Commodore Duncan Lustig-Prean

Inspirational, Motivational and Leadership Speaker

Duncan Lustig-Prean is unique. A trained and successful opera singer who joined the Royal Navy as an ordinary sailor and rose to the rank of Commodore in the merchant navy, followed by a career leading industry regulation before becoming a senior instructor in the airline industry.

Yet his unusual career progression, success and numerous military commendations are just a small part of his inspirational story proving that one person can really make a difference.

From persuading the Heads of the Armed Forces to change the way they work, to highlighting racism in the Armed Forces and working to eradicate it, to being the instigator of giving women full career opportunities in the Armed Forces and to reverse the ban on Lesbian and Gay people serving in them is just part of the achievement of someone who was appointed to be the Prime Minister's Military Assistant.

Duncan changed the law on three occasions: the ending of the ban of gays in the military, revoking anti-LGBTQ+ clauses in the Criminal Justice Act 1994 and revoki9ng similar clauses in the Merchant Shipping Acts. He persuaded English Heritage to review its policies and procedures which resulted in better representation of people of colour in the Blue Plaque Scheme. He was founder Director of the very first LGBTQ+ Community and Cultural Centre with events and performance spaces and art galleries in the UK working tirelessly to fund and build it. He is Patron of the Davison Young Musicians Foundation which assists young musicians with financial support and instruments for their studies. He even made Margaret Thatcher, Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh laugh. He is, as one very senior officer described him "The most influential naval officer of the last 50 years".

Duncan's energy, drive, passion and humour are obvious in his delivery which is why organisations from big business, like Dentsply Sirona and the Armed Forces and Women's Institute regularly call upon him to inspire, amuse and get their people to think.