Welcome to the website of Chris Lubbe.
“Chris is an internationally acclaimed TEDx speaker, renowned keynote presenter, and master storyteller. Trusted by global brands, he inspires teams across diverse sectors—including health, education, business, corporate, and the charity sector—through captivating storytelling and powerful insights.”
Drawing on his incredible story of resistance against ‘apartheid’, Chris keeps his audience spell-bound as he takes them on a journey of discovery. Most importantly his audiences leave inspired to take action to bring about change within their personal lives, respective organisations & communities.
Having grown up in a ghetto in Durban, South Africa & witnessing first hand the brutality of apartheid which in turn became the catalyst for preparing Chris to become an activist for democracy. Chris’ story contains themes such as fear, determination, courage, love and forgiveness, all in the face of blatant racial discrimination.
Regardless of where you are, Chris Lubbe will inspire you to step beyond limitations and to take action and become the best verson of yourself.
My Services
Testimonials
Chris spoke recently at our company leadership event as part of a team of speakers addressing the broad theme of leadership. His focus was Nelson Mandela and talking about South Africa’s transition from white minority to black majority rule as well as the circumstances of his own life. Chris speaks about the time through the prism of his role as a bodyguard and therefore closeness to then President Mandela with great passion, humour as well as humility. This was an address given to a mixed group of persons from executive level to junior hi potentials and it held the audience spellbound. The message is personal and the learning experience unique to each individual depending on their experience but is captivating at every level and thoroughly recommended listening. What Chris said will long be reflected on particularly in the circumstances of current world leadership.
Hi Chris, I want to say a heartfelt thank to you for speaking at the recent IBM Sales Event. In different measures your talk was inspirational, spellbinding, powerful, funny, painful and humbling; it made a huge impression the whole team. I’ve never heard so may positive comments from my colleagues about any event and it was your story that shone a light on the day………albeit talking about a very dark period in our very recent history – apartheid South Africa. Below I have included a number of comments from my colleagues who sum up the day far better than I can. However, before that I want to say that the messages you gave to the team also have so much in common with business life today i.e. communication, dealing with setbacks, scenario planning, determination, team working and negotiation. We truly learnt a lot from you when we met – thank you
WOW!!! I have never seen a Guest speaker receive an ovation but Chris Lubbe did so on 2 occasions. He is a fantastic speaker who tells his very moving life story and the issues & history surrounding apartheid with disarming sincerity. Would be good on Cunard too.
At Chesnara, we are on an important journey of transformation, embracing change, building a culture of collaboration, and developing the resilience required to thrive in a rapidly evolving environment. Chris Lubbe’s recent talk with our team was nothing short of inspirational. Drawing on his extraordinary life story, he brought to life the power of resilience, the importance of leading through change, and the strength that comes from working together towards a shared purpose.Chris’s insights resonate deeply with our own direction as an organisation. Change is not always easy, but it is essential, and at Chesnara we are committed to leading with courage, fostering collaboration, and building a culture where every voice matters. His ability to connect personal experience with practical lessons for business and leadership was both moving and energising. A reminder to us all that resilience is not just about overcoming obstacles, but about using them as a catalyst for growth.
We are grateful to Chris for sharing his story with such honesty and impact. His words will stay with us as we continue to navigate change together, with empathy, collaboration, and resilience at the heart of our culture.
“Chris Lubbe captivated our audience of doctors, Chief Executives and Medical
Education staff with his presentation. His very thought-provoking words and images made us all think about lessons learned and the importance of forgiveness in the face of adversity. He spoke with eloquence about his past experiences and although he told of some terrible acts of violence against him and witnessed by him, he managed to intersperse the presentation with a smattering of humour and ended with a note of hope and resilience, in the face of adversity. As our ceremony was awarding educators, the theme of the power of education and forgiveness was very fitting. We had so many attendees coming up to us at the end of the ceremony saying how moved they had been by the presentation”.
“The first time I met Chris Lubbe, he taught me more about forgiveness in the hour I spent with him, than I have learned in my whole life. At the first opportunity, I was delighted to invite Chris back to Liverpool as a keynote speaker for the Liverpool Against Racism festival, where Chris spoke to an intimate group of Liverpool business leaders. You could hear a pin drop as Chris shared his story of growing up in South Africa during apartheid, working as Nelson Mandela’s bodyguard, lessons learnt along the way and the man he is today. Our guests didn’t want to leave. Chris is a remarkable man, with a remarkable story.”
“ We were privileged to have Chris Lubbe join us as our speaker for South African Heritage Day. Hearing his story growing up under apartheid to serving as nelson Mandela’s bodyguard was powerful, moving, and unforgettable. It was one of the most remarkable sessions we’ve hosted, and the way Chris told his story left a lasting impression on everyone in the room. We’re very grateful to him for sharing his journey with us.” Once again, thank you for being a part of our event and for sharing your incredible journey with us.
‘’Thank you, Chris Lubbe for this absolutely beautiful keynote explaining the importance of ‘ubuntu’ and the powerful leadership of Nelson Mandela: ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. ’Chris, you reminded us of the importance of what we do as educators every day. It was such a privilege to hear you speak”
“During his October 2018 visit to New Jersey Chris Lubbe presented an assembly to middle school students from four area school districts. Our school district was experiencing issues pertaining to diversity, tolerance, and bias, so his message was both timely and highly relevant. Chris’ presentation about his experience in actively opposing apartheid and serving as a body guard to Nelson Mandela mesmerized both the students and staff. His message of tolerance, forgiveness, and acceptance was inspiring and uplifting! Chris readily connected with several hundred 13 and 14 year old students and he was like a rock star to them”.
“Chris delivered a talk to 3,500 staff, and I have never had a response to a session quite like the one I had today. What an incredible session. The number of emails and messages I received meant I have only now got around to getting back to you – so many people moved to action in so many ways. You are an amazing communicator of such a terrible and difficult time, but a person who really inspires hope and change. I have no doubt that Nelson Mandela would be very proud. Doing his smile somewhere and the little dance every time you make sure people learn from our history. It was a real privilege to have got to know you, and to share the stage with you – thank you for doing this talk, and this work.
’Thank you for your participation in our recent Scottish Medical Education Conference at the EICC in Edinburgh. I am very aware of the pressure of time under which we all work, and am very grateful indeed that you were able to be with us and for your excellent contribution. Initial feedback has been very positive, and I believe that this reflects very much on all those who contributed to what proved to bean interesting, enjoyable and most successful couple of days”.
‘’Your speech today to the Graduates of St.George’s was outstanding. You held the audience captive, but as members of staff said to me afterwards , it was just over too fast! Many parents and students spoke with me afterwards and so appreciated your words and commented that you were really special in what you had to say, how you said it, and the power behind your words. Your speech helped everyone to understand that we all have a responsibility to make the world a a better place. You are certainly doing your part”
I invited Chris to speak at the West Sussex Secondary Headteachers’ Association Summer Conference. He has a gentle, deep and soft voice and uses it to describe incredibly sad and terrible events, moments of hilarity, moments when history was made and deeply moving personal insights into intolerance, suffering and forgiveness. Gradually, you realise that you are listening to a great man speak about great men and women and great events and that you are unbelievably privileged to be in the same room as him. No-one moved; no-one left early; no-one remained untouched. He had us in the palm of his hand throughout. I went home and talked to anyone and everyone I could about the transformational impact of Chris Lubbe’s presentation. I recommend him to you all. I will finish with some of the words from my colleagues’ evaluations: “Awesome!” “Amazing.” “Wow!” “Stunning.” “Truly inspirational.”
”After hearing Chris speak at a head teachers’ conference I knew I just had to invite him to meet and talk with my staff on an INSET day, with other schools joining us too. His powerful and inspirational messages are delivered so beautifully always filling everyone present with much awe and wonder for such a fabulous person. Chris truly personifies the values of hope, forgiveness, love and resilience. A massive thank you for giving us the best INSET we have had in a very very long time”
”Chris’s own testimony of hope, forgiveness, reconciliation and healing was so moving. His talk of struggle, overcoming adversity and succeeding in spite of great difficulties resonated with and inspired us all. I hope we will have the great pleasure, and honour, of his company once again in the future.”
‘Chris delivered a lecture here at Warminster School last week to an audience of pupils, parents and staff. It was quite outstanding. It is rare to listen to such an inspiring, moving and powerful presentation and it was quite clear that everyone in attendance was spellbound. Chris is a South African, designated as ‘coloured’ under the Apartheid laws, who became an activist and colleague of both Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. He urged all of us never to turn a blind eye to injustice, prejudice or intolerance but to serve others and to stand up for what we know to be right. He also emphasised the importance of seizing opportunities, resilience, determination and persistence – all qualities that have shaped his life. I hope that Chris will return annually to speak to the pupils here”.
