Herman Ouseley is the Managing Director of Different Realities Partnership Ltd. specialising in equality and diversity strategies. He was previously Executive Chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality from 1993-2000. Before that he was a local government officer for 30 years, serving as Chief Executive of the London Borough of Lambeth and the former Inner London Education Authority, among other positions with other local authorities.

Herman Ouseley is involved in many organisations on a voluntary basis and is the Chair of:

• PRESET Education and Training Trust
• Kick-It-Out Plc (Let’s Kick Racism Out of Football campaign)
• Policy Research Institute on Ageing & Ethnicity (University of Central England)

He is actively involved in the work of many independent and voluntary organisations including the Institute of Race Relations and the Ethnic Minority Foundation. He is non-Executive Director of Focus Consultancy Ltd, Brooknight Security Ltd. and Quiktrak.

He is the current President of the Local Government Association. He was knighted in 1997 for services to local government and race equality in the UK, and became a member of the House of Lords in 2001.

After an inspiring speech at the launch of RESPECT, 24th January 2001, Herman Ouseley was invited to be President of RESPECT.

As well officially opening the RESPECT Support-Line and the RESPECT Central Office, Herman Ouseley is a member of the ‘RESPECT External Advisory Board’ and is an experienced source of policy advice for the Chair and General Secretary of RESPECT.