Michael Burgess, previously a senior diplomat, has been the programme and business development lead, event producer, curator and advisor for key Africa-focused organisations in the UK and Europe, including the London Pan-African & Reparation Conference 2025 (contracted by the Togo Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as official precursor to the 9th PAC), UNESCO, MOBDAY Media Group, Rolling Stone Africa, The Africa Centre, the Royal African Society, Africa Fashion Week London and Nigeria, African Fashion Awards, Tate Museums, Victoria & Albert Museum, Focus Africa, among others.

Michael Burgess is currently the High-Level Events Programming Manager for the Royal African Society (the UK’s largest and longest running Africa focus charity). He is also Founder and Director of one of the UK’s most highly regarded social enterprises, Creative Resilience International, which specialises in concept development and production. CRI promotes and empowers creatives in art, design, and culture from Black and underrepresented communities. Michael is also a member of the Mayor of London’s, Africa in London Committee. He is a Trustee for New York City based charity, Sustainable Impact Makers International.

He is a certified coach and mentor and have launched mentoring programmes for Africa Fashion Week London, University of Northampton, University of Reading and New York Parson’s School of Design and Technology’s Fashion Futures Course and Blake Arts. He is the creative advisor for international fashion icon, ALPHADI who is also an advisor for CRI. He is the Creative Director for the African Fashion Awards. He is a creative producer for several global creative platforms including Focus Africa Festival, Reine de l’Art, FIMA, Worldwide Afro Network. to name a few. He spearheaded the formation of the Association of Africa Fashion Weeks Global, a voluntary members group of Africa Fashion Week organisations worldwide.

Michael’s most recent outstanding accomplishments include being a Senior Producer of the International Africa Day celebrations on the Worldwide Afro Network in partnership with UNESCO and WIPO. He has received special thanks as a consultant on the Victoria and Albert Museum’s hugely successful exhibition, Africa Fashion. He curated and produced the Royal African Society’s 120th Anniversary Gala and Creative Programme 2022, in partnership with the Society’s Royal Patron, HRH Prince William. He Co-produced and curated the iconic Grace Jones’ Meltdown Festival for the Southbank Centre’s Black Fantastic open festival 2022. Most recently Michael Co-founded Dhaa Botswana, a ground-breaking platform in partnership with the Government of Botswana, aimed at boosting the country’s exposure, support and opportunities for its creative industries and stakeholders, increasing the probability of sustainable economic and industry development. Michael’s relentless passion is elevating others to elevate others.