
Hugh Forrest served as the President and Chief Programming Officer at SXSW (South by Southwest)) until April 2025. He began his career at SXSW in 1989, as the organization's first paid employee. In this role, he oversaw content for the SXSW Conference, as well as the SXSW Music Festival, the SXSW Film Festival, and SXSW EDU.
Forrest was named "Austinite of the Year" in 2012 by the Austin Chamber of Commerce (along with SXSW Co-founders Roland Swenson, Louis Black and Nick Barbaro). In 2014, Forrest and these other SXSW Directors were named Austin Entrepreneurs of the Year by Ernst & Young. He received an honorary doctorate of humane letters in 2018 from Kenyon College, his alma mater. In 2021, he was awarded Diversity Champion of the Year by the Austin Black Business Journal.
In addition to his work at SXSW, he has previously served on the National Advisory Board for the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has also served on the Board of Directors for Austin Habitat for Humanity. Via his decades of work with the Austin Reggae Festival, he has helped to raise more than $1 million in funding for the Central Texas Food Bank.
All American Speakers Bureau is a full-service talent booking agency providing information on booking Hugh Forrest for speaking engagements, personal appearances and corporate events. Contact an All American Speakers Bureau booking agent for more information on Hugh Forrest speaking fees, availability, speech topics and cost to hire for your next live or virtual event.
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Please Note: All American Speakers Bureau is a full-service talent booking agency providing information on booking Hugh Forrest for speaking engagements, personal appearances and corporate events. Contact an All American Speakers Bureau booking agent for more information on Hugh Forrest speaking fees, availability, speech topics and cost to hire for your next live or virtual event.
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