Richard Howitt is a highly experienced motivational speaker, strategic adviser and international leader, recognised for his expertise in corporate responsibility, sustainability, leadership and business and human rights. With a career spanning politics, business and civil society, Richard has spent more than three decades championing responsible leadership and meaningful organisational change. Raised in a single-parent family in a council house, he attended a comprehensive school before graduating from the University of Oxford with a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. Beginning his career in the voluntary sector, Richard developed an enduring commitment to disability rights and social inclusion, later becoming a trained counsellor, disability rights advocate and Leader of Harlow Council. His journey from grassroots community work to international leadership gives him a compelling perspective on resilience, purpose and the ability to create change at every level of society.
Richard is perhaps best known for his distinguished political career as a Member of the European Parliament from 1994 to 2016, during which he became an influential figure in responsible business and sustainability policy. Serving as the European Parliament Rapporteur on Corporate Social Responsibility, Richard helped shape European approaches to responsible business conduct and corporate transparency. He was a key architect of the EU’s Non-Financial Reporting Directive, one of the most significant developments in corporate sustainability disclosure. His international work also saw him contribute to initiatives including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprise and UN Sustainable Development Goals. Richard represented European interests internationally and participated in major global events including the Rio+20 UN Summit for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
Following his political career, Richard became Chief Executive Officer of the International Integrated Reporting Council, leading a global coalition focused on improving corporate reporting and encouraging long-term value creation. During his tenure, the organisation’s reach increased from 1,000 to 1,600 companies across 71 countries, while Richard secured the support of more than 295 institutional investors and helped establish partnerships with influential organisations and institutions worldwide. His achievements have earned significant industry recognition, including being named a Sage Top 100 Global Business Influencer, a Thomson Reuters ‘Top 30’ Influencer in Risk, Compliance and RegTech and appearing on the Accountancy Age Top 50 ‘Financial Power List’. He has also served as a member of the B20 international business leaders’ group and worked with organisations across numerous international markets.
Today, Richard works as a Strategic Adviser on Corporate Responsibility, Sustainability, Business and Human Rights, drawing on decades of experience to advise senior executives, boards and organisations on responsible and sustainable business. As a motivational speaker, Richard combines personal experience with lessons gained from leadership at local, European and global levels. He speaks with authority on leadership, resilience, corporate purpose, sustainability, ESG, disability inclusion, human rights and navigating organisational change. Richard’s ability to connect complex global challenges with practical lessons makes him a compelling choice for corporate conferences, leadership events and sustainability summits, inspiring audiences to consider how their decisions, values and leadership can contribute to lasting positive change.
