Ghanaian business leader and author Lucy Quist has announced plans to host —The Bold New Normal Conference UK in London, aimed at unlocking the transformative potential of the African diaspora. In a reflective statement, Quist highlighted what she described as a persistent gap between African professionals abroad and meaningful participation in the continent’s development.
“I have watched brilliant African professionals build careers in London — real careers, serious careers — and still feel like observers of Africa’s story rather than participants in it,” she noted.
According to her, the challenge is not a lack of love, loyalty, or even financial support for Africa, but rather a structural disconnect—one that limits how diaspora communities can effectively channel their expertise, capital, and influence into tangible impact back home.
The upcoming conference, themed “The Power of the Diaspora: New Mindsets, New Communities, New Shared Prosperity,” is designed to address this disconnect by creating a platform for collaboration, investment, and action.
Quist believes the African diaspora in the United Kingdom represents one of the most underutilised forces for continental transformation.
“The talent is here. The capital is here. The desire is here. What is often missing is the room — a room where the right people meet, where the right conversations happen,” she explained.
From inspiration to execution
Unlike traditional conferences that focus primarily on inspiration, Quist says the goal of The Bold New Normal Conference UK is to push attendees toward concrete action.
“I want people to walk in as professionals who love Africa and walk out as investors, partners, and builders who are actually moving,” she said.
She also emphasised the importance of discomfort as a catalyst for growth, noting that the event’s speakers are expected not only to inspire but also to challenge prevailing mindsets.
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Set to take place on June 13, 2026, at St Paul’s in central London, the conference builds on the broader Bold New Normal movement, which has focused on reshaping leadership, economic thinking, and development narratives across Africa.
Quist noted that London has always played a role in the movement’s evolution, describing the diaspora as “one of its most powerful engines.”
“It has taken us a few years to get here, but I think the timing is right. I think this moment is right,” she added, inviting participants to be part of what she hopes will be a turning point for diaspora-led impact.
As conversations around Africa’s development increasingly include the role of its global diaspora, initiatives like this conference signal a growing shift—from remittances and sentiment to structured investment and partnership.
With early bird tickets already on sale at: https://tbnncuk.theboldnewnormal.com, expectations are building that the event could become a key meeting point for Africans in the UK seeking to move from connection to contribution.