Josh Rivers is the creator and host of Busy Being Black, a social justice communications professional and a public speaker. All of his work is testament to his commitment to be an advocate for and amplifier of communities and perspectives so often overlooked and underrepresented.
He is the former Communications Manager for international LGBTQ human rights charity Kaleidoscope Trust, where he helped deliver communications strategies and training for civil society organisations upholding LGBTQ human rights across the Commonwealth. As the Director of Communications for sexual health charity NAZ Project London, he produced the British HIV Association's first-ever event with Black British heterosexual men about their HIV and sexual health needs. He was part of the founding team behind Second Home, a cultural venue and creative workspace in East London, where he led on membership, communications and community-building; and he's one of the original co-founders of Series Q, a network for LGBTQ entrepreneurs.
Josh volunteered as the Head of Communications for UK Black Pride, from 2018 – 2022. He now serves as the Head of Cultural Partnerships, where he co-leads the delivery of UK Black Pride’s Community Action Fund – a growing resource for community organisations working to uplift LGBTQ Black people and people of colour across the UK. In January 2023, he became a Trustee of Phoenix Dance Theatre, one of the UK’s leading contemporary dance companies.
PRWeek named Josh one of the UK's most influential communications professionals in 2022 and 2023, and he was nominated in the Top 10 for Outstanding Contribution to LGBTQ Life at the 2023 British LGBT Awards.
He’s hosted conversations for Netflix, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soho House, Google, Black Tech Fest, NYC Pride, British Film Institute and many others. He is available for public speaking engagements, and to curate and convene enlivening conversations that address themes like social justice, intersectionality, Black joy, queer history, LGBTQ rights and storytelling.