Available to book
Gareth Thomas
Team Building
Influence
LGBTQ+
Transform workplace inclusion with Gareth Thomas, speaker and LGBTQ+ advocate. Gareth works with organisations to build resilience, challenge stigma, and embrace diversity, delivering powerful insights as Stonewall's Hero of the Year and leader of the "Tackle HIV" campaign.
Pride
After Dinner Sports
Celebrity
Rugby
Inclusion
Sport
IDAHOBIT
After Dinner Speakers
Gareth Thomas, former Welsh rugby star turned LGBTQ+ and HIV awareness advocate, breaks barriers with the same determination that earned him 100 caps for Wales and second-highest try scorer status in the nation's history.
In 2009, Thomas made headlines as the first openly gay professional rugby union player, later revealing his HIV-positive status to challenge persistent stigmas.
His award-winning memoir "Proud" and documentary "Gareth Thomas: HIV and Me" have transformed public conversations around sexuality and health. Named Most Influential Gay Person in the UK and recipient of Stonewall's Hero of the Year, Thomas now leads the "Tackle HIV" campaign to combat misinformation.
Beyond his advocacy, Thomas brings powerful insights on resilience, authenticity and inclusion to organisations navigating today's complex social landscape. His personal journey from international sports icon to influential change-maker offers teams practical lessons in overcoming adversity and embracing diversity.
Book Gareth Thomas to inspire your team with a story of courage that transcends sport.
Topics, sessions and talks
Gareth Thomas discusses the importance of LGBTQ+ visibility and inclusivity in professional settings, advocating for supportive workplaces that embrace diversity and foster a sense of belonging for everyone.
Gareth brings your team a unique blend of elite sports achievement and groundbreaking advocacy, inspiring resilience, inclusivity, and courage. His firsthand experiences in breaking barriers and fostering acceptance in challenging environments will empower and enlighten your team on the importance of diversity and inclusion. Booking Gareth as a speaker guarantees an impactful, motivational experience that will leave a lasting impression on your organisation.
Testimonials
often considered together
Ben Kay
Team Building
Effective Leadership
Resilience
frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
Email gareth.thomas@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Gareth's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
Gareth Thomas draws on his personal journey — from international rugby career to public disclosure of his sexuality and HIV-positive status — to frame talks around resilience and workplace inclusion, using his own biography as the primary vehicle for delivering practical lessons on diversity and authenticity.
Gareth Thomas CBE speaks on LGBTQ+ representation and inclusion in professional environments, HIV awareness and stigma reduction, and resilience in the face of adversity. He earned 100 caps for Wales and became the first openly gay professional rugby union player in 2009, a status he confirmed publicly before later disclosing his HIV-positive diagnosis, leading the "Tackle HIV" campaign and receiving Stonewall's Hero of the Year award.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
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