Lara Oyedele is the CEO of Black on Board Ltd and former President of the Chartered Institute of Housing, recognised for her passionate advocacy for diversity, inclusion, and representation in executive leadership. Originally trained as a journalist, Lara is now a social entrepreneur, private landlord, mentor, and leadership advocate dedicated to empowering the next generation of women and underrepresented leaders.

During her presidency of the Chartered Institute of Housing, her In My Shoes campaign drew on her lived experience—from homelessness to executive leadership—to challenge the lack of racial representation within social housing boardrooms. She was also the Founding Chair of BMENational and played a key role in developing housing support resources for migrant communities.

At TEDxHeaton, Lara brings a powerful voice on leadership, resilience, representation, and breaking barriers—sharing ideas that inspire courage, inclusion, and meaningful social change.