Morvarid Sahafi’s life has unfolded across some of the most defining ideological and geopolitical landscapes of the modern world, a journey marked by war, exile, migration, and an unyielding commitment to dignity and truth. She was born in Bandar Abbas, Iran, during the Iran-Iraq War. Her father, a naval officer... Read more
Morvarid Sahafi’s life has unfolded across some of the most defining ideological and geopolitical landscapes of the modern world, a journey marked by war, exile, migration, and an unyielding commitment to dignity and truth.
She was born in Bandar Abbas, Iran, during the Iran-Iraq War. Her father, a naval officer trained in the United Kingdom, became involved in political activities that, after the 1979 Revolution, placed him at risk under the new regime. When his identity was exposed, he was forced to flee. Soon after, Morvarid, still a toddler, travelled with her mother, brother, and sister on a perilous journey out of Iran to reunite with him in Afghanistan. Hidden to avoid detection and crossing borders under threat of gunfire, they moved with no guarantee of arrival, guided by a mother’s determination to keep her children alive.
In Kabul, war was a constant presence. Rockets struck civilian neighbourhoods without warning. Families slept in hallways to soften the impact of blasts. Schools were targeted, and children were killed by explosives disguised as everyday objects. These experiences gave her an enduring awareness of how fragile human life becomes under systems of conflict, and how quickly the structures meant to protect can collapse.
In an effort to shield their children, her parents later sent them to the Soviet Union, where Morvarid encountered a different form of control. Life in state-run institutions was shaped by a system that spoke of equality while enforcing hierarchy, discipline, and conformity. This early exposure to competing political realities revealed a lasting truth: systems define themselves through ideals, while lived experience tells a more complicated story.
The family moved again-to Czechoslovakia, and later to Sweden-each transition bringing new dislocations and new perspectives on power, privilege, and belonging. As a young refugee in Europe, she learned new languages and adapted to unfamiliar cultures. Education became her pathway to autonomy. She earned a scholarship to Parsons School of Design in Paris and later continued her studies in London at Goldsmiths, focusing on philosophy, art, and the psychology of power and oppression.
For over a decade, Morvarid Sahafi built and ran a fashion production company between London and India, aimed at creating financial independence for women leaving violent domestic situations. The project sought to use global systems as a form of protection rather than exploitation. Its collapse during the Covid-19 pandemic ended years of work and exposed how fragile such structures can be, deepening her commitment to those whose safety depends on forces beyond their control.
In recent years, Morvarid has devoted herself to carrying the voices of Iranians inside Iran, especially women into spaces where they are often unheard. During periods of unrest and internet shutdowns, she worked to gather and carry lived experiences beyond the country’s borders, translating what could not be safely spoken so that human realities would not be lost behind political narratives.
Today, Morvarid Sahafi lives in London, where she works as an integrative psychotherapist with people who have experienced trauma, displacement, and systemic injustice. Her life-from a child of war and exile to a bridge between silenced communities and the wider world- reflects a belief that survival can become service, and that the voices of the displaced deserve to be heard with clarity and dignity.
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You can book Morvarid Sahafi through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Morvarid's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Morvarid Sahafi's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Morvarid tailored to your event.
Morvarid Sahafi speaks on Diversity, Inspirational Women, Mental Health, Society & Education, Wellbeing. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Morvarid to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Morvarid Sahafi for events worldwide, subject to Morvarid's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Morvarid Sahafi is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Morvarid can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Morvarid Sahafi on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Morvarid can offer.
Morvarid Sahafi delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Morvarid Sahafi's areas of expertise include Diversity, Inspirational Women, Mental Health, Society & Education, Wellbeing. To get a clear sense of Morvarid's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Morvarid Sahafi can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Diversity, Inspirational Women, Mental Health, Society & Education, Wellbeing is relevant. Details of Morvarid's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Morvarid Sahafi is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Morvarid Sahafi, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Morvarid's current availability for your dates.