Honor since ’93 Lorna Clarke and Lord Michael Hastings

SINCE ’93 welcomed some of the UK’s biggest music, lifestyle and culture executives last night (October 22) in celebration of Black History Month.

The annual event aims to honor legends who have enriched the industry at every level.

This year they honored Lorna Clarke and Lord Michael Hastings for their contributions to their careers at a dinner in Kindred, Hammersmith’s hidden gem.

Since its founding in 2013, the full-service Black-owned entertainment company has represented some of the top domestic and international talent, including Zeze Millz, Wizkid, Popcaan, Tems, Cat Burns, Tyla, Fredo, Loski and Aitch, to name a few to mention. .

Each year, in honor of Black History Month, Since ’93 hosts the dinner to not only celebrate industry pioneers, but also showcase their careers to the next generation of leaders.

As Director of Music at the BBC, Clarke was responsible for the BBC’s music strategy, which saw her take on various roles within the production company, as well as at Kiss 100 FM.

Highlights of her 30-year career include founding the Electric Proms, the BBC’s first multi-platform live music event, and running the Radio 2, 6 Music and Asian Network networks in 2010 as network manager before becoming head of production for Radio 2 and 6. Music in 2017.

Clarke’s career continued on an upward trajectory, as in September 2019 she became Controller of Pop and was given responsibility for the portfolio of five national popular music networks (Radio 1, Radio 2, 6 Music, Radio 1Xtra, Asian Network) as well as live events. , the music television commissioning and the visualization team.

In May 2022, Clarke’s role evolved with the added responsibility of the BBC’s music strategy, which includes classical music from BBC Radio 3 and the world’s largest and longest-running music festival, The Proms.

During this time she has commissioned a star-studded season across TV, radio and digital platforms to celebrate 60 years of The Rolling Stones, including a world-exclusive four-part box set of films, My Life as a Rolling Stone for BBC Two, as well as the annual coverage about Glastonbury.

Clarke commissioned Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World, a landmark four-part documentary series for BBC Two, charting the history of the genre, and executive produced by Chuck D and Lorrie Boula. In March 2024, the series won the Arts Prize at the Royal Television Society Program Awards.

Her inspirational career was summarized through keynote addresses by Jackie Davidson, Treble T and
Nadia Jae.

The second award of the evening was Lord Dr. Michael Hastings of Scarisbrick CBE, an independent peer in the House of Lords. With a fulfilling life in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, he is President of SOAS University, London (School of Oriental & African Studies) and the recent Chancellor of Regent’s University London; the Professor of Leadership at the Stephen R Covey Institute at Huntsman Business School, USA; a Non-Executive Director at Saxton Bampfylde, the Executive Search firm and most recently Chairman of the London Chamber of Commerce Black Business Association and former Director/Trustee of the National Institute of Teaching, and currently a NED at Cornerstone VC Fund.

A career that began in teaching in 1980 quickly evolved into a career in government agencies
on policies to build racial equity, workforce development, and safer and more effective crime prevention
strategies.

Lord Hastings was previously Head of Public Affairs at the BBC and their first Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (1996-2006).

His career moments continue to demonstrate exceptional excellence and include becoming the longest-serving Commissioner for Race Equality from 1990 to 1999 and, from 1994, the first black member of the Metropolitan Police Committee.

Lord Hastings’ interests span charities, business and the arts, where he is currently Patron of The Black British Theater Award and the first Chair of The Pathway Fund (2024) – a unique social investment fund for minority communities.

In 2003 he was awarded a CBE for services to crime prevention; a Peerage in 2005; The UNICEF Global Award in 2005 for his tireless work and effective positive solutions for Africa’s children; a PhD in Civil Law from the University of Kent, Canterbury in 2014 in recognition of his leadership at KPMG, the BBC and for his work in international development and corporate responsibility, and was the first ever recipient of the Stephen R Covey in 2019 Leadership Award for a life built on principles, values ​​and pragmatic results.

Lord Hastings’ celebrations were led by Since ’93 founder and president Riki Bleau and Dayo Okewale. Riki Bleau, Founder of Since ’93, said: “This Black History Month, we have had the pleasure of honoring two inspiring industry leaders.

“Their accolades and characters provide the best example of what titans look like for future generations to learn from.

“Lorna Clarke and Lord Hastings are two figures we are so proud to know and honor at our fourth
annual celebration of Black Excellence.”

Previous winners of the annual Black History Month event include Darcus Beese MBE, Jackie Davidson MBE, Michelle Escoffery, Trenton Harrison Lewis, Kwame Kwanten and Ray Cosbert.