Samira Ahmed Keynote Speaker

Samira Ahmed, an award-winning journalist and broadcaster, is a luminary figure in the British media, renowned for her insightful and dynamic presentations. As the host of the BBC’s flagship arts program, “Front Row” on Radio 4, she regularly engages with the crème de la crème of the literary and performing arts world, including writers, actors, and directors. In addition, her role on BBC1’s “Newswatch” showcases her as a vigilant overseer of journalistic integrity, where she critically evaluates BBC journalism and editorial decisions, advocating for the audience’s perspective.

Ahmed’s career is distinguished by several landmark achievements and contributions. In 2023, she captured global attention by uncovering the earliest complete concert recording of the Beatles performing in the UK, a 1963 performance at Stowe School. This monumental discovery, now housed in the British Library, stands as a testament to her dedication to preserving important cultural history.

Her accolades include being named the British Broadcasting Press Guild audio presenter of the year in 2020. That same year marked a significant victory for gender equality, as she won a groundbreaking sex discrimination employment tribunal against the BBC, advocating for equal pay on her program “Newswatch.”

Ahmed’s three-part BBC4 documentary series, “Art of Persia” (2020), garnered critical acclaim as one of the first major Western television series filmed in Iran in four decades. Her tenure as a news anchor and correspondent for Channel 4 News saw her win the Stonewall Broadcast of the Year award for her impactful film on the “corrective” rape of lesbian women in South Africa. Additionally, while serving as the LA Correspondent for BBC News, she covered high-profile stories, including the OJ Simpson case.

Her documentary work demonstrates a profound exploration of the intersections between popular culture, science, politics, and social change. Notable documentaries include “I Dressed Ziggy Stardust,” “Laura Ingalls’ America,” “John Ruskin’s Eurythmic Girls,” “HG Wells and the H Bomb,” “The Fundamentalist Queen,” and “Disgusted, Mary Whitehouse.” These projects underscore her commitment to delving into complex and often underrepresented issues, reflecting her dedication to bringing depth and diversity to her journalistic pursuits.

Beyond her broadcasting career, Ahmed is deeply committed to social advocacy. She serves as a trustee for the Centre for Women’s Justice, contributes her expertise to the advisory board of the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, and is a member of the editorial review board of Doctor Who magazine. Her honorary fellowship at St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford, and honorary doctorates from the University of East Anglia, City University of London, and Kingston University, further solidify her esteemed position in the academic and professional world.

Her career is a testament to her skill, passion, and dedication to journalism and broadcasting. Her work not only informs and entertains but also challenges and inspires, making her a true icon in her field.