Lord Rees of Easton, OBE, is a British Labour Party politician and former Mayor of Bristol (2016–2024), celebrated as the first person of Black African heritage to be elected mayor of a major European city. Rees began his career with Tearfund, a leading international development agency, before moving to the USA to work with Sojourners, a social justice organization. Upon returning to the UK, he worked with BBC Bristol and later joined NHS Bristol’s Public Health team. His tenure as mayor was marked by transformative political leadership, urban regeneration, and social impact, earning him international recognition for driving meaningful change. Key achievements include: • Delivering over 14,000 new homes to address housing challenges. • Leading Temple Quarter, one of Europe’s largest regeneration projects. • Spearheading Bristol City Leap, a groundbreaking £1 billion public-private partnership to decarbonize the city’s energy system. Beyond Bristol, Rees remains a global advocate for urban leadership, migration, and climate action. As Co-Chair of the Mayors Migration Council, he collaborates with city leaders worldwide to shape inclusive policies and create economic opportunities for migrants and refugees. Rees is a Yale World Fellow, a graduate of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, and a UPenn Perry World House Fellow. He holds an Honorary Doctorate from Swansea University and serves as an Honorary Industrial Professor at the University of Bristol. His lived experience—growing up as the mixed-race son of a single mother in 1970s and 80s Britain—fuels his lifelong dedication to social justice, urban transformation, and social mobility. Now, as Lord Rees of Easton, he continues to champion inclusive cities, climate action, and economic opportunity for all.