Tonight, a gathering of prominent Black celebrities, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs in Britain will honor the achievements of Black Britons at the prestigious Powerlist 2025 awards ceremony. The Powerlist, an annual ranking recognizing influential Black figures in the UK, has previously honored luminaries like seven-time Formula One World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton and former Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman.
Established in 2005 to highlight Black role models and honor trailblazers across various sectors including arts, technology, and entertainment, the Powerlist Celebration of Black Excellence Awards will take place at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London. This year, the CEO of tech firm Forterro, Dean Forbes, has been named as the most influential Black person in Britain.
Forbes, a successful business leader and philanthropist, expressed his gratitude for being recognized as the top achiever on the Powerlist. Coming from humble beginnings, Forbes aims to inspire young Black individuals by sharing his journey from southeast London to global business leadership. He emphasized the importance of resilience, community support, and seizing opportunities to attain success, hoping to motivate others to realize their potential and pursue their aspirations.
Among the new additions to this year’s Powerlist are Andrew ‘Rapman’ Onwubolu, creator of Netflix’s hit show Supacell, and Damson Idris, star of the crime drama Snowfall. Notable figures featured on the list include Idris Elba OBE, Alex Scott MBE, and Stormzy.
The Powerlist event, sponsored by JP Morgan, will be hosted by Tim Campbell MBE, a successful businessman and TV personality. Michael Eboda, CEO of Powerful Media, commended Dean Forbes for his community contributions, praising his dedication to supporting charitable causes through the Forbes Family Group Foundation. Cecil Peters of JPMorganChase emphasized the importance of recognizing and promoting diverse talent to break barriers and elevate excellence across industries, underscoring the commitment to celebrating Black achievement in the UK.