Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey OBE
21 January 2025, Moore Building Auditorium
We were delighted to welcome Lola Young, Baroness Young of Hornsey, to give a For What Matters public lecture. Baroness Young shared her journey from being a child in foster care, through a career as an actress and professor, to being made a member of the House of Lords.
The Rt Hon The Baroness Young of Hornsey OBE became one of the first black women members of the House of Lords in 2004. Raised in foster care in north London, she studied at the New College of Speech and Drama, then worked as an actress, before becoming Professor of Cultural Studies at Middlesex University. After receiving an OBE in 2001, she was Head of Culture at the Greater London Authority. In 2004, Lola was appointed as an independent Crossbench member of the House of Lords. In 2017 she chaired the Man Booker Prize judging panel. An active campaigner against modern slavery and unsustainable business practices, especially in fashion, her work in this sphere is known nationally and internationally. Lola is currently Chancellor of the University of Nottingham, and her memoir, ‘8 Weeks: Looking Back, Moving Forwards, Defying the Odds’ was published in November 2024.
Part of our For What Matters public lecture series. Guest speakers and our academic community are invited to talk about what matters to them, share knowledge and insight, spark conversations which address current critical issues and global challenges, and promote positive social impact.
