Zita Holbourne | SpeakerHub

Personal Details

Bio

Zita Holbourne FRSA is a multi-award-winning writer, author, performance poet / spoken word artist, visual artist, vocalist, public speaker, human rights and equality campaigner, community activist and trade union leader.

She is the author and illustrator of the book, Striving for Equality, Freedom and Justice, a collection of poetry (published by Hansib), co-author of the book Roots and Rebellion (JK Publishers, February 2024), a contributor to New Daughters of Africa, Encounters with James Baldwin and one of 17 British women featured in the award winning book Here We Stand Women Changing the World. She has contributed to over forty books.

She has given talks, performed poetry and exhibited art globally, including in the USA, Canada, France, Spain, Kenya, Switzerland, Turkey, Latvia, Romania and the UK.

Zita is a mentor, workshop facilitator and guest editor for Writing Our Legacy. She writes on social justice, race, equality, identity, arts and culture, human rights and Black history for national and international journals.

Zita is the Co-founder / National Chair of Black Activists Rising Against Cuts, a member of the Black Writers Guild and Royal Society of Literature, a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an honorary fellow of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

She is the National Co-Chair of Artists Union England and joint National Chair of Public Services International Education Support and Culture Sector network. She is elected to the General Federation of Trade Unions Executive Committee.

Recent Awards include: Jessica Kingsley Writing Prize 2023, Caribbean Global Awards Outstanding Arts and Culture award and Best Community Influencer Award, Listed on the Global Diversity List 2023 as one of ten Inspirational Role Models, winner of the Olive Morris Award 2024.

Current position (3)

Award Winning Human Rights & Equality campaigner

Author, Artist, Curator, National Chairperson of BARAC UK

Author and Poet

Striving for Equality Freedom and Justice

National Vice President/National Chair

PCS Union/ Artists Union England

Achievements (1)

Key Note Lecture

International Slavery Museum Annual Slavery Remembrance lecture 2020

Degrees (2)

Graphic design and animation

Watford School of Art

1985 to 1987

Graphic design and printing

London College of Printing

1987 to 1989

Presentations

Presentations (20)

International Slavery Museum, Slavery Remembrance lecture 2020

Keynote lecture on equality, black lives matter, reparations and the themes of healing and remembrance

How cuts and austerity impact on minorities the most

Speech by Zita Holbourne on the equality impacts of austerity and cuts at an event organised by the Centre for Pan African Thought

https://www.panafricanthought.com/video-series-author/zita-holbourne/

Black History Talk: The Windrush Scandal

Black History talk at Rokeby School on the Windrush Scandal and history of the Windrush Generation in the UK. Including a personal story of my involvement in campaigning for justice and awareness.

October 2024

Black History Talk: The Bristol Bus Boycott

Black History talk at Rokeby School on the Bristol Bus Boycott, what influenced it, the success of the campaign and legacies including UK race relations law. Including a personal story of how my life journey was influenced by one of the leaders of the campaign and an encounter with them as a young woman.

October 2024

Acceptance of honorary Fellowship speech at University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Addressed graduates at Swansea Stadium and gave an inspirational speech of encouragement and motivation, including my journey while accepting an honorary fellowship of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David

July 2023

Fighting fascism and racism, European Public Services Union Convention, Bucharest

Addressed the European Public Services Union Congress at the Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest, Romania and gave a talk about the importance of standing up to fascism and racism and for refugee and migrant rights, the need for trade unions to work with civil society and how building race equality structures is relevant.

June 2024

Keynote Speaker, European Network of Cultural Centres Convention

Topic: the transformative role of socio-cultural centres for a more inclusive society

June 2024, 30th anniversary conference, Riga, Latvia

Speaker, European Public Services Union Convention

Topic: Fighting the far right, nationalism, racism and Islamophobia

Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest, Romania

June 2024

Life As an Artist and Support You can Access

Host: Arts Student Union
Location: University of the Arts, London, UK

Topic: My life and work in the arts and the work of Artists' Union England in advocating for the rights of artists

May 2024

Chair: Creating Black Britain's Mandate and Mobilising Black Votes

Chaired a session at Trades Union Congress Black Workers Conference with speakers from Operation Black Vote and Black Equity Organisation on centering the needs and voices of black workers and trade unionists ahead of the General Election

Location: Congress House, London, UK

May 2024

Speaker: Campaign Against Climate Change Conference

Topic: racism and migration, social justice and climate justice for North and South.

Hosted by Campaign Against Climate Change.

Location: London, UK

April 2024

Speaker: National Windrush vigil

I spoke on my personal role and that of the organisation I lead BARAC UK on exposing and campaigning against the Windrush Scandal.

Hosted by: Windrush National Organisation and Black Cultural Archives

April 2024

Chair: Public Services International Education Support and Culture Sector Workers strategy session

Co-chaired a meeting of global trade union leaders to agree a strategy for the sectors.

Part of PSI Global Convention

Geneva, Switzerland

October 2023

General Federation of Trade Unions Educational Trust launch, UK Parliament

Topic: the importance of trade union education with a focus on equality

Hosted by GFTU

Location: Houses of Parliament, London, UK

March 2024

Keynote Speaker, UN Day for the Elimination of Racism

Topic: my work against racism and the role of trade unions in challenging racism at work and institutional racism and the history of the UN Day and of the Sharpeville Massacre.

Hosted by Aslef Union

Held online for a national audience

Marh 2024

Speaker: Labour Assembly Against Austerity

Topic: No Cuts, Tax the Rich, Invest in the Future.

I spoke on the disproportionate impact of austerity and the cost of living crisis on black and minority ethnic communities.

Hosted by Labour Assembly Against Austerity

Held online to a UK wide public audience.

March 2024

Keynote speaker: Aysen Arin Art Academy, Istanbul, Turkey

I spoke on my life story, work in the arts and in activism and how I campaign for equality, freedom, justice and human rights through arts and activism. Included a presentation of my visual art and a poetry performance.

Hosted by Aysen Arin Art Academy to an audience of students.

Istanbul, Turkey

October 2023

Keynote speaker and poetry reading, Kenyan National Theatre

Motivational / expert talk to 100 participants on a poetry residential programme at Kenyan National Theatre on my life story, work in literature and as a performance poet and published writer including poetry readings and performance.

Location: Kenyan National Theatre, Nairobi, Kenya

December 2023

Speaker: Still We Rise Festival

Spoke at a session entitled: Using the Power of Words, The Cultural Resistance, on my work as a writer and author and how this connects with my campaigning work.

Hosted by War on Want.

London, UK

February 2024

Speaker: Artist Community Alliance, USA

Topic: There's No Safety Net, Protections, Relief and Advocacy - A Field Conversation

I spoke on my work advocating for the rights and equality for working artists and the need for the sector to address these issues.

Online to a USA wide audience.

January 2024