Breaking Barriers in Sport. Breaking Silos in Tech. Building Governance That Includes Everyone
Luli Adeyemo is an award-winning leader and visionary in the Australian technology sector, with over 30 years of experience driving transformative change.
But her story of breaking barriers, building excellence, and creating pathways started earlier: as Britain's 1986 BMX World Champion, Luli became a world-class athlete as a teenager, competing against established riders from major sponsorship backgrounds. She was the only black female rider on the BMX circuit in the 1980s—a fact that shaped her understanding of representation, belonging, and what it takes to create genuine inclusion.
That early experience of excellence amid exclusion, of breaking barriers in spaces not built for her, informs everything Luli does in tech. As Executive Director of TechDiversity Foundation, she champions inclusive leadership and diverse AI governance—ensuring that decision-making rooms reflect the communities they serve. She's pioneering Australia's first Diverse AI Governance Practitioners Programme, bringing together legal professionals, technologists, philosophers, and business leaders to build governance frameworks that centre inclusion from day one.
As Founder and Director of Best Case Scenario, Luli has crafted impactful campaigns that shaped industry narratives. At Gartner, she expanded the Asia-Pacific conference business by 250%, launching executive programs across Australia, Singapore, India, and China.
An authentic advocate for inclusive leadership, Luli brings her lived experience as a Black, queer woman—both in sport and in tech—to the forefront. Her keynote, "The AI Influence Gap: Why Diverse Decision-Makers Are Essential for Australia's AI-Driven Economy", articulates why organisations integrating diverse perspectives outperform those that don't.
Recognised as an Emerging Leader in Tech at the 2023 Women's Agenda Leadership Awards, Luli serves as an elected Council Member of the AIIA. She's recently moderated SXSW Sydney's innovation pitch day, facilitated the AIIA Health Forum, and keynoted the National Economic Development Forum and Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix Executive Breakfast.
Committed to building the next generation of leaders, Luli mentors underrepresented groups across sport and technology, encouraging them to develop the expertise and confidence that shape organisational decisions. Her vision: a society where every voice genuinely influences the decisions that matter.
Talking Points
The AI Influence Gap:
Why Diverse Decision-Makers Are Essential for Australia's AI-Driven Economy – Her flagship keynote exploring how bias enters AI systems, why homogeneous decision-making costs organisations money, and what governance actually looks like
The AI Influence Gap:
Governance Built by Diversity: Reshaping How Organisations Make AI Decisions
Why traditional governance frameworks fail when diverse perspectives aren't in the room. How to design governance structures that ensure different voices shape decisions from day one, not as an afterthought. Featuring real case studies from Australian organisations.
Governance Built by Diversity: Reshaping How Organisations Make AI Decisions
Untapped Skill Sets: The Hidden Talent Australia's Tech Industry Isn't Seeing and Cultural Transformation
Developing Inclusive LeadersUntapped Skill Sets: The Hidden Talent Australia's Tech Industry Isn't Seeing and Cultural Transformation
• Approaches to cultivate leadership that values diversity.
• Overcoming unconscious biases and fostering an environment where all voices are heard.
TTech Reflects data reveals rich skill sets and perspectives within underrepresented communities that organisations aren't accessing. How to identify hidden talents. Why diverse hiring isn't just ethical—it's a smart business strategy for closing Australia's tech skills gap.
Beyond Bias: Why AI Ethics Requires Diverse Governance, Not Just Diverse Data
Technical auditing of AI systems is necessary but not sufficient. True AI ethics requires diverse perspectives shaping governance frameworks, policy decisions, and implementation strategies. How to move from technical compliance to genuine ethical AI practice.
Beyond Bias: Why AI Ethics Requires Diverse Governance, Not Just Diverse Data
Building the Next Generation of Inclusive Leaders
How organisations can mentor and develop the next wave of leaders who understand both technology and the importance of inclusive decision-making. Why formative moments matter. How to create pathways for young people to see what's possible.
Building the Next Generation of Inclusive Leaders
AI First, Human Always: What BMX Taught Me About Resilience, Risk, and Real Leadershipsions
Drawing Parallels Between Athletic Excellence and Organisational ExcellenceAI First, Human Always: What BMX Taught Me About Resilience, Risk, and Real Leadershipsions
BMX racing (as a world champion) taught Luli three things that apply directly to leadership in an AI-driven economy: Risk is Necessary, Mentorship from Unlikely Sources, You Can't Win Alone
The Long Game: Why Excellence Takes Time, Support, and the Right Environment
From Learning to Ride to World Champion—What This Teaches LeadersThe Long Game: Why Excellence Takes Time, Support, and the Right Environment
Luli didn't take to BMX like "a duck taking to water" at first. But "after a few months, something just clicked", and she could ride so fast. She practised nearly every day, joined her local club, racked up decent placings, and was eventually invited to compete at the 1986 World Championships—all in about a year or less.
Video
Luli Adeyemo | Emerging Leader in Tech
Winning speech from Luli Adeyemo, Emerging Leader in Tech at the 2023 Women's Agenda Leadership Awards. Luli is the Executive Director of the TechDiversity Foundation. As a fervent advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in technology workforces across different sectors, she is on a mission to illuminate the transformative power of DEI in boardrooms across Australia.Luli Adeyemo | Speaker Engagement Reel
BBMXHOF Inductees 2023: LULI ADEYEMO
British BMX Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Female Racer: Luli Adeyemo Luli Adeyemo is perhaps another UK rider from the mid 80s and early 90s who is not talked about much that definitely knocked-out some big results during her time racing. Luli was a Newark East Midlands local that became World Champion in 1986 at the Slough Worlds, was National and British Champion numerous times battling with the likes of Lisa Wright riding for Axo, Scorpion & Profile during the peak of her racing. Luli almost became European Champion in 1988 in Slagharen – just missing out – and also won the ABA Race of Champions at the Grands in 89 in the US. On top of that, she had a great personality, smiling and last we’ve heard, she’s living down under in Australia and if we’re correct we seem to remember her brother was a dancer on Top of the Pops!Luli's passion for inclusivity in business comes from real-life experiences. Her insights have the power to transform perspectives and drive actionable change. ... keep reading TechDiversity
Luli's contributions to the AIIA have been invaluable. Her strategic insights and commitment to advancing the ICT industry are greatly appreciated.
Luli Adeyemo, thank you for such a thoughtful reflection of the day—and for bringing such a positive and energising presence to the room! Thank you for your leadership in facilitating this important roundtable on the future of digital health in Australia. The depth of insight, honesty, and ambition shared by everyone in the room was truly inspiring. As you highlighted, transformation in digital health is not just about technology; it’s about people, leadership, and the courage to challenge the status quo. The outcome of this discussion will be published soon as a report for the parliament, and we hope the recommendations will help guide the kind of proactive, collaborative leadership our healthcare system needs.
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