Michael Hastings, Baron Hastings of Scarisbrick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Hastings of Scarisbrick
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Official portrait, 2018
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Michael John Hastings
29 January 1958 Widnes
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| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Westminster College, Oxford |
| Known for | Independent Peer; Chancellor, Regent’s University; Professor of Leadership, Stephen R Covey Institute; Chair LCCI Black Business Association; VP UNICEF; Gov MPESA Academy, Chair of the SOAS Board of Trustees |
| Relatives | Daniel Hastings (brother) |
Michael John Hastings, Baron Hastings of Scarisbrick, born on January 29, 1958, is a very important person in the UK. He is known for his work in leadership and helping communities. He is currently a Professor of Leadership at the Stephen R. Covey Leadership Centre in the USA. He also helps lead the Concordia Leadership Council.
Lord Hastings was the Chancellor of Regent's University London for five years. He is now the Chair of the Board of Trustees for SOAS University of London. He also works as a Vice President for UNICEF UK, which helps children around the world. For many years, he was in charge of Public Affairs at the BBC. He was also the first person to lead their Corporate Social Responsibility efforts. This means he helped the BBC be a good citizen and care for society.
He also worked for KPMG, a big company, for 13 years. There, he was the Global Head of Citizenship. He helped the Vodafone Group Foundation and was a Governor of the Vodafone/Safaricom M-PESA Academy. This academy in Nairobi helps 800 children from poor families in Kenya get an education.
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Early Life and Family
Growing Up
Lord Michael's father was born in Angola. He studied in the UK and became a dental surgeon. He met Lord Michael's mother in Jamaica. In 1954, they moved to the UK, where Michael was born in 1958.
In 1966, his family moved back to Montego Bay, Jamaica. However, by 1970, the island faced big economic problems. This was because of a trade blockade from the USA. Because of this, Michael and his brother had to return to the UK.
School Days
Hastings went to Scarisbrick Hall School, a boarding school in Lancashire. While he was there, his headmaster asked him to watch TV for a week. He had to look for bad language or other things that were not good. His findings were used to help a campaign for better TV standards.
After school, he studied to become a teacher at Westminster College, Oxford. He then taught at a London comprehensive school for five years.
Career Journey
From Teacher to TV
Michael Hastings started his career as a teacher. In 1986, he began working for the government. He helped create plans to bring jobs and development to Britain's inner cities.
In 1990, he joined TV-am as a producer. He made shows about problems in schools. Later, he became a presenter on the morning show. He then moved to the BBC. There, he presented the Around Westminster program.
He also worked behind the scenes at the BBC. He helped make sure the BBC could keep showing important sports events for free. These included Wimbledon, Cricket, and the Olympics.
Helping Businesses and Communities
Lord Hastings has worked with many big organizations. He was a trustee for the Vodafone Group Foundation. He also served on the Board for Responsible and Sustainable Business at BT. He represented KPMG International at the World Economic Forum. This forum brings together leaders to discuss global issues.
He also worked with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). He was part of the World Economic Forum's councils on diversity and the future of business. He also advises the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance, which supports young business leaders.
In 2003, he received the CBE award. This was for his work in reducing crime. He was the chairman and a trustee of Crime Concern for many years. He helped Crime Concern merge with another charity to create Catch22. He also served on the Commission for Racial Equality for nine years. He is known as one of the most influential black people in Britain.
Making a Difference
Working with the Government
In 1986, Lord Hastings was asked to help the government. There had been urban riots, and he worked to build trust in disadvantaged communities. He worked in areas with many black residents for five years.
He was later offered a special position in the House of Lords. This is part of the UK Parliament. He accepted the offer from an independent group. In December 2005, he became a "peer," which means he joined the House of Lords. He chose the title from his boarding school.
Working in the House of Lords
In 2005, Queen Elizabeth II made Hastings a peer in the House of Lords. He sits as a crossbencher, meaning he does not belong to a specific political party. In the same year, he received an award from UNICEF. This was for his great work in helping children in Africa.
Hastings is also the Chairman of ZANE, an aid group that helps Zimbabwe. He is also a Vice President of Tear Fund and UNICEF. In 2010, he advised Chatham House on the UK's role in foreign affairs. He has also been on the councils of other important development organizations.
Awards and Recognition
In 2014, Lord Hastings received a special doctorate degree from the University of Kent. This was to recognize his leadership at KPMG and the BBC. It also honored his work in international development and corporate responsibility.
In 2017, he became the Chancellor of Regent's University London. In 2019, he received the Stephen R. Covey Leadership Award. This award recognized his life built on strong principles and effective leadership in business and public life.
