Our speakers

Back to all our speakers

Lord Sebastian Coe

President, World Athletics
Lord Sebastian Coe

Sebastian Coe is the UK’s most prolific world record setter and arguably the greatest runner to compete for his country. Throughout his career Lord Coe has found success by leading from the front to make vision a reality. Lord Coe brings energy, passion and innovation to all his work – qualities which captivate his audiences the world over.

Packing his speeches with anecdotes from his time as an Olympic athlete, an MP, his chairmanship of London 2012, his turnaround of the British Olympic Association and his presidency of World Athletics through troubled times, Lord Coe demonstrates to audiences his political and strategic expertise in guiding large organisations on the global stage.

His themes include leadership, collaboration, crisis management, building resilience, handling change and challenging the status quo. Lord Coe believes in creating a clear, strong vision for an organisation – a simple, transferable set of values which are adhered to at every moment and by every employee whatever their role. This vision, he contends, is key in times of change and turbulence.

Coe made his first mark as a professional athlete in 1977, winning the 800m at the European Indoor Championship. After a string of world records, Coe won his first Olympic medal in 1980 at the Moscow games, taking gold in the 1,500m. His second gold came in 1984 at the Los Angeles Olympics. His famous rivalry with fellow runner Steve Ovett dominated athletics through much of those years, and he quickly became the UK’s best known and most cherished athlete – setting 12 middle-distance world records.

Coe retired from athletics in 1990 and moved into politics. In 1992, he was elected as Conservative Member of Parliament for Falmouth and Camborne, a seat he held for 5 years, when he became Private Secretary to William Hague, the Leader of the Opposition. In 2000 he was appointed a life peer, becoming Lord Coe of Ranmore.

With his sporting and political nous, Coe was asked to head London’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He led London to victory over Paris, with many pointing to his rousing speech at the 2005 vote in Singapore as the decisive moment. Despite early public cynicism, Coe helped win over the media and London went on to host a phenomenally successful Olympic Games, with Coe at the helm.

Following the games, Coe was elected Chairman of the British Olympic Association – a post he held until 2016. In 2015, he was elected President of the world governing body for athletics, World Athletics (formerly the IAAF), having been a Vice President since 2007.

In the Summer of 2020, Coe was approved as an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member at its 136th IOC Session, and also became a Director at the British Olympic Association.

Lord Coe’s example keynote speaking topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Change, risk & handling uncertainty
  • Teamwork and collaboration & breaking down silos
  • Leadership & resilience
  • Innovation & challenging the status quo

 

Book Lord Coe for an event
Lord Sebastian Coe

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We’ll assume you’re ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.

Opt-out Accept and close