Ebony Rainford-Brent

Ebony Rainford-Brent is a trailblazing figure in British sport, famously becoming the first Black woman to represent the England cricket team. Her international career was defined by immense success; in a single landmark year, she secured the World Cup, the World Twenty20, and retained the Ashes. This feat followed a remarkable recovery from a debilitating back injury that risked ending her sporting and academic pursuits. Beyond the pitch, she holds a Masters in Chemistry from University College London and was the first woman to serve as a summariser for the BBC flagship programme, Test Match Special. Currently a specialist commentator for Sky Sports and the Director of Women's Cricket at Surrey CCC, Rainford-Brent is a driving force behind the sport's growth and professionalisation. Her influence extends into community development through the ACE Programme, an initiative she founded to improve diversity and increase opportunities for young Black cricketers. In recognition of her significant contributions to the game and her efforts to promote inclusion, she was appointed an MBE in the 2021 Birthday Honours. As a qualified performance coach and host of The Art of Success podcast, Rainford-Brent utilises her Five Fundamentals of Peak Performance to guide individuals and teams. She is frequently booked for her ability to translate high-pressure sporting experiences into strategies for resilience, illustrating how a focused mindset and incremental changes can foster an environment of excellence. On stage, Ebony Rainford-Brent is best known for talks on Resilience, Diversity & Inclusion and Peak Performance. Audiences leave with a clear, practical view of the subject rather than a generic overview — every keynote is shaped around the brief and the room. Their work resonates with leaders across Education, Media & Broadcasting and Sport, where the themes translate directly into team decisions, customer experience and growth strategy. Ebony Rainford-Brent is regularly booked for Motivational Speaker, adapting tone, length and format to suit the event — from a 20-minute opener to a full conference keynote with Q&A. Based in UK, Ebony Rainford-Brent travels internationally for engagements. To check availability or request a tailored brief for your event, send an enquiry and we'll come back with fees, dates and a short summary of how Ebony Rainford-Brent would approach your audience.