From an early age, Chris Holmes was set for a promising sporting career. Also an academically gifted student with ambitions to attend Cambridge University, his life changed dramatically at the age of 14 when he unexpectedly lost his sight overnight due to Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy. A challenge that might have crushed others only strengthened Chris’s resolve. He went on to achieve straight A’s at A-level, securing a place at Cambridge University to study Social and Political Sciences.
Although his Olympic dreams were once focused on competing with full vision, losing his sight pushed him to work even harder. Chris joined a Birmingham swimming club, training at the same level as sighted swimmers. By 1985, he had earned a place on the Great Britain Swimming Team and qualified for his first Paralympic Games in 1988. Over the next 17 years, Chris would win an astonishing 15 Paralympic medals (nine gold, five silver, and one bronze) and break numerous records. He also captained the Paralympic Swimming Team for five years and held seven World records, 10 European records, and 12 British records.
After retiring from swimming, Chris pursued a career as a journalist and qualified as a commercial lawyer. He was appointed Director of Paralympic Integration for the London 2012 Games, where his leadership helped make the Paralympics the first to sell out every session, attracting global television audiences in the hundreds of millions. In recognition of his contributions, Chris was invited by the Prime Minister to join the House of Lords as Baron Holmes of Richmond. He also contributed to the Digital Skills Select Committee and played a key role in shaping the legacy of the 2012 Games.
Today, Chris is at the forefront of technological innovation, focusing on AI, fintech, tokenization, Web 3, and decentralized finance (DeFi). He introduced the Artificial Intelligence (Regulation) Bill in 2023 and remains a leading advocate for ethical AI governance and digital transformation. Chris's custom-tailored presentations blend his incredible life story with deep insights into the future of technology, making him a highly sought-after motivational speaker.
Chris’s combination of resilience, humour, and expertise in cutting-edge fields like AI and blockchain ensures that his talks resonate with diverse audiences, whether in the boardroom or at conferences. His ability to craft impactful, meaningful presentations ensures that attendees leave inspired and equipped with actionable insights.
