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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| Born |
Michael John Hastings
29 January 1958 |
| 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, also known as Lord Hastings of Scarisbrick, is a very important British leader. He was born on January 29, 1958. 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 head of Regent's University London from 2016 to 2021. He is now the Chair of the Board of Trustees for SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) University of London. He also works as a non-executive director at Saxton Bampfylde, which means he helps guide the company without being involved in daily tasks.
He is a Vice President at UNICEF UK, which helps children around the world. He is also a trustee for the Africa Philanthropy Foundation. Before this, he was the Head of Public Affairs at the BBC. He was also the BBC's first head of Corporate Social Responsibility for 12 years. This role meant he helped the BBC be a good citizen and care about its impact on society.
Lord Hastings also worked for KPMG for 13 years as their Global Head of Citizenship. He was a trustee for the Vodafone Group Foundation. Later, he became a Governor of the Vodafone/Safaricom M-PESA Academy in Nairobi. This academy helps 800 children from poor families in Kenya get an education.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Family Background
Lord Hastings' father was born in Angola. He studied in England and Scotland to become a dental surgeon. He then moved to Jamaica, where he met Lord Hastings' mother. In 1954, they moved back to the UK, and Michael Hastings was born in 1958.
In 1966, his family moved back to Montego Bay, Jamaica. However, by 1970, the island faced economic problems. This made the family decide to send their two sons, including Michael, back to the UK.
School Days
Michael Hastings went to Scarisbrick Hall School in Lancashire, England. While there, his school principal asked him to watch TV for a week. He had to note down any bad language or inappropriate content. These notes were used to support a campaign for better TV standards.
After school, he studied to become a teacher at Westminster College, Oxford. He then spent five years teaching at a London comprehensive school.
Career in Media and Business
Early Career and Public Service
Lord Hastings started his career as a teacher at Greenway Secondary School in London. In 1986, he began working with the government. He helped create policies to bring jobs and development to inner cities in Britain. He worked to build trust in disadvantaged communities for five years.
Working in Television
In 1990, Lord Hastings joined TV-am as a producer. He made programs about problems in schools. After TV-am changed, he became a presenter on their morning show. He then moved to the BBC, where he presented the "Around Westminster" program.
Later, he worked behind the scenes at the BBC. He helped the BBC get its Charter renewed and managed annual fee increases. He also helped make sure important sports events like Wimbledon, Cricket, and the Olympics could be watched for free.
Global Leadership Roles
Lord Hastings has held many important global roles. He was a trustee for the Vodafone Group Foundation. He also served for nine years on the Board for Responsible and Sustainable Business at British Telecom (BT).
He represented KPMG International on the Global Corporate Citizenship Committee of the World Economic Forum (WEF). He also served on the board of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). He was part of the World Economic Forum's Global Council on Diversity and Talent. From 2012 to 2014, he helped lead the WEF Agenda Council on the Future of Civil Society. He is also an advisor to the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance.
Public Service and Recognition
Helping Communities
Lord Hastings was honored with the CBE award in 2003. This was for his work in reducing crime. He spent 15 years as chairman and 21 years as a trustee of Crime Concern. He helped merge Crime Concern with another charity to create Catch22. He also served as a commissioner for the Commission for Racial Equality for nine years. He is recognized as one of the most influential black people in Britain.
He chairs the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Black Business Association. He also chairs the Advisory Board of the Black Business Institute. In 2021, he became President of UKCF, which is a network of community foundations in the UK.
Joining the House of Lords
In 2005, Lord Hastings was made a peer in the House of Lords by Queen Elizabeth II. He sits as a crossbencher, which means he does not belong to a specific political party. In the same year, he received a UNICEF award for his work helping children in Africa.
He is the Chairman of the Council of ZANE, an organization that helps Zimbabwe. He is also a vice president of Tear Fund. In 2011, he became a vice president of UNICEF, the United Nations Children's and Education Fund.
Lord Hastings was chairman of Millennium Promise UK. He was also a member of the global Millennium Promise board. He advised the Chatham House inquiry into the UK's role in foreign affairs. He served on the council of the Overseas Development Institute in the UK.
Awards and Honors
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 February 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 his effective leadership in business and public life.
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2018
