The Lord Raval OBE

The Lord Raval OBE (Krish Kumar Sureshchandra Raval, Baron Raval of Hertsmere) is a British lawyer, life peer, and leadership specialist with extensive experience in interfaith engagement, leadership education, and social cohesion.

Born in Ethiopia to Indian parents, Lord Raval’s personal and professional background bridges Africa, India, and the United Kingdom. This cross-continental experience has shaped his work in public service, leadership development, community engagement, and international dialogue.

Parliamentary Service & Historic Oath

Lord Raval was nominated for a life peerage by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and was introduced to the House of Lords in January 2025 as Baron Raval of Hertsmere. He sits as a Labour peer and contributes to public policy, diverse representation, and community empowerment. He holds a historic place in British parliamentary history as the first peer to take the oath of allegiance in the House of Lords using the Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is.

Leadership & Interfaith Initiatives

Lord Raval is the Founder and Director of Faith in Leadership, a UK-based organisation focused on interfaith cooperation and leadership development. The initiative brings together senior public, private, and faith leaders to build relational trust, strengthen dialogue, and support the common public good. His wider leadership work includes founding Learn to Lead in 1996, a programme designed to equip young people with the skills and confidence to become active leaders in their communities. He also served as the first Director of the Churchill Leadership Fellows, the UK’s premier leadership fellowship for outstanding young adults aged 19 to 25. He has worked with the University of Cambridge’s School of Divinity as a faculty member and partner on the Senior Faith Leaders Programme, focusing on leadership across difference, public trust, ethical decision-making, and the role of values in public life.

Honours, Affiliations & Media

In 2018, Lord Raval was awarded an OBE by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for services to leadership education and interfaith communities. His notable roles and contributions include:

• Chair of Labour Indians
• Advisory Board Member of City Sikhs
• Regular Contributor to BBC Radio’s Pause for Thought
• Olympic Torch Bearer for the London 2012 Olympic Games

UK–Africa Investment Summit 2026

At the UK–Africa Investment Summit 2026, Lord Raval’s participation brings a valuable perspective to the UK–Africa–India corridor. His background across Ethiopia, India, and the United Kingdom reflects the human and institutional connections that support deeper trade, investment, and policy engagement across the three regions. His contribution is particularly relevant to discussions on cross-cultural leadership, institutional trust, values-led governance, and building relationships to turn corridor ambition into practical commercial cooperation. His participation aligns with the Summit theme, "Trade Corridors and Industrial Platforms: From Access to Production," supporting UKAIS 2026’s focus on building credible partnerships across government, business, finance, and civil society.