photographer only one year after his injury.
Duley’s work has been exhibited internationally and often explores themes of resilience, humanity and the legacy of conflict. His projects include One Second of Light and year-long documentation of the refugee crisis that formed the basis for exhibitions and collaborations with artists like Massive Attack, PJ Harvey and Lisa Hannigan. In 2024, his work The Things They Carried, a still-life series of unexploded ordnance, was shown at Atelier Jolie in New York, and in 2025 his portrait of a young injured Lebanese girl was exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery, where it won the People’s Pick vote.
He has presented documentaries for Channel 4 and produced the six-part VICE TV series The One Armed Chef (2022).
In 2022, Duley was appointed as the first United Nations Global Advocate for Persons with Disabilities in Conflict and Peacebuilding Situations, a role he completed in December 2025, using his platform to elevate the voices of people with disabilities affected by war and to push for systemic change.
Duley was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to survivors of conflicts. He has also been nominated for the Tipperary International Peace Award (2025), received the Hausman Humanitarian Award, and was named among The Explorers Club 50 Extraordinary People as Explorer-in-Residence for the Range Foundation.
Giles Duley's Speaking Topics
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Resilience, adversity and overcoming life-changing challenges
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The human impact of conflict and displacement
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Disability, inclusion and advocacy in crisis settings
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Storytelling as a catalyst for change
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Leadership, purpose and humanitarian action under pressure
Why Book Giles Duley as a speaker?
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He has spent more than two decades documenting the human impact of conflict, giving voice to civilians, refugees and survivors whose stories are too often overlooked in global debates.
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He translates extraordinary personal experiences of trauma, recovery and resilience into powerful insights that challenge audiences to rethink leadership, adversity and what it means to live with purpose.
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He combines award-winning photography, humanitarian advocacy and first-hand experience as a survivor of conflict-related injury to offer a uniquely authentic perspective on courage and human potential.
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He has worked with international organisations and communities affected by war across the world, bringing audiences a deeply human understanding of resilience, dignity and the long-term consequences of conflict.
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His presentations inspire leaders and teams to find strength through adversity, embrace perspective and recognise the power of empathy, determination and hope in the face of profound challenges.
