Steve GILBERT OBE

Meet Steve

Having battled with mental illness since his late teens, experiencing the painful depths of Depression, destructive highs of Bipolar Disorder, and heart-breaking episodes of Suicidal Ideation and attempts, Steve has repeatedly had to fight for his life. Against the backdrop of psychological abuse from his parents and siblings Steve has continued to display grit and determination as he overcomes the obstacles and pitfalls that accompany life with a serious mental illness.As a Dual-Ethnicity child, with a Black father and a white mother, growing up in a largely white neighbourhood, Steve grew up not ‘fitting in’. As he grew older Steve became aware of the role racial discrimination had in the high rates of serious mental illness on his father’s side of the family. It is his personal and familial experiences which drive Steve’s work.Steve was awarded an OBE in 2019 Queens’ Birthday Honours List for services to Mental Health.

Opening Keynote Speaker

Finding the right keynote speaker is vital for the success of your conference because they set the tone for the entire event and can greatly influence the engagement and satisfaction of your attendees.If you are looking for a keynote speaker to get your event started with a captivating and inspiring address, someone who can energise the audience and set a positive tone for the entire conference, then you need to consider Steve.With a strong stage presence Steve has been trusted to deliver keynote speeches to a wide range of audiences, bridging the gap between expert knowledge and relatability. Drawing on his depth of knowledge and breadth of experience Steve is renowned for his powerful presentations, clarity of communication, meticulous planning, and tempering striking candour with reassuring compassion.A well-crafted keynote speech by Steve can captivate and inspire your audience, leaving a lasting impact on their thoughts and actions.

Conference Chair

If you are looking for a Conference Chair to host your event with professionalism, warmth and humour and an impeccable sense of timing then Steve would be an excellent partner for your event.With a charismatic and engaging personality, Steve will capture and maintain the interest of your audience throughout your event. Calm under pressure, adaptable, quick-thinking with a great sense of humour Steve manages the unexpected with relative ease, and is fully-committed to delivering an enjoyable experience for attendees.As a respected leader in the fields of Anti-Racism leadership and mental health reforms, Steve understands the importance of Cultural Sensitivity and Inclusivity and will ensure that all attendees feel valued and respected, regardless of their backgrounds or perspectives.With Steve at the helm your event is in the best of hands. Get in touch with us today to start planning an extraordinary event together.

Motivational Keynote Speaker

A decade working in the mental health space has taught Steve that many of the people leading our organisations are also facing huge challenges that can, if left unaddressed, have a negative impact on their work and wellbeing as well as that of their organisation.Steve has worked hard to overcome the many challenges he has experienced and has learned a lot of lessons along the way. An important factor in his success, including being appointed as an OBE at age 35, has been a huge investment in personal development. He now shares these lessons with organisations, just like yours, providing direction and a powerful message of hope.If you have you struggled to find a speaker who can connect instantly with your audience, spark energy, activate belief, create a sense of purpose and inspire meaningful action, leaving a lasting impression, look no further.Send us a message to begin designing your inspiring, motivational session.

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Speech Titles

‘Cultivating Equity: Your Role as an Ally in Creating Change’

Steve draws on his expertise and experiences to inspire and empower the audience to become effective allies in their organisations and spheres of influence. Through powerful anecdotes, real-life examples, and practical strategies, Steve describes the transformative impact of allyship and offers actionable insights to drive meaningful change. Get ready to be inspired, informed, and equipped to take tangible steps towards becoming a proactive ally in the pursuit of equity and social justice, leveraging your influence and privilege.

Mastering the Balancing Act: What life with Bipolar Disorder taught me about leading in a turbulent world

Discover the profound journey of Steve, as he shares compelling insights from his personal experience with bipolar disorder and resilient leadership. Steve authentically shares the challenges he has faced and the invaluable lessons learned, offering practical strategies for leading effectively in a rapidly changing world. His compelling narrative and authentic approach resonate deeply, bridging the emotional and practical aspects of leadership in turbulent times. Book Steve Gilbert OBE as your keynote speaker to engage and inspire your audience, leaving them equipped with tangible takeaways to navigate challenges, foster empathetic leadership, and drive meaningful change in their professional and personal endeavours.

Finding my way back to life (and the lessons I learned along the way)

This compelling speech chronicles Steve's remarkable journey from surviving the depths of mental illness, familial abuse and suicidal thoughts to embracing a life full of hope. With powerful storytelling, Steve shares the pivotal moments that shaped his path, offering profound insights and practical wisdom. Steve's inspirational and motivational tone encourages the audience to nurture hope, destigmatize mental illness, and take proactive steps towards well-being. Through this impactful keynote, Steve ignites a call to action, urging individuals to join the movement of breaking down barriers and fostering a community of support. Book this keynote to empower your audience with a message of courage, transformation, and unwavering hope.

Mastering Your Leadership Journey: Embracing Self-Reflection for Success

Steve will lead the audience on a transformative journey of self-reflection, focusing on seven essential components crucial to effective leadership. Each component is carefully examined, supported by real-life examples and practical strategies, to inspire a mindset shift and foster personal and professional growth. The session culminates in a powerful call to action, with Steve inviting the audience to translate self-reflective insights into tangible steps for continuous development. Throughout, Steve delivers a compelling and inspirational message, reinforcing the importance of self-reflection as the cornerstone of successful leadership.

Heart-Led Leadership: Unleashing Emotional Intelligence for Success

Beginning with a summary of emotional intelligence (EI) and its role in leadership Steve explores the role of self-awareness, empathy, and relationship management as key components of EI. Sharing personal experiences to illustrate the transformative influence of EI in leadership, Steve highlights how EI enhances communication, team dynamics, decision-making, and adaptability. Addressing the common obstacles to EI, Steve will offer practical strategies and insights to nurture EI in leadership role. Concluding with a powerful call-to-action, Steve will leave attendees inspired to develop their own EI.

Embracing Possibility: Discovering Your Inner Potential Through 'What If?'

As a renowned motivational speaker, Steve empowers audiences to break free from limiting beliefs and embrace new possibilities. Through inspiring anecdotes and practical strategies, he guides individuals on a journey of self-discovery, tapping into their unique strengths and talents. This compelling speech challenges the status quo, ignites a passion for growth, and empowers the audience to turn bold aspirations into actionable plans. Join Steve Gilbert OBE on a captivating exploration of potential and possibility, and unlock the extraordinary within.

The title for your event can also be co-developed with Steve to reflect the needs of your audience, intended outcomes and specific calls to action.Steve can be booked to appear on expert panels, deliver workshops and host events.

Anti Racism

Steve has made it his life’s work to tackle racism and support organisations and leaders to become Anti Racism organisations. In addition to setting up an Anti Racism Leader Coaching business, Steve’s contributions include:● Challenging perceptions of Black men’s mental health – With an audience of 1.7 million, Men’s Health magazine interviewed Steve alongside three others including David Harewood OBE, about the experiences of Black Men in mental health crisis and why change is needed.● Supporting development of workplace Anti Racism – In direct response to the murder of George Floyd and the discrimination that subsequent discussions uncovered, Kooth PLC commissioned Steve to provide support and challenge to the senior management team on issues of racial equity and justice, and to chair the organisation’s Diversity and Inclusion Council.● Reducing racial discrimination in mental health care – Steve co-chairs the innovative NHS Race & Health Observatory’s Mental Health Working Group, investing in research to transform the mental health experiences of Black and historically racialised people.● The Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework: a model to reduce mental health inequity in England and Wales – Steve harnessed his personal, familial and community experiences of using mental health services, alongside his frustrations of working with NHS organisations, resistant to change, in the development of the framework.

Improving Mental Health Care

Like so many others Steve started out as a Time to Change Champion, volunteering with others to engage in conversations about mental health with members of the public.A natural networker Steve went on to forge key relationships with sector leaders locally and nationally, and it wasn’t long before Steve was working with national organisations, leading to the following achievements:● Promoting the value and importance of Living Experience Leadership – Steve is a national expert in the field, his work including roles with Mind, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Think Ahead.● Reforming the Mental Health Act – As one of three Vice-Chairs to the Independent Mental Health Act Review Steve worked collaboratively with the Department of Health Social Care and core review team, supporting the chair in making recommendations to the Government, with a particular focus on reducing racial inequity.● Developing Population-Level Mental Health approaches – As the principal Living Experience Commission member to the West Midlands Combined Authority Mental Heath Commission, Steve was instrumental in ensuring the Thrive Action Plan was co-produced with local citizens.● Digitising the Mental Health Act – An advisor to Thalamos Steve guides implementation of a Lived Experience by Design approach, ensuring digital solutions that centre the experiences of people subject to the Act.● Academic Research – Steve regularly contributes to research programmes drawing on his extensive understanding of mental health systems and power differentials between professionals and service users, most recently the ARIADNE Programme and AdStAc study.● Charity Governance – In the 4 years served as a non-executive director to Mind, and his on-going term with the Association of Mental Health Providers Steve has guided boards through the turmoil of the Covid-19 Pandemic and the paradigm shift resulting from the Black Lives Matters movement.

Suicide Prevention

A Suicide Attempt Survivor, Steve has spent many months contemplating taking his life. Recognising the gap in representation from Black Men with experience of suicide ideation, Steve has collaborated with leading experts to further policy and research into the issue, including:● Academic commentator – Working with clinical researchers from Oxford University’s Department of Psychiatry and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Steve developed guidance to help clinicians identify and treat patients at risk of suicide.● Keynote Speaker – Steve excels at delivering Keynote Speeches, sensitively exploring the pain and trauma of getting support for suicidal behaviour, emphasising the roles communities can play in saving a life.● Enhancing collaboration with Suicide Attempt Survivors – Steve featured in a video series discussing various topics on the area of working with people with lived experience and collaboration between different agencies.

Testimonials

What people have to say about Steve and his work:

‘In January 2024, Steve spoke at NSPA’s National conference, joining a panel of speakers to discuss lived experience involvement in suicide prevention.
Steve spoke with passion and expertise, in a way that challenged many people in the audience to think differently. This was highlighted in feedback from delegates.
He spoke about the nuances of lived experience involvement and co-production in suicide prevention, importance of valuing people with lived experience at most senior levels, and highlighted need for Black and raciliased people to be properly included and heard in suicide prevention. He did this in a way that was passionate, and made people really think.
Steve also worked in such a beautifully collaborative way with the rest of the panel speakers, including myself – all of us coming from a lived experience perspective. He helped us plan the session from the beginning, and worked with us in a way that ensured we could all bring consistent messaging. He brought a thoughtful and generous reflections after the event, joining us for a debrief and gave such valuable reflections about how we can make similar sessions even better in the future.
It is an absolute privilege to work with Steve. He brings thoughtfulness, conviction, expertise and much needed challenge to suicide prevention and mental health spaces, in a way that is really influencing change.’Jess Worner, Lived Experience Network Manager at the National Suicide Prevention Alliance (NSPA)

‘I first met Steve when we were both presenting at a Social Work Conference, there's a story for another day there but my take-away immediately was "I have to work with this person".
His ability to articulate very challenging subject matter is second to none. Whether it's the myriad of nuances around mental health or a call to action on digital programmes, Steve can deliver a powerful message.
We've now had the privilege of working with Steve for 5 years and it's been a fantastic partnership. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Steve to anyone looking for an impactful speaker.’Arden Tomison, CEO and Co-Founder at Thalamos

‘Thank you so much for the knowledge, honesty and vulnerability you brought to the conversation about race and mental health at Simply Business. The feedback after the event was overwhelmingly positive. People felt seen in a way they hadn’t previously. Your willingness to broach these difficult topics with passion and care will be remembered.’Joanne Theodoulou, General Counsel at Simply Business

‘He delivered the session with candidness, humour and sensitivity – getting us all to reflect on this important topic. During the session, we gained insights into some of the unique challenges faced by Black men when it comes to their mental wellbeing. Steve shared his knowledge, personal experience and insight, helping us to develop a deeper understanding of the issues at hand. More importantly, he provided actionable guidance on how we can foster a more supportive and inclusive workplace environment and culture of openness without reinventing the wheel.’Dr Sabrina Robinson, Wellbeing Lead at Essex County Council

'I had the immense pleasure of working with Steve has he chaired the panel discussion for the TEDxNHS Unlocked episode 'Somebody Must Go First' which discussed the experience of mental health/mental ill health and accessing mental health services in black and brown communities.Steve brought with him a wealth of experience both personally and professionally and shared this generously. He approached the task with maturity and care to support the contributors and to challenge the audience.Steve was an absolute joy to work with. I cannot recommend him enough. His experience is not unique however his approach and his courage are remarkable. He has a skilful way of holding a mirror up to injustice in a compassionate way which encourages action as well whilst broadening awareness.Steve will be asset to any team or project.'Alex Prinsley, TEDxNHS Leader

'I worked with Steve as founder of Xenzone - now Kooth Plc- and was impressed not just by his grasp of the issues but his ability to listen to people across the organisation. Steve is warm, intelligent open and funny. He understands peoples pain and yet able to navigate a way through the mess and disruption that inevitably follows when a company is facing its mistakes and trying build an anti racist future.I have had long chats with Steve over the last couple of years and can recommend him whole heartedly as a consultant to help you and your business move forwards.'Elaine Bousfield MBE, Founder of Kooth PLC (formerly XenZone)

'Steve is a respected leader and thinker in the mental health and anti-racism space. I've had
the privilege to sit alongside him on Mind's Race Equity Committee and really appreciate his thoughtful contributions, personal reflections and the healthy challenge he brings to the group. Steve is very passionate about promoting rights and justice within mental health and this really shines through all his work. He is a collaborator and despite the challenges faced within the sector, he always adopts a hopeful and solution-focussed approach. In particular, I really value Steve's advocacy around lived experience in decision-making and lived experience leadership - especially amongst groups facing the greatest inequalities.I have learnt so much from working with him and would consider any individual or organisation who get to work with Steve as extremely lucky.'
Kadra Abdinasir, Director of Policy at Centre for Mental Health

'I have worked with Steven over many years. He is very intelligent and thoughtful. Steven’s lived experience has provided invaluable insight which has informed the work we have done together. I first met Steven when I was asked to chair a Mental Health Commission in the West Midlands. Steven joined the Commission and proved to be an outstanding work colleague. Always a pleasure to collaborate with and always constructive and helpful. Since then Steven joined the Advisory Board at Kooth - which I chair. I have a very high regard for Steven and would strongly recommend him.'
Sir Norman Lamb, Chair of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Videos of Steve

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Podcast appearances

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