Hashi Mohamed

Hashi Mohamed is one of the UK’s leading junior barristers in planning and public law. He was Special Adviser to David Anderson QC, the Independent Reviewer or Terror Legislation (2015-2017). He also practises in environmental, human rights law and commercial litigation.

One of 12 children, Hashi’s father died when he was 9. Soon after Hashi came to the UK as an unaccompanied child refugee from Kenya in the summer of 1993. When he arrived he spoke basic English, attended failing schools and was raised exclusively on state benefits in a deprived area of North West London.

Today, at 33, as a barrister and broadcaster, Hashi has attended both Oxford University and Bar school on a full scholarship. He is also a presenter on BBC Radio 4 and commentator across leading newspapers. Drawing on his own experiences he wants to dispel the myth that upward mobility is possible through sheer hard work alone and speaks out against empty tokenism.

Hashi’s speaking style is at once realistic and inspirational and he is not afraid to talk about hard truths. From refugee to barrister, he uses his personal journey to draw powerful conclusions for business – about resilience, focus and the ability to adapt in the pursuit of success. Whether he is talking to CEOs of big corporations, judges, politicians or underprivileged pupils – he creates an immediate and powerful connection with people. As a broadcaster his work has been highly acclaimed including BBC Radio 4’s ‘Adventures in Social Mobility’ and his viral Guardian Opinion piece ‘Telling children “hard work gets you to the top” is simply a lie’.

Hashi is fast becoming a sought after motivational speaker. He also chairs and hosts events and panel discussions in the UK and abroad.

Topics:

• Overcoming adversity, resilience
• Mentors/role models, ability to inspire
• Risk taking by employers
• Change and decision making
• Communications, written & spoken
• Diversity, representation, inclusion, equality
• Law, politics and current affairs i.e. migration, trends, new ideas
• Crossing cultural divides, globally
• Education and the education system
• Drive, determination, perseverance

Languages: English, Somali, French

Articles/Media:

1. The case for the ‘wild card’ – Prospect
2. A tale of two Alis – BBC
3. The Boat Children – BBC
4. Lecture on how different nations react to modern terrorism – BBC
5. ‘Missing Muslims’ Report – BBC News Channel