Amar Latif
Encyclopedia
Amar Latif is a blind British entrepreneur, actor, director, motivational speaker and world traveller. His blindness is due to the incurable eye condition Retinitis Pigmentosa
. By the age of 20, he had 95% sight loss.
, the world's first commercial international air tour operator company to specialise in serving blind as well as sighted travellers. In founding this ground-breaking enterprise, he set out to challenge the assumption that visually impaired travellers should ever have to accept restrictions on their world travel aspirations. A Scotsman now based in Leeds
, Latif often personally acts as world tour-guide.
, spending part of his course in Canada
at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario
. On leaving university, he trained as an accountant
, and eventually became Head of Commercial Finance for British Telecom.
founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou
in partnership with the charity Leonard Cheshire Disability
. Latif's awards include the 2005 'Outstanding Young Business Entrepreneur of the World' and 'Outstanding Young Person of the UK', both awarded by the Chamber of Commerce International (JCI)
, the 2006 One Vision Man of the Year and the University of Strathclyde
’s 2006 Alumnus of the Year award.
documentary Beyond Boundaries
. Broadcast in October and November 2005, the four-part programme explored the levels of endurance attainable by a group of travellers with various disabilities on a gruelling 220 mile trek from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts of Nicaragua
. Amar also directed the Channel Four documentary Sightseeing Blind, broadcast on 15 April 2007. His most recent TV acting roles have included parts in the BBC Three
surreal comedy series It's Adam and Shelley
, and the BBC One
drama series Love Soup
with Tamsin Greig
, produced by Verity Lambert
, scheduled for screening in early 2008. He appeared as a special guest on the television cookery show Ready, Steady, Cook.
He has also appeared in theatrical productions in the UK
, including musical revue and serious drama. He has played music professionally in the USA and Canada in a Blues duo, playing guitar
and singing.
.
Retinitis pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of genetic eye conditions that leads to incurable blindness. In the progression of symptoms for RP, night blindness generally precedes tunnel vision by years or even decades. Many people with RP do not become legally blind until their 40s or 50s and retain some...
. By the age of 20, he had 95% sight loss.
Traveleyes
Amar is the founder and director of TraveleyesTraveleyes
Traveleyes is the world’s first commercial international air tour operator to specialise in serving blind as well as sighted travellers. Established in 2005, the company is based in Leeds, West Yorkshire.-Traveleyes Holidays:...
, the world's first commercial international air tour operator company to specialise in serving blind as well as sighted travellers. In founding this ground-breaking enterprise, he set out to challenge the assumption that visually impaired travellers should ever have to accept restrictions on their world travel aspirations. A Scotsman now based in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, Latif often personally acts as world tour-guide.
Education and Experience
Amar Latif gained a BSc in Mathematics, Statistics and Finance at the University of StrathclydeUniversity of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
, spending part of his course in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
. On leaving university, he trained as an accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
, and eventually became Head of Commercial Finance for British Telecom.
Awards
In 2007, he was presented with the inaugural Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur Award. This award is presented by EasyJetEasyJet
EasyJet Airline Company Limited is a British airline headquartered at London Luton Airport. It carries more passengers than any other United Kingdom-based airline, operating domestic and international scheduled services on 500 routes between 118 European, North African, and West Asian airports...
founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou
Stelios Haji-Ioannou
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou , born 14 February 1967) is a British entrepreneur of Greek Cypriot origin, currently a resident of Monaco. He is the scion of a wealthy, shipowning family, but is best known for setting up easyJet, a highly successful and profitable low-cost airline, with start-up funds...
in partnership with the charity Leonard Cheshire Disability
Leonard Cheshire Disability
Leonard Cheshire Disability is a major health and welfare charity in the United Kingdom, founded in 1948 by RAF pilot Leonard Cheshire VC.In 2006–7 it had a total expenditure of £143 million, placing it in the top 30 of UK charities.-History:...
. Latif's awards include the 2005 'Outstanding Young Business Entrepreneur of the World' and 'Outstanding Young Person of the UK', both awarded by the Chamber of Commerce International (JCI)
Junior Chamber International
Junior Chamber International is the only worldwide non-political and non-sectarian youth service organization. It is an international community of citizens between the ages of to with the aim and purpose of creating positive changes in the world...
, the 2006 One Vision Man of the Year and the University of Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
’s 2006 Alumnus of the Year award.
Media career
Amar Latif was a participant in the first series of the BBC TwoBBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
documentary Beyond Boundaries
Beyond Boundaries
Beyond Boundaries is a documentary series produced by Diverse Bristol for BBC Two. Each series follows a team of physically disabled adventurers as they take on some of the toughest expeditions on the Planet under the guidance of ex-SAS Major Ken Hames....
. Broadcast in October and November 2005, the four-part programme explored the levels of endurance attainable by a group of travellers with various disabilities on a gruelling 220 mile trek from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts of Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
. Amar also directed the Channel Four documentary Sightseeing Blind, broadcast on 15 April 2007. His most recent TV acting roles have included parts in the BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
surreal comedy series It's Adam and Shelley
It's Adam and Shelley
It's Adam and Shelley is a variety series written by brother and sister Adam and Shelley Longworth. The series was directed by Tim Kirkby and was broadcast on BBC Three from 1 October to 11 November 2007.-External links:* at BBC Online...
, and the BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
drama series Love Soup
Love Soup
Love Soup is a British television comedy-drama produced by the BBC and first screened on BBC One in the autumn of 2005. It stars Tamsin Greig as Alice Chenery and Michael Landes as Gil Raymond . The series is written by David Renwick of One Foot in the Grave fame, and was produced by Verity Lambert...
with Tamsin Greig
Tamsin Greig
Tamsin Greig is an English actress principally known for two Channel 4 television comedy parts: Fran Katzenjammer in Black Books and Dr. Caroline Todd in Green Wing...
, produced by Verity Lambert
Verity Lambert
Verity Ann Lambert, OBE was an English television and film producer. She is best known as the founding producer of the science-fiction series Doctor Who, a programme which has become a part of British popular culture, and for her association with Thames Television...
, scheduled for screening in early 2008. He appeared as a special guest on the television cookery show Ready, Steady, Cook.
He has also appeared in theatrical productions in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, including musical revue and serious drama. He has played music professionally in the USA and Canada in a Blues duo, playing guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and singing.
Charity work
Latif is well known for his charity work. He is a fund-raising public speaker, as well as taking on other fund-raising activities, one of which involved him abseiling down the side of a major public building dressed as BatmanBatman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
.