Powerlist 2021

The 14th annual Powerlist, which names the 100 most influential people of African or African Caribbean heritage in the United Kingdom, was judged by an independent panel and published in November 2020, sponsored by JP Morgan & Co, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Linklaters, Refinitiv, Herman Miller, Facebook and The Executive Leadership Council. The 2021 Powerlist came in a year in which public debate on racial injustice had increased, with the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and global protests against police brutality. Therefore, chief executive Michael Eboda decided that the 14th Powerlist would honour those who have used their voice to advocate against racial injustice. Furthermore, the rankings highlighted the work of healthcare professionals during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which also resulted in the awards being held virtually on 17 November 2020, hosted by Kwame Kwei-Armah.

The award event was held in partnership with JP Morgan & Co., who announced they would invest £2 million in support to London non-profit organisations headed by black and minority ethnic leaders. The independent panel of judges named Sir Lewis Hamilton as the most influential awardee, due to both his sporting excellence and his advocacy in light of the BLM movement, with additional highlights of the Top 10 including Prof. Kevin Fenton and Dame Donna Kinnair for their work fighting against COVID-19.

Top 10

RankIndividualOccupationCategoryNotability
1Lewis HamiltonFormula One driverSportsSeven-time world champion Formula One driver
2Kevin FentonPublic health leaderPublic, Third Sector and EducationRegional director, Public Health England London
3StormzyGrime music artistMedia, Publishing & EntertainmentAward-winning musician
4Michaela CoelActor, screenwriter, director and producerMedia, Publishing & EntertainmentCreator, co-director and producer of BBC/HBO series I May Destroy You
5Edward EnninfulEditor-in-chiefMedia, Publishing & EntertainmentEditor-in-chief British Vogue
6Donna KinnairPublic health leader and nursePublic, Third Sector and EducationCEO & general secretary, Royal College of Nursing
7Jacqueline McKenzieHuman rights lawyerPolitics, Law and ReligionDirector at Centre for Migration Advice and Research and McKenzie, Beute and Pope
8David OlusogaHistorian, writer, broadcasterMedia, Publishing and EntertainmentHistorian and TV presenter
9Afua HirschWriter, broadcaster, and former barristerMedia, Publishing and EntertainmentJournalist for The Guardian, author, broadcaster
10Richard IferentaBusinesspersonBusiness, Corporate, Financiers & EntrepreneursPartner at KPMG

Also in the Top 100, by category

Arts, Fashion and Design

Business, Corporate, Financiers and Entrepreneurs

Media, Publishing and Entertainment

Politics, Law and Religion

Public, Third Sector and Education

Science, Medicine and Engineering

Sports

Technology

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Lewis Hamilton named the most influential black person in Britain by The Powerlist 2021". Voice Online. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  2. ↑ Siddique, Haroon (17 November 2020). "Lewis Hamilton named most influential black person in UK". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  3. ↑ Lavender, Jane (17 November 2020). "Lewis Hamilton ends incredible year top of influential Black Powerlist 2021". mirror. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  4. ↑ Baldwin, Alan (17 November 2020). "Success means nothing without change, says Hamilton". Reuters. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  5. ↑ "Lewis Hamilton named most influential black person in UK". BBC News. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2021.