About Matt Mahmood-Ogston

Keynote Public Speaker

A keynote speaker that will leave your audience truly moved and deep in thought, long after your conference ends.

  • "Matt’s talk was genuinely one of the most powerful and moving I have ever heard in my 20 years as a research academic."

    - Dr Roxanne Khan, UCLAN

  • "It is people like you who are going to change the world."

    - Audience member, Bradford, West Yorkshire

  • "Matt is one of the most powerful storytellers I have ever heard. He has a level of humility that enables him to achieve a very high degree of emotional connection with his audience."

    - Pete Ashby, Conference organiser

  • "A totally motivational experience that empowers audience members."

    - Adam Beral, Switchboard LGBT+

Award-Winning Storyteller & Human Rights Campaigner

Over the last seven years, I have delivered over 80 talks, workshops, and seminars to audiences across the UK.

From central government departments to public sector organisations, from non-profits to large multinational corporations, from schools to universities, and also to front-line services, including several police forces, the Home Office, and the fire service.

In 2021 I was awarded the “Top 10 Outstanding Contribution to LGBT Life” award by the British LGBT+ Awards. In the same year my film, My God, I'm Queer, won Best TV Programme of 2021 at the Asian Media Awards.

In 2020 I was nominated for a National Diversity “Positive Role Model Award”.

In 2015 I was presented with the JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award, and voted the 6th most influential LGBTI person in the UK by the Independent on Sunday .

In 2014, I was awarded the Attitude Pride Award for ‘Building bridges between religious and LGBT+ communities’.

My campaigning and human rights work has led to numerous awards and nominations through my leadership of Naz and Matt Foundation - including

  • Outstanding Person of the Year, Camden Council (2024)

  • Bank of London’s Rainbow Honours Awards Campaign of the Year (2022),

  • Faith and Belief Community Award (2020),

  • National Diversity “Community Organisation” Award, 

  • IKWRO’s Special Recognition Award for ‘Outstanding Organisation Tackling “Honour” Based Violence’,

  • Nominated for the Tell MAMA No2H8 Crime Award.

  • "This session was one of the most moving I've ever attending [sic]. It was really emotional for me and I learned an awful lot from Matt."

    - Audience member attending online event during lockdown

  • An outstanding, powerful and truly inspiring talk that moved everyone to tears. No-one will forget the talk."

    - Trudy Gittins, West Midlands Police

Public Speaking Engagements

Some of my speaking clients include

  • Capgemini (multiple appearances),

  • Home Office,

  • Department for Education,

  • House of Lords,

  • Police Scotland,

  • West Midlands Police,

  • Staffordshire Police,

  • Hampshire Constabulary,

  • National LGBT+ Police Conference,

  • HMRC,

  • National Day of Memory,

  • University of Birmingham,

  • University of Derby,

  • University of Warwick,

  • University of Oxford,

  • University of Central Lancashire,

  • Walsall College,

  • Multiple NHS Trusts.,

  • Birmingham Gay Symphony Orchestra’s anniversary concert,

  • Fourth Choir Christmas Concert,

  • Switchboard,

  • FFLAG,

  • Karma Nirvana,

  • London Fire Brigade,

  • Milton Keynes Pride,

  • Portsmouth Pride

Book me as your speaker