WorkPride

Speakers

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  Liam Rezende

  Global Talent and D&I, Brands, Marketing and Communications, Assistant Director
  EY

  Originally from Trinidad and Tobago but based in London, I'm currently the Global Talent and D&I, Brands, Marketing and Communications Assistant Director at EY. Previously, I worked at Hyatt and led the company's LGBT+ Employee Resource Group as Global Co-Chair. Ranking fourth in the 2019 Top 50 Outstanding & Yahoo Finance LGBT+ Future Leaders list, I've also spoken at the House of Commons on the impact of anti-LGBT+ laws across the Commonwealth. Additionally, in 2018 I co-founded Checking-IN, an industry network for LGBT+ professionals and allies working in the hospitality industry. I'm a founding Trustee at LGBT+ arts charity QueerCircle and a board member of Outvertising. I was also Research Fellow – Caribbean at Open For Business, developing the economic and business case for LGBT+ inclusion in the region and was appointed to the organisation's Board of Trustees in 2021. I'm passionate about equality, advocacy, people, travel, art and design.

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  Lucy-Anne Bryans

  Procurement Enablement - Global Corporate Card Programme Manager
  EY

  Alongside my day job of managing our global commercial card programme I lead the Networking & Development workstream of EY’s LGBT+ network - Unity. I have been working in ERGs since the first day I discovered one more than 10 years ago and believe passionately that the opportunity to create an additional network of like minded people is a really important tool and can open doors and build confidence. At work I manage our global commercial card contract for EY. We look to drive new and innovative card solutions that enables the business to be agile in their purchasing processes, alongside a large corporate card programme that supports our employees as they travel.

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  Sandra Thompson

  Audit Partner/ Unity Co-Partner Sponsor
  EY

  I am an Audit Partner in EY, Reading and Audit Partner Sponsor for Onboarding and Transformation. I work with a variety of clients across many diverse industries and geographies, from large private businesses to global multinational listed businesses. I am also Unity Co-Partner Sponsor (EY's LGBT+ network) and I Co-Lead Diversity & Inclusivity in the Reading office. I moved to Reading on 1 May 2019 from the North East, where I was Office Senior Partner and Head of Audit for EY, Newcastle. As Head of Networks in Newcastle, I championed D&I and was Co-sponsor to one of the largest Professional Services Women's Network in the North East. I initially joined EY in early 2015 in their London office, where I was the UK Audit Leader for Private Client Services, where I focused on dynamic, entrepreneurial and fast-growth businesses with a key focus on technology, retail, private equity backed and fast-growing businesses looking to IPO or keen to expand internationally. Prior to this I was CFO of an AiM listed global on-line acquisition business, working across North and South America, Europe and Asia, having moved from Practice where I was an Audit Partner in Grant Thornton and Audit Director in PwC. I am a Non-Executive Member of the Finance & Investment Committee for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

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  Benjamin Firth

  Communications and Engagement Leader, LGBT+ Network Co-Chair
  EY

  Ben is Communications and Engagement Leader at EY in the UK. He’s also Co-Chair of Unity, EY’s LGBT+ employee network and a trustee of the charity, MindOut. Ben has over 15 years of corporate communications experience, gained through a variety of sectors in the UK and Australia. He’s passionate about working with leaders to drive positive change, business outcomes and inclusive cultures – all through compelling communication. Prior to EY, Ben spent eight years at the Financial Services Authority and Financial Conduct Authority working in internal and change communications throughout the financial crisis and shake-up of financial services regulation. Before then, he worked in corporate PR at Sydney Opera House and the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Born and raised in Gloucestershire, Ben regularly gets back to the Cotswolds to enjoy the countryside and see his family. He met his Partner while living in Australia. They moved to the UK in 2008 and have been living in North London since. When Ben’s not at a spin class with Psycle London or more recently doing a HIIT at home, he’s usually at the theatre or socialising with friends.

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  Harry Queenborough

  Consultant
  EY

  Harry is a trusted business consultant focused on long-term, sustainable business strategy and works closely with EY leadership focused on the development and implementation go-to-market strategy, plan and programs internationally to help EY clients embed sustainability and ESG into their approach to value creation. Harry is proudly bi+ and serves as EY's Bi Inclusion Champion, leading EY's bi+ professional and bi+ ally community and works with EY's Diversity & Inclusion and LGBT+ employee network leadership to visibly heighten focus on the needs of EY's bi+ communities. He led the co-founding of an inter-company Bi Inclusion Summit in September 2019 and chairs an inter-company network of bi leaders/champions to which new joiners are welcome to join. He has worked with bi+ inclusion charity, Bi Pride U.K. as EY’s relationship owner. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harryqueenborough

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  Tim Jarman

  Assistant Director for Diversity and Inclusiveness
  EY

  Tim is an experienced and passionate Diversity and Inclusiveness professional, having joined EY’s D&I team in 2007. Prior to that, spent several years in EY’s Human Capital team. Before joining EY, Tim spent 4.5 years at Fidelity International, including time working in India on offshoring projects. Tim is a vocal advocate for LGBT+ equality, both in the workplace and beyond. He has been repeatedly recognized for this work over the years, for example being featured in the UK Pride Power List in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2019, Tim took part in the first cohort of ESCP Europe Business School's LGBT+ Leadership Programme. He holds a BSc International Studies (Hons) degree from the Open University which he achieved during his time at EY and has recently been working towards a Level 6 Certificate in Leadership and Management from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

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  Alex Enness-Laporte

  Sales Operations Manager,
  EY

  Alex joined EY in 2014 and is an Assistant Director in Sales Operations for the Consultancy part of the business. Her career has progressed through many industries, including Hospitality, Aged Care, Upstream Oil & Gas, Insurance and IT. She was also the EY UK&I LGBT+ Network Co-Chair from 2018 to 2021. She originates from Melbourne, Australia, and has lived in London since 1999.

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  Pablo De Luca

  President
  Argentina LGBT Chamber of Commerce

  President and co-founder at CCGLAR -Argentina LGBT Chamber of Commerce- a leading Argentinean member-based organization dedicated to increasing LGBT tourism to this country. CCGLAR also focuses on Diversity and LGBT Inclusion in the workplace and works closely with corporations and organizations. Co-founder at Gnetwork360 a Latin American LGBT Travel Organization, based in Buenos Aires and dedicated to promote LGBT tourism in Argentina and the region for the last 13 years.

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  Andy Lewis

  Partner
  Travers Smith

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  Matt Cameron

  Global Managing Director
  LGBT Great

  Matt is an experienced talent management, diversity and organisational development leader with extensive experience within the financial services industry. A proven track record in inspiring others, developing effective strategy, programme execution, managing diverse teams and building effective partnerships. Originally from Lancashire in northern England, he holds a BA (Hons) degree in Modern & Medieval History with Italian from the University of Birmingham and was the first in his family to go to university. Matt takes a key role in the delivery of LGBT Great’s programmes and is responsible for the organisation’s strategic direction. His vision for the financial services industry is to achieve LGBT+ equality and inclusion maturity to deliver on the expectations of employees, clients and investors. You can follow Matt on Twitter: @MattJCam @LGBTGreat and LinkedIn. Specialities: Recruitment: diversity awareness, bias, search and selection; LGBT+ inclusion: the business case, employee and client engagement; Learning & development: awareness building, leadership, allyship and role modelling; Marketing: developing impactful communications and social media campaigns; Data: developing diagnostics and benchmarking systems; Facilitation: leadership, coaching and presenting.

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  Anne Richards

  Chief Executive Officer
  Fidelity

  Anne joined Fidelity International as CEO in December 2018 from M&G Investments where she was CEO and a director of its parent company Prudential plc. Anne was appointed a Director of FIL Limited in September 2019. She has worked in the asset management industry since 1992. Anne has almost three decades of experience as an analyst, portfolio manager and CIO and is a strong proponent of ESG investing. Her career path spans many blue chip global names in the financial sector including Alliance Capital, JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch Investment Managers and Aberdeen Asset Management. Anne is a Chartered Engineer and began her career as a research fellow at CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research. She is a former chair of the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s Practitioner Panel and is also a member of the US-based Board of Leaders of 2020 Women on Boards, which works to increase the proportion of women on corporate boards. Anne was publicly recognised in the UK for her services to the voluntary sector and to the Financial Services industry by being appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 2014 and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2015. Anne holds an MBA from INSEAD and a BSc (Hons) from the University of Edinburgh as well as an honorary degree from Heriot-Watt University.

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  Andrew Croft

  Chief Executive
  St. James's Place

  I am Chief Executive of St James's Place Plc, having joined the company in 1993 I was appointed as Chief Financial Officer in 2004 and became CEO in January 2018. I am passionate about the firm's ethics and doing the right thing. I Chair our company's Inclusion and Diversity group which oversees our LGBT+ agenda and am part of an internal reverse mentoring program to help build greater diversity across our Board. I am also a member of the Diversity Project's CEO Advisory Council and am delighted to be recognised as an LGBT Great Top 110 Executive Ally.

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  Tom Kazmierczak

  Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion
  T. Rowe Price

  Tom serves as Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion for T. Rowe Price, a $1 trillion US-based asset manager. He co-led the creation and launch of the firm's first business resource group, PRIDE @ T. Rowe Price, which was established to ensure all associates can bring their full selves to the workplace. Prior to his role as Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion, he was Head of T. Rowe Price Advisory Services, Inc and held a number of leadership roles as part of the firm's direct-to-consumer business in the United States. Tom is a passionate advocate for the LGBT+ community and strongly believes we all have a responsibility to attract, develop and retain LGBT+ talent in the asset management and financial services industries.

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  Marie Dzanis, CIMA

  Head of Asset Management EMEA
  Northern Trust

  Marie Dzanis is the head of EMEA for Northern Trust Asset Management. She has responsibility for overseeing the governance, operations, business development and talent of Northern Trust Asset Management. Marie is on the boards of Northern Trust Global Funds, PLC and Northern Trust Funds Managers (Ireland) Limited. She is chief executive officer of Northern Trust Global Investments Limited. She serves on the Northern Trust Asset Management Executive Committee and the Northern Trust EMEA Executive Committee. Prior to joining Northern Trust in 2011, she held executive and leadership positions at iShares/Blackrock, JPMorgan Asset Management and Smith Barney. Marie’s comprehensive business acumen is demonstrated by having successfully managed multiple channels and the profitable growth of several lines of business in the institutional, intermediary and wealth channels. Her multifacted career began as a financial advisor and subsequently includes experience in securities lending and trading, product development, product sales, sales management and branch management. As a recognized industry leader with more than 25 years of investment management experience, Marie has been awarded a top "Women To Watch" award from Investment News in 2017 and “Top Women in Asset Management” award by Money Management Executive in May 2015. In addition, she is on the women’s board of the University of Chicago Cancer Foundation, involved in Women in ETFs, is on the Advisory Board for BlinkNow Foundation and is a producer for the Maggie Doyne documentary called "Love Letters to my Children." She is corporate executive sponsor for LGBT Great at NT.

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  Uwern Jong

  Editor-in-Chief
  OutThere

  Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief (or #Experientialist-in-Chief) of OutThere - a multi-award winning publisher (Publication of the Year - Online at the 2018 Travel Media Awards) - the world's leading luxury and experiential travel journal for men of distinction, now sold in over 20 countries worldwide, celebrating a decade in print. Proud winner of “Editor of the Year” at 2020’s Campaign Publishing Awards Founder of the LGBT+ Travel Symposium series, delivered the first of its kind in South East Asia in Bangkok in 2018, helping the Thai travel industry better understand how to engage with this profitable segment. Co-Founder of Stockholm LGBT, a members-based Destination Marketing platform, a rainbow family of the hotels, attractions and restaurants passionate about welcome LGBT guests to the Open City of Stockholm. Luxury experientialist, brand ambassador, content creator, thought leader, marketer, publicist, travel expert and public speaker on high-end travel for LGBT+ people. www.outthere.travel

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  Darren Burn

  Group CEO
  OutOfOffice.com / TravelGay.com

  Darren is a former ITV journalist who set up luxury LGBT friendly travel company OutOfOffice.com in 2016. In 2018 the business acquired TravelGay.com, the world's most visited LGBT travel website. The businesses have grown year on year and boast a global audience.

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  Saski .

  LGBTQ+ Inclusion Specialist Consultant
  www.saski.co.uk

  Saski is a well established LGBTQIA+ Inclusion training consultant in both schools and the workplace. She is also a Life Coach and Mentor,  Official PRIDE Host, Interviewer for Podcast, Radio and online. Panel Moderator and Singer.  Saski’s mission is to positively spotlight the LGBTQIA+ community through these various strands of her work and create environments where everyone can be their true authentic self.  In addition she is also a Pride ambassador for Pride Life Magazine, Includability.com and a PRIDE365 Champion. Saski has the unique ability to be versatile on a wide range of subjects, whilst engaging both her audiences and panellists, bringing about the best conversations for education and awareness. Humour meets grace and knowledge meets respect...it’s what Saski does best.  A keen advocate for positive promotion and equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community and all, Saski has appeared on several BBC TV and Radio shows and panels, promoting inclusion. She has also worked closely with a variety of charities and organisations, as an LGBTQ+ Inclusion trainer, interviewer, and Host.  Collaborations include Inclusive Companies, MyGwork, HR.com, Diva Magazine, Pride Life Magazine and various UK PRIDE’s, Mermaids and Diversity Role Models Youth charities, Clexacon, The British Youth Council and P3 Parenting Network to name but a few.  
Find out more here www.saski.co.uk  and follow Saski on Facebook & Instagram @Saskisinger & on Twitter @Saskisinger1

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  Giuseppe Giulio

  Account Executive
  Gay.it

  People call me a marketing unicorn. Helping companies to work on LGBTQ+ community, and reach this target on the Internet using ads, brand content, digital pr, and special projects. Strong business development professional graduated from 24 Ore Business School. I can speak in Italian, English, and basic Spanish & German. Skilled in Digital Strategy, Creative Briefs, Brand Implementation, and Web Content. I'm currently working as Executive for Gay.it, the main LGBTQ+ media in Europe. I regularly speak at digital, and LGBTQ+ marketing conferences, including Gnetwork 360, Lincoln Center, and Hospitality Day. Since 2018 I have been a member of IGLTA.

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  Rachael Carolan

  General Counsel
  what3words

  I'm General Counsel at a global technology business called what3words, working to make locations simpler and more efficient. Prior to this, I trained as a lawyer at Herbert Smith Freehills and have worked in other fast paced technology business including Accenture, Deliveroo and GoCardless.

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  LoAnn Halden

  VP-Communications
  IGLTA

  I am journalist by degree who morphed into a travel writer and eventually to my communications role for the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association. I am, by my own definition, a "career queer," having always worked primarily in roles that supported the LGBTQ+ community, either in my home base of South Florida or globally, speaking on panels and attending conferences for IGLTA. I've been particularly proud that we've established the IGLTA Foundation to provide mentorship to LGBTQ+ business owners in challenging or emerging destinations, and want to help drive the continued push toward more diversity within our association. I'm currently living in London with my partner (soon to be my wife), and remain passionate about travel and working for the recovery of the tourism industry.

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  Daniel O'Gorman

  Partnerships Director
  Pride in London

  Dan is a highly experienced Sponsorship and Business Development Professional with extensive experience business growth, commercial development and investment strategy. Dan began his career in start-up’s; launching his own artist management company – Mercury Artist Management in 2011, before a record label as the Head of its UK A&R division. Dan was also part of the founding team responsible for the development and launch of KidZania London - a £24M new leisure and entertainment franchise to the UK Market. Dan led the UK commercial partnerships strategy, securing contracts with Shell, WWE, DreamWorks, Warner Bros and Nike. In his capacity at KidZania, Dan was also responsible for the successful partnership activation and delivery for Unilever, Al Jazeera, Vitabiotics and Cadbury’s. In 2019, Dan was also appointed to the Board of Directors of ‘Pride in London’ as its Strategic Partnerships Director and has been responsible for Pride in London’s most financially successful year in its history. Dan was also appointed to the board of ‘Anthem Wales’ by the Arts Director of the Arts Council, tasked with securing £22Million of investment into Wales' music and cultural landscape. Dan joined Gay Times Group in June 2019 as its Commercial Director.

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  Emmanuel Temores

  Online Advertising Professional
  Monster Online

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  Shawn Kobetz

  Partnerships Manager
  NYC Pride

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  Matthew Van As

  Festival Director
  Cape Town Pride

  Hi All, My name is Matthew (He/Him/His) and I’m the festival director of Cape Town Pride/Regional Representative for Africa at InterPride and on the Global Advisory Council representing Africa. When I’m not hosting LGBTI+ Events I’m a lecturer at a private institute training teachers. I also LGBTI+ sensitivity workshops at corporate partners all over South Africa.

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  Sue Sanders

  Chair
  SCHOOLS OUT UK

  I am Professor Emeritus of the Harvey Milk Institute, the founder of LGBT History Month UK and the website The Classroom which has over 100 lesson plans that usulaise LGBT people, issues and concepts across the curriculum, for all ages and adheres to the national curriculum. My passion is to educate OUT prejudice and enable LGBT+ people in all their diversity to be visible safe and proud. I am an out and proud lesbian activist who been around for over 40 years! I am the chair of Schools OUT UK a charity that organises LGBT+ History Month UK, The Classroom and the international LGBT History Festival OUTing the Past. I am also a member of the Independent Advisory Group to the Government on Hate Crime.

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  Kryss Shane, MS, MSW, LSW, LMSW

  Leading LGBT Expert
  ThisIsKryss.com

  Named by The New York Times and many national and international platforms as America's go-to Leading LGBT Expert, Kryss Shane, MS, MSW, LSW, LMSW (she/her) has 25+ years of experience guiding the world's top leaders in business, education, and community via individual, small group, and full-staff trainings. She is known for making each organization's specific Diversity and Inclusion needs become more manageable, approachable, and actionable. This includes physical spaces, hiring practices, policies/procedures, and more. Kryss has two Master’s degrees, two licenses to practice mental healthcare, and she is currently working toward her PhD while shaping the minds of learners as a Lecturer at Columbia University and an Adjunct Professor at Brandman University. She is also the author of "The Educator's Guide to LGBT+ Inclusion," the first book of its kind to guide educators, administrators, and school staff to become able and empowered to make their schools more LGBT+ inclusive.

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  Nimmisha Aslam

  Associate Solicitor
  Russell-Cooke LLP

  I'm an Associate Solicitor in law firm Russell-Cooke's personal injury and clinical negligence team. I advise clients on a range of claims, including road traffic accidents, accidents at work, criminal injuries compensation authority claims, tripping accidents, dental claims and a variety of claims arising from clinical negligence against hospitals and doctors, including misdiagnosis of medical conditions, birth injuries and negligent operations. I am currently advising and representing some of those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. I am a speaker on LGBTQ+ and BAME issues.

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  Cassius Naylor

  Assistant & Adviser to the CCMO & Co-Chair of Proud FT
  Financial Times

  I wear a few different hats at the FT. Primarily, I act as a Chief of Staff for our Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, simultaneously an assistant, adviser and team coordinator for her department. I also fulfil a similar function for our Director of Strategic Partnerships. Further to this, I am the UK Co-Chair of the FT's LGBTQ+ employee network Proud FT, with a focus on the group's communications and trans inclusion strategies, and represent the FT on the steering committee of Intermedia. Outside of the FT, I advise widely on corporate and creative D&I issues and am a commercial strategist for Outvertising. I also write op-eds and speak on podcasts, very occasionally!

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  Netanya Clixby

  Legal Counsel
  G-Research

  Netanya is Legal Counsel at G-Research, a quantitive finance research firm. She is co-chair and co-founder of the London Bisexual Network (the ‘LBN’). The LBN is a network for bisexual people and allies working in finance, law and professional services. Since 2016, the LBN has promoted bi-visibility and inclusion by organising industry events and providing training to employers. Netanya is also the bisexual representative on the Law Society’s LGBT+ Division Committee. The Law Society is the professional body responsible for representing solicitors in England and Wales. The Law Society is committed to promoting inclusion in the legal profession and the Committee provides an opportunity for LGBT+ solicitors to have their voices heard.

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  Emily Hamilton

  VP Strategic Change
  RS Group

  I have 20+ years in the delivery of strategic change within a diverse group of industry sectors, both public and private. I have contributed to industry standard texts on project management with a particular interest in project risk management. I am also a trans woman who came out later in life; and this has sparked a real passion for workplace mental health support to the LGBTQ+ community.

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  Delphine Bruch

  Young person's counsellor
  Metro charity

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  Kate Webb

  Deputy Ceo
  MindOut LGBTQ Mental Health service

  I am an experienced Third Sector manager, trainer and business development professional with a background in mental health and wellbeing. I am passionate about LGBTQ equality, positive mental health and visibility and am proud to work for a brilliant organisation that lives and breathes the changes that we need to see. In my current role as Deputy CEO, my focus is on working closely with the MindOut community to make the organisation healthy, vibrant and focused on the needs and concerns of LGBTQ people to improve and sustain their wellbeing. I am also keen to grow our training offer - LGBTQ Inclusion and Trans awareness to organisations and individuals nationally. Our goal is to reduce health inequalities and make LGBTQ lives better.

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  Dustin Duncan

  Associate Professor
  Columbia University

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  Simon Blake OBE

  Chief Executive
  Mental Health First Aid England

  I am committed to social justice and equity with over 20 years senior level experience in the social sector. I am CEO of social enterprise, MHFA England and deputy Chair of Stonewall. Prior to joining MHFA England I was CEO at National Union of Students, and before that Brook, the young people's sexual health charity. I worked at the National Children's Bureau from 1999 - 2006 across all areas of children's and young people's health and wellbeing. I am a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute, a member of the Institute of Directors and was awarded an OBE for services to the voluntary sector and young people in 2011. I was Chair of Diversity Role Models from 2012 - 2015, and a trustee of the Black Health Agency from 2005 - 2010,

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  Natasha Whitehurst

  Global Inclusion Lead
  Rolls-Royce

  Currently Global Inclusion Leas with Rolls-Royce supporting the inclusion strategy & journey, also Co-host of D&I Spy Inclusion, Uncovered podcast.

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  Jessica Chu

  Group Head of Diversity and Inclusion
  RS Group

  Australian born and bred, I arrived in London in 1999 for a six month back-packing holiday and loved it so much, decided to stay! I have spent the last 20 years working in the Financial Services sector across a number of disciplines and for the last decade I've specialised in leading diversity and inclusion programmes at leading banks and now at RS Group a global digital and engineering organisation. As the Group Head of D&I, I am responsible for delivering work that has a real impact on our people and communities we operate in. What I love most is the breadth of my role and the fact that no two days are ever the same! I have two young children, who keep me extra busy when not at work. As a family we love to spend time at the park, having picnics, riding bikes and jumping on the trampoline. I also love to cook, garden, watch movies and read.

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  Siobhan Harvey

  HR Business Partner
  The SR Group

  I am an HR professional, with a Generalist background. I am currently an HR Business Partner at The SR Group, which is a specialist recruitment company. In my role I business partner with our APAC, Dubai and London regions. The areas of my role that I love are adding value around employee engagement, performance and most importantly, well-being. After all you can't have a high performing organisation without a base line of well-being. In my personal life, I love running, cycling and walking my dog, Winnie!

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  Maria Goldsmith

  Wellbeing Consultant
  Goldsmith Counselling and Mediation Services Ltd

  As the founder and Director of GCM (Goldsmith Counselling and Mediation) Maria brings close to three decades of experience counselling people individually and in groups with specific issues (trauma, autism, Aspergers Syndrome, rape and sexual abuse). She also provides tailor made organisational support and senior management consultancy including mediation, sickness absence, compliance and capability, grievances and environmental stress audits. She offers a range of individualised solutions to support the care and wellbeing of your employees. Maria’s philosophy is built upon mapping, planning and delivering “win/win” outcomes that meet the needs of the individual and the organisation.

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  Iain Gowers

  IT support analyst
  Roche

  I worked in IT support at Roche for 11 years. I set up the UK branch of OPEN (Roche's LGBTQ+ & allies staff forum) in 2016 and we have been involved with Brighton Pride from 2017 onwards. I also have over 19 years, working as a Trustee with Allsorts youth project (an LGBTU+ youth project for young people under the age of 26). I am an avid swimmer and competes and is part of the management member of the LGBT+ & allies swimming club Out To Swim South

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  Chris Loweth

  Head of Legal & Business Affairs
  BBC Global News

  I'm Head of Legal & Business Affairs for BBC Global News, a BBC commercial subsidiary responsible for the BBC World News TV channel, BBC.com, and the BBC News and Sport apps outside the UK. My team advises on the full range of legal and business affairs matters affecting the business globally. Before I joined the BBC I worked on the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and prior to that I was Head of Content Legal Advice at Channel 5. I'm a member of the BBC's staff LGBTQ+ network, BBC Pride, and recently joined the Equality & Diversity Steering Group at Lincoln's Inn, one of the four Inns of Court for barristers in England & Wales.

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  David Hillman

  Executive Director, Pharmacovigilance
  Thermo Fisher Scientific

  A medical scientist by background, I have spent the first seventeen years of my career working in the field of patient safety, both in the pharmaceutical and service provider sectors. I currently lead the global safety science team within the Pharmacovigilance department of a large Contract Research Organisation (CRO) - PPD, a part of Thermo Fisher Scientific. In 2019 I became one of the founding executive sponsors of PPD's LGBT+ employee resource group "PPD Pride."

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  Hannah Williamson

  Graduate Research Scientist
  AstraZeneca

  Hannah joined AstraZeneca's R&D Graduate Scheme in 2018 after receiving her BSc in Biomedical Sciences with Industrial Placement from the University of Leeds. She has worked in various early-phase drug discovery functions and is currently based in the Functional Genomics Centre, a joint venture with CRUK which aims to use pooled CRISPR screening to identify oncology drug resistance targets. Hannah is an active member of AZPride, AstraZeneca's LGBTQIA+ employee resource group, having represented the group at early-talent events including Student Pride and LGBT Leaders in STEM. She is passionate about cultivating an inclusive culture in scientific research.

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  Kelly Ellis

  Director Tech Transformation
  GSK

  An economist technologist. A transformation leader with 15 years of experience in major reform programmes in the public and health sciences sectors. Co-chair of the Proud Science Alliance.

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  Scott Francis

  Market Access Virology
  Gilead Sciences Inc.

  Scott’s career has been focused on healthcare in the UK for the last 15 years in the NHS, Department of Health and in the pharmaceutical sector. Scott works at Gilead Sciences and is currently the HIV Market Access lead for the UK and Ireland. In 2019 Scott became leader of the Pride Alliance at Gilead and is passionate about supporting a diverse and inclusive workplace culture

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  Jane Finch

  Diversity & Inclusion Specialist
  n/a

  I have been involved in Diversity and Inclusion initiatives in a large corporation for the last 4 years and now freelancing as a D&I Specialist. I have 2 children in their 20’s, one of whom identifies as gay and non-binary. I became European Ally Lead for the LGBTQ+ ERG in 2017, working with volunteers to develop materials to engage and educate Allies for ERG chapters globally. I firmly believe that by working collaboratively we can raise the bar and make work a place where everyone can be their best self.

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  Paul Maddock

  Associate
  DWF

  I deal with a range of corporate and commercial disputes including, commercial contract disputes, professional negligence claims, contentious probate / trust matters and shareholder disputes. Previously, I have completed two secondments with a national bank and I regularly act for their trust and estates division in respect of all contentious matters including contentious probate and breach of trust claims For the last two years I have sat on the Law Society's LGBT+ Division Committee.

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  Ann Marie Docherty

  Deputy Centre Director
  JLL

  I am the Deputy Centre Director, for JLL managing a large shopping centre on the south coast of England, main responsibilities are for security, cleaning, health & safety, staff welfare, budgets and budget setting and the day to day running of the shopping centre. JLL have been hugely supportive of me both in my professional life and in my personnel life. I am originally from Glasgow, I visited Brighton for the weekend, and never left, that was 26years ago, I fell in love with the cosmopolitan life style, the ability to live my life as who I am, and not having to hide my sexuality was and still is liberating, not forgetting the much better weather.

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  Huw Morris

  Partner
  Lee & Thompson LLP, Member of Strategic Advisory Board at myGwork

  I am a member of the Strategic Advisory Board of myGwork. I am a partner at Lee & Thompson LLP (a boutique law firm for the creative industries). I advise media companies, brands, advertising agencies, publishers, retailers and talent on advertising and marketing and commercial law issues. I also founded and chair the Inclusion and Belonging Network at our firm. I am a founding member of the Committee of the LGBTQ+ Lawyers Division of the Law Society and a board director of OUTvertising, the LGBTQ+ network for people working in advertising and marketing. I am a trustee for leading international modern dance and ballet company, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, and a Board Advisor to TLC Lions- an organization which ignites emotion in the workplace helping businesses progress their inclusion strategies through storytelling. Get in touch if you would like to ask anything about a career in media law.

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  Laura-Rose Thorogood

  Founder/ Strategic Account Director
  THE LGBT Mummies Tribe / REDBOX GROUP

  My name is Laura-Rose & I am a Strategic Account Director for REDBOX GROUP a BCORP certified supplies business & I manage UK wide multi-cited client accounts & new business . I am also Founder of 'The LGBT Mummies Tribe' . a global organization who’s sole purpose is to ‘Educate, Share, & Celebrate’ LGBT+ women & people worldwide on the path to motherhood or parenthood. We act as a central point of support & a safe haven through providing information, guidance & knowledge on the available routes to starting a family through our website & social channels. From educational resources, support groups & services, information on charities, LGBT+ brands, & sharing your journeys with our community to our annual UK ‘Meets’ where families come together to celebrate our community, make friends & share their experiences. Whether you are thinking of starting a family or have children already by fertility treatment, surrogacy, adoption, fostering, as a single parent, co-parent or a step parent, all are welcome. We are passionate about equality are currently in talks with the Government, work directly with the NHSE/I, Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, Royal College of Midwives & other UK governing bodies& organizations. We work with them to bring policy change & support to ensure equality & inclusivity to LGBT+ people & their children through fertility, healthcare & associated services. I am also a Stakeholder on the NHS Maternity Transformation Council for Better Births, the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists ‘Women’s Voices Involvement Panel’, Mid & South Essex Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnership Co-Vice Chair, RCOG NMPA Women & Families Involvement Group, providing my knowledge & experience of the LGBT+ community we support & also my own lived experience. I am regularly asked to present or train organizations in how to be inclusive & support LGBT+ people & their families across maternity, healthcare & society. My wife & I are also Ambassadors for The Centre for Reproductive & Genetic Health supporting LGBT+ parents through their fertility treatment at the clinic. We have worked with Stonewall as part of their 30th Anniversary campaign & have also been personally invited to Downing Street to meet the Prime Minister & have had multiple articles & interviews published about the work we do. We also partner with worldwide clinics, sperm banks & other organizations to provide education & information to our community. Of late we have partnered or worked with the Met Police, GLAAD, Tommy's, Philips (globally), Pregnancy+ App, Maternal Mental Health Alliance, Silver Cross, Tommee Tippee. I also work as a Speaker & writer & have presented & spoken at events, summits & meetings for many of the above organizations, an regularly am invited to speak on podcasts & interviewed for media outlets & write articles for organizations regarding the work we do & our lived experience, our expertise. We work tirelessly to inspire LGBT+ women & people on their quest to motherhood or parenthood, whilst working to ‘usualize’ our families in the media & creating a more inclusive future for our children, by providing visibility of our families, creating change & equality.

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  JORGE GARRIDO FUENTES

  Executive Director
  Apoyo Positivo

  I'm executive director of the Spanish NGO Apoyo Positivo (www.apoyopositivo.org) since 2010, a community resource for social innovation, created in 1993, because of the HIV/aids pandemic. As a social and health professional, after many years managing health and educational programs for patients and communities (Mental Health, Alzheimer, Elder community, Down Syndrome, etc.), and also being part of the LGTBIQ community, had the opportunity to lead Apoyo Positivo some years ago, and the HIV experience, and specially the work beside the most affected communities and their realities, inspired me to generate a new organizational vision to advocate for their rights, my own rights, but also the whole society's rights, as Sexual and Reproductive Rights are. Since there, our project works attending the needs of Diversity in Health, Education and Rights and we also promote the social entrepreneurship and co-creation beside the diverse community as a tool for social change. Diversity makes us smarter and it's the chance to challenge the status quo which is still violating human rights and not contributing to a peaceful society. Diversity is the way to a better conflict management, at the personal but also professional level. It's time to walk beside Diversity!

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  Natasha Walker

  Senior Pricing Analyst
  RS Group

  I have worked with RS for 16 years in various roles through Customer Service to Product Management and now my current role, Senior Pricing Analyst. I have been pricing in RS for 8 years, and to date I am responsible for the Connectors portfolio that RS offer.

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  Ryan Horwood

  Audit Manager
  Financial Progression

  I am currently working as an Audit Manager for Financial Progression. I have extensive history organising and running LGBT+ ERGs from my time at EY and KLA.

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  Elisabeth Laborde

  Directrice Générale
  TÊTU

  Directrice générale et directrice de la publication de TÊTU.

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  Zoë Schulz (She/Her)

  Head of Content
  myGwork

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  Nathan Nalla

  Founder/Director
  Be The Riot

  Nathan is the Founder and Director of Be The Riot, supporting companies to create an inclusive working culture through facilitated learning workshops, mentoring and consultancy services. He's also a Trustee for BlackOut UK, a charity dedicated to Black men who identify as gay, bi or trans. Nathan's experience includes delivering community LGBTQ+ equality programmes, working for Europe's largest LGBTQ+ rights organisation supporting companies to develop LGBTQ+ inclusive policies and practices. Leading in-house as a D&I Manager for one of the world's leading private members' brands, driving race equity and mental wellbeing strategy as well as other aspects of diversity, taking an intersectional approach to workplace inclusion.

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  Eugenio Pirri FCIPD

  Chief People & Culture Officer
  Dorchester Collection

  A multi-award winning industry leader, Eugenio Pirri has dedicated his 30-year career to ensuring that people are the cornerstone of every business decision. An ardent advocate for diversity and inclusion across all aspects of operation, Pirri has pioneered several pivotal initiatives for Dorchester Collection, including the We Care philosophy. Under the wider umbrella of We Care, Pirri launched the global RESPECT initiative to wholly champion an environment where all employees feel valued and treasured. Dedicated to celebrating individuality and the brilliance it adds to Dorchester Collection’s company culture, Pirri and his team bring diversity and inclusion to life via training, education and consistent employee recognition. With particular focus on all protected classes under the Human Rights Act, Pirri introduced coaching, mentoring and diversity celebrations to showcase the truly inclusive environment of Dorchester Collection. He also conducts Diversity and Inclusion workshops within the firm, working with hotels to support local charities in order to advance the company’s important message of inclusivity.

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  Charlotte Weatherall

  Director of Sales & Marketing
  The Langham, London

  Fortunate to have 20 years experience within the luxury hotel, resort and retail industries, working across all business segments both internationally and in the UK market. A proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, married to wife, Emily and living on the outskirts of London in Surrey.

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  Pete Hazell

  Support Lead
  Warner Bros. Discovery

  I've been working in the TV industry for over 25 years in various roles, including creating presentation schedules, writing continuity links and producing and editing programmes and trailers. Since June 2010 I've been working for Discovery, where I currently support the presentation scheduling department. I'm also one of the co-chairs for our UK Pride group.

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  Sarah Short

  Director Talent Acquisition
  Warner Bros. Discovery

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  Hannah Marshall

  Talent Acquisition Manager
  Warner Bros. Discovery

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  Stephan Heinz

  Investor & CSO
  myGwork

  Experienced global consulting professional and MBA (INSEAD) with over 10 years in the aviation industry focusing on large scale airline transformation and restructuring projects. Strategic advisor and investor for start-ups focused on LGBTQ+ and diversity. Author and key note speaker on airline strategy, with a particular focus on Africa. Part-time lecturer on Airline Strategy (Cranfield Univerisity, University of Surrey). Passionate about aviation, flight simulation, travel, cooking, horse-riding, LGBT issues and helping businesses grow!

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  Juan Manuel Alonso Melo

  Brand & Communications Director - Inclusion & Diversity Lead
  Cargill

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  Luke Payne

  Senior Inventory Planner
  RS Group

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  Lavanya Peri

  Talent Acquisition Business Partner
  RS Group

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  Shelley Roth

  Head of Making a Difference
  Springboard Training-Gender NonBinary Training

  As a seasoned speaker, author, and social media entrepreneur, Shelley has helped hundreds of organizations transform old perceptions about business leadership and inclusion. Companies and individuals alike trust Shelley to simplify solutions for seemingly complicated business challenges and incorporate those solutions into action. With almost two decades of training businesses on the power of digital and social media marketing, Shelley now works with companies to create inclusive practices, answer questions and promote understanding related to the gender spectrum while building inclusive environments for all. These programs are presented with the goals of fostering more accepting conditions for all individuals regardless of their gender identity while raising awareness and providing structure on becoming an ally for gender nonbinary people. Shelley inspires audiences while offering strategies to impact business results. A sincere approach toward creating progress through open, honest dialogue and proactive policies not only makes it a fair world for all but also impacts the bottom line. Shelley’s 4th book, Don’t Call me Ma’am, shares the personal story of growing up with gender dysphoria and not understanding why “there’s something wrong here” constantly ran through their brain. The unique and valuable insights Shelley brings to business leaders and organizations is changing both the attitudes of the workplace and the bottom-line profits of organizations where the value of inclusion, equity and diversity is embraced. With their 5th book, A Field Guide to Gender-Neutral Language, for Business, Families & Allies, Shelley provides a resource for organizations, families and allies looking to incorporate gender-inclusive language and practices into everyday living. The book explains, in simple terms, basic gender expansive vocabulary and includes recommended approaches that recognize, honor and respect the individuality of every person. Whether you are welcoming a gender expansive employee into your company, seeking to improve your companies bottom line or embracing a family member on the gender spectrum, this book will help guide your efforts.

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  Raven Gill

  Founder & Executive Director
  Butterfly Barbados

  Founder and Director of Butterfly Trans Barbados. An advocate who relentlessly targets key issues of the transgender, non-binary community in Barbados, as well as working with other civil society organizations throughout the Caribbean. My start in activism/advocacy came after an unfortunate event where I was in police custody for verbal self-defense and treated inhumanely while in custody. After that incident, I realized, even more, the abuse of authority and failure of the system to protect and fairly treat all of Barbados’ citizens & residents. I then firmly decided to be a visible reference to create change in the country with grand efforts working the media to get my messages circulated across the country and region. Being the current Executive Director of an LGBTQ organization, I saw that funders mainly focused on the MSM leaving transgender persons out or subsequently an afterthought to then be forced into the same target pool as MSMs. These funders' main focus is HIV. Understanding comprehensive general healthcare as well as mental health and wellness is necessary, it is not the only challenge my community faces. From needs assessment focus groups I facilitated, other Trans & non-binary persons want legislation reform & policy change is more important for gender marker amendment, gender identity recognition, social services, employment without fear of harassment and wrongful termination, and education with fear of public safety.

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  Brandon Baranowski

  ETL/EDI Analyst
  WTW

  Brandon is an ETL/EDI Analyst within the BDA segment of Willis Towers Watson, as well as the co-Lead of the Buffalo Office [email protected] Network and member of the MCIN and Workability Networks. Outside of the office, Brandon is the regional treasurer for an international 501(c)(3) educational non-profit organization, volunteers with a local cat rescue and shelter, and is involved with local social action campaigns. In his remaining free time, Brandon enjoys travelling with his partner, cooking & exploring new cuisines, and pursuing a variety of artistic outlets.

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  Andreena Leeanne

  Lived Experience Speaker & Poet
  Poetry LGBT Open Mic Night

  Andreena Leeanne, is a Black Lesbian Lived Experience Speaker, Workshop Facilitator & Poet. She writes and performs poetry to come to terms with and speak out about her personal experiences with homelessness, mental health, childhood sexual abuse & the many other challenges she has faced in her life. In January 2015 Andreena founded Poetry LGBT Open Mic Night. Poetry LGBT is a warm and welcoming space for the LGBTQ+ community to come together to share their experiences & creativity through poetry and spoken word. Andreena recently started Adult Survivors Open Mic for survivors of abuse to share their story through poetry. Andreena delivers self-care writing workshops online and in person. During these structured workshops the participants are encouraged to explore what self-care means to them especially during these challenging times. Andreena has performed her poetry at various community-led events, Labour Party events and for Local Authorities such as London Borough Hackney during LGBT History Month, the Greater London Authority and at International Women’s Day events; and has had her work published in the anthology Sista! (Team Angelica, 2018). Her debut poetry collection CHARRED has also been published by Team Angelica October 2020. In 2018 She was one of Stonewall’s Black History Month role models. In 2020 she has been shortlisted for a Positive LGBT Role Model National Diversity Award. In 2021 Andreena became a trustee of a charity called Action Breaks Silence whose mission is to end violence against women and girls. Charred is available to purchase on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charred-survivor-speaks-truth-inspire/dp/1916356125 and Etsy https://etsy.me/2Uh6sFg Writing Workshop brochure: https://read.bookcreator.com/rBwVm7T309XjIPCmTPyAM7gSdH63/amCYXQLKTtCdIAgnrqNVLA

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  Omer Nakar

  Music Therapist and CAMHS Practitioner
  NHS

  Music therapist at NHS

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• 

  Michael Edward Stephens

  Founder
  WE CREATE SPACE

  Michael spent over 10 years working in leadership positions for some of the world’s most respected British brands within the fashion, travel and retail industries - including i-D Magazine, Vice Media, Liberty London, Ted Baker and Virgin Atlantic. After a series of life changing events, Michael diverted from this career path to become a mental health and wellbeing advocate, promoting the importance and value of prioritising self-care, specifically within the creative and LGBTQ+ communities. He does this through his own channels, orchestrating relevant conversations and partnerships, as well as through Create Space, his retreat and workshop business. Michael also runs his own not-for-profit organisation, WE CREATE SPACE, providing free monthly online well-being workshops within the LGBTQ+ communities.

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  Oliver James

  Associate
  Clifford Chance

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  Sandra Forgues

  Championne Olympique de Canoë
  -

  Sandra Forgues, formerly known as Wilfrid Forgues, is a French slalom canoeist who competed as a male athlete from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. In 2018, Forgues revealed publicly her identity as a trans woman.

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  Alexis A. Sordelli Rodríguez

  Aviation Claims
  WTW

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  Josh Rivers

  Creator and host
  Busy Being Black

  Josh Rivers is the creator and host of Busy Being Black, the podcast exploring how we live in the fullness of our queer Black lives. The show centres conversations with those who have learned - and are learning - to thrive at the intersection of their identities, and is a regular feature on LGBTQ and Black History Month lists on both Apple and Spotify. Josh volunteers his time as the head of communications for UK Black Pride, and was a founding member of Series Q, a network of mentorship, learning and support for LGBTQ entrepreneurs.

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  Marcel Lepage, MBA

  Senior Associate Director
  IE Business School

  Psychologist and MBA with more than 8 years of experience in multinational companies in the financial, consumer and education sector, across EMEA and the Americas, working on HR strategy and Talent Management. Direct experience working with C¬-Level executives and accompnaying transformational projects, including transational acquisitions valued over €1BN advising on the change management strategy. Strong analitical and data driven mindset with strong stakeholder management skills,

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  Lukasz Konieczka

  Executive Director
  Mosaic LGBT Young Persons' Trust

  born in Sopot, Poland started his education at the College for Social Workers where he graduated with a specialism in community development before continuing his education doing social psychology at SWPS University. Throughout his studies, Lukasz volunteered for Amnesty International as campaign coordinator and association 'Together against AIDS' as volunteers' coordinator. Volunteering, however, butters no parsnips, so he had to work in a bank throughout his studies, he decided to move to the UK to work as a social worker. That however proved to be difficult as his qualifications although achieved with distinction were not recognised in the UK. He, therefore, worked in a nursing home in Farnborough as a head of activities department before moving to London to work for Brent Youth Services as a Mosaic Project manager. He took up any opportunity of learning offered by his employer and did qualifications in education management alongside youth work before he was made redundant and the project closed following government cuts. Lukasz however together with his colleagues founded the charity Mosaic LGBT Youth Centre that continued and expanded the work supporting, educating and inspiring LGBT+ young persons in order to shape proud, strong and cohesive LGBT+ community of the future. Lukasz describes himself as a bit of an eccentric Humanist with the passion for Equality and Human Rights. In his spare time, he volunteers on Community Advisory Board of Pride in London is a chair of the board of trustees for another charity Greater London Youth Foundation as well as volunteers as a home visitor for Refugees at Home where he says he can put into practice his strong belief that all humans have a right to dignity and decent housing. He also volunteered on the advisory board of YMCA West London for nearly two years, but his time wasn't able to stretch enough to carry on with that engagement.

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  Laila El-Metoui

  Equity Educator -Stonewall Lesbian Role Model of the Year (2020)
  LemEducation.com

  Equality Educator | Stonewall Lesbian Role Model 2020 | Helping leaders foster inclusive & diverse workplaces through training and consultancy | Founder of Pride in Education and Educating OUT Racism, UK Queer Arabs and Proud London Councils

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  Tarek Zeidan

  Executive Director
  Helem

  Tarek is a sexual and bodily rights activist from Beirut, Lebanon advocating for the rights and protection of LGBT individuals and groups in the MENA region and is the president and executive director of Helem, the first LGBT rights organization in the Arab World, founded in Beirut in 2001. He also is a specialist on teaching adaptive leadership and is working towards starting the first leadership laboratory in the MENA region focused exclusively on youth, civil society, civic engagement, and conflict transformation. He is a global fellow at the Ford Foundation, an ELI fellow at the Harvard Center for Public Leadership, and a human rights fellow the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard. Tarek has previously worked as manager of communications and director of strategic planning for the MENA region at both the Brookings Institution and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace MENA offices in Doha and Beirut respectively. He obtained his BA from the American University of Beirut, his MALD in and international relations from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, and his MPA in human rights law and advocacy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

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  ying xin

  Executive Director
  ying xin

  Ying is the executive director of Beijing LGBT Center. she is a visiting scholar at Columbia University. Since 2009, she has been actively campaigning for LGBT rights and women's rights. At the Beijing LGBT Center, Ying has led advocacy and awareness campaigns against conversion therapy for LGBT persons and for the removal of homosexuality from the CCMD-3 (Chinese Classification of Mental Disorder). Ying also co-curated the China Women’s Film Festival and co-founded Wuhan Rainbow, a community-based LGBT organization. Ying was an initiator of National Survey on Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression in China conducted in partnership with the United Nations Development Program and Peking University. She also initiated the first National Survey on Living situation of transgender people in China.

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  Paul Chavez (He/Them)

  Community Engagement Manager
  Los Angeles LGBT Center

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  Miguel Garzón

  Country Manager
  myGwork

  Director de myGwork en España y LatAm con una larga trayectoria profesional y de formación en Reino Unido y Sudáfrica. Experiencia tanto en el sector público como privado, liderando equipos profesionales.

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  Pablo Gonzalez de la Torre

  FORBES 30UNDER30 | Founder & CEO
  Trivu

  Founder & CEO of @Wearetrivu | @FORBES 30UNDER30 Spain | @iebusiness Alumni | @EF_Fellows Global Youth Leader | @AEDtweets Board Member | @HumanAgeInsES Influencer

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  José Ignacio Miedes Juste

  Communication & Patient Access Parnter
  Roche

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  Acto Paulson

  Audiovisual Communication
  It Gets Better España

  Graduada en Comunicación Audiovisual por la Escuela Politécnica Superior de Gandia. Social Media Manager Lo mío son las letras y las personas. Voluntaria y vicepresidenta de It Gets Better España Passion & Empathy

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  Margarita Alonso

  Founding Partner
  Driversity

  Margarita Alonso, Complutense University & Driversity, is ADIM Head of Corporate Area. ADIM funded by the EU and Spanish and Portuguese Governments, involves 16 businesses and 8 universities in both countries, to provide data that links D&I with Business Case.

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  Philippe Robertet Montesinos

  Deputy Director of International Relations
  INSTITUTO CERVANTES

  Philippe Robertet Montesinos Deputy Director of International Relations at the Instituto Cervantes (the public institution created by Spain in 1991 to universally promote the teaching, study and use of Spanish and to contribute to the dissemination of Hispanic cultures abroad) Graduate in Economics (Specialty: International economy and economic development) from Universidad Complutense in Madrid (Spain) After five years as external auditor in Ernst & Young, I joined the Instituto Cervantes (IC) in February 1992, just a few months after its creation. Over the last 30 years I have been involved with Accounting and Budget as Chief Accountant (1992 to 2003), with economic, finance and assets Management as Director of Administration (2003 to 2012), with strategy, analysis and management control as well as with project management as Deputy Director of Strategic Planning from 2012, and finally with International Relations and cultural Diplomacy as deputy director of International Relations from 2018. As deputy director of International Relations my fields of action are: Planning the activities of our organization abroad, specially building bridges and relations with strategic partners. Act as Focal Point of Instituto Cervantes at EUNIC. Direct responsibility on a number of corporate projects (design and administration of the exams for Spanish nationality, design of a platform of hispanoamerican cultural diplomacy and cultural cooperation) Member of LGTBI platform ExteriorEsDiverso since its creation in 2019, created by LGTBI personnel of the Spanish Foreign Service, as well as their partners and families.

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  Jose Ramos García

  Deputy Head of Consular Legal Affairs
  Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain

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  Raquel Rodríguez

  MAEC
  MAEC

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  Niurka Gibaja Yábar

  Teologia, Educación, Formación, Administrativa, Hosteleria, Ongs
  Bolsa de Empleo para la Comunidad Trans

  Soy Niurka, una mujer responsable, dinámica, positiva, confiable y honesta. Me gusta el trabajo en equipo, lo novedoso, innovador y creativo; me gusta el trabajo de calidad y calidez humana. Soy una persona que le gusta tratar con personas, trato de estar atenta a lo que piden, necesitan o buscan. Tengo un espíritu solidario, comunitario. Disfruto mucho de la gratuidad de los momentos libres, pero también me gusta la seriedad y puntualidad en el trabajo. Finalmente decir que, soy una persona abierta, directa y sincera…Busco el diálogo y la escucha en las relaciones humanas, porque creo que son la mejor manera para solucionar conflictos. https://felgtb.org/yeswetrans/

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  Salvador Lorenzo

  Gerente de Diversidad
  REPSOL

  Gerente de Diversidad en REPSOL. Presidente de la Comisión de Formación de la Cámara de España. Embajador de la European Vocational Skills Week 2018-19

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  Izaro Assa de Amilibia

  People & Culture transformation
  BBVA

  Responsable de diversidad BBVA y fundadora del programa de intraemprendimiento de desarrollo personal Be Yourself

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  Pedro Bogo

  PSICOPEDAGOGO
  PROYECTO ÁMBAR

  Educador social. Responsable del proyecto Ámbar y del área formativa de la Fundación 26 de Diciembre.

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  Mané Fernández Noriega

  Vicepresidente
  FELGTB

  Diplomado en Enfermería y licenciado en Psicología. Vicepresidente de la Federación Estatal de Lesbianas, Gays, Transexuales y Bisexuales (FELGTB).

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  Jorge Guerra

  Técnico de empleo
  ONG Rescate

  Psicólogo con formación en RRHH e intervención con personas vulnerables. Cuento con experiencia en la ejecución de programas para la mejora de la empleabilidad de personas en riesgo de exclusión social. Actualmente técnico de empleo del Programa de inserción socio-laboral 'Relanza' en ONG Rescate atendiendo a solicitantes de protección internacional por motivos de género o pertenencia al colectivo LGTBI+.

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  Meg-John Barker

  Writer
  Independent scholar

  Meg-John Barker is the author of a number of popular books on sex, gender, and relationships, including Queer: A Graphic History, Gender: A Graphic Guide, How To Understand Your Gender, Life Isn’t Binary, Enjoy Sex (How, When, and IF You Want To), Rewriting the Rules, The Psychology of Sex, and The Secrets of Enduring Love. They have also written a number of books for scholars and counsellors on these topics, drawing on their own research and therapeutic practice. Websites: rewriting-the-rules.com, megjohnandjustin.com. Twitter: @megjohnbarker, Instagram: @meg_john_barker.

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  Lindsay Nuon

  Founder & CEO
  EmpirEqual

  Lindsay began her career in the US military 17 years ago and has since worked in the US Intelligence Community, with government agencies including NCIS, the FBI, and HHS, Akamai, Google, as an Adjunct Professor at the University of New Hampshire School of Law, and several startups including her own, EmpirEqual. She is also the Founder of a nonprofit devoted to serving Women of Color in Blockchain (WCB) and an ISACA Blockchain SME. Her commitment to transforming communities, organizations, and industries through Social Justice and technology initiatives have been covered in Al Jazeera, NBC, and quoted in various media outlets in and adjacent to the technology industry.

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  Peter Lewin

  Senior Director, Global Direct-to-Consumer Strategy, Growth & Investment, and Global Loyalty Lead
  Levi Strauss & Co.

  Peter Lewin is Senior Director of Global Direct-to-Consumer Strategy, Growth & Investment, and Global Loyalty Lead, for Levi Strauss & Co. Peter serves as a member of the Global Direct-to-Consumer Leadership Team, a founding member of the European Diversity Council, and sponsor of Unlabeled - the European LGBTQ+ and ally employee network. Previously, Peter built and ran Levi's European Strategy, AI and Consumer Insights team. Before joining Levi Strauss & Co., Peter worked in the Technology Advantage practice in BCG’s London office. He has also been a member of the Strategic Planning Group of American Express, where he led a variety of digital projects, has consulted on a freelance basis for LVMH and News International, and spent nearly a decade in investment banking with UBS in New York and London.

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  George Wright (he/him)

  Social Media Manager
  myGwork

  I'm the Social Media Manager for myGwork, responsible for handling our social feeds and affairs. If you see a story or event you want to see amplified, let me know!

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  CAINE YOUNGMAN

  POLICY & LEGAL ADVOCACY MANAGER
  LEGABIBO

  Mr Youngman is a passionate human rights activist with 15 years experience (both local, regional & international) in advocacy with particular focus on development, human rights and health advocacy. Mr Youngman is one of the founding members of The Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana - LEGABIBO. As a pillar of the organisation and the movement at large, he saw the organisation victorious in multiple litigation processes as well as change at national and regional level. As a social justice advocate, Mr Youngman is a fighter who continues to fight for human rights including legal recognition and protection for SOGIE individuals. Furthermore, he is an advocate for gender equality, access to comprehensive safe and affordable health services & medications. Community mobilization, strategic partnerships establishments, political engagements as well as training are some of the many skills possessed by Mr Youngman that helps him achieve social change. Mr Youngman also has strong footprints in the African region. He is one of the instrumental members who saw the African region set up a regional body, Pan African ILGA - PAI which is an affiliate of ILGA World. PAI is a regional organisation with over 130 members across Africa. He served as PAI's founding board treasurer. He also serves as a member of The Other Foundation's advocacy group comprised of leading LGBTIQ organisations in the Southern African. The Other Foundation is a philanthropic organisation focused in Southern Africa.

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  Vivek Divan

  Founding Coordinator
  Centre for Health Equity, Law & Policy

  I am a lawyer and queer activist whose work has focused on the intersections of law, health and sexuality for over two decades. I head the Centre for Health Equity, Law & Policy at the Indian Law Society, Pune. Previously, I have worked at UNDP New York, helping set up the Global Commission on HIV & the Law (www.hivlawcommission.org) and serving on it's Secretariat and Technical Advisory Group. At the Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam I was faculty in the Masters in Public Health programme. I was also Coordinator of Lawyers Collective HIV/AIDS Unit from 2000-07 ,where I was part of the core team that filed the public interest litigation challenging section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, and leading extensive community engagement and mobilization on the case. My work has also included co-drafting India's HIV/AIDS Act, undertaking access to medicines & patent law research and writing, and co-authoring the Legal Environment Assessment of TB in India. Originally from Bombay, I received my law degree from the National Law School of India University, Bangalore and my LLM from Cornell University, NY, USA.

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  Georgie Court

  Global Inclusion Specialist
  Clifford Chance

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  Toby Horner

  Practice Management Advisor
  Clifford Chance Pte Ltd

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  Tehzeeb Fatima Bukhari

  Future Trainee Solicitor
  Clifford Chance

  She/They. Future Trainee Solicitor at Clifford Chance and LLB Graduate from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS University of London). Having been a Haderech community leader; I am a firm believer and advocate of visible intersectional role models in every professional industry.

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  Savannah Adeniyan

  Associate
  Clifford Chance

  I am an associate at Clifford Chance LLP in London, sitting in the Pensions department. I have a keen interest in pensions law and in supporting various diversity initiatives, whether through working with Clifford Chance's REACH Network or working with our Arcus network to talk to lawyers, other professionals or students or simply sharing my experiences as a gay black woman in other ways.

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  Tiernan Brady

  Global Inclusion Director
  Clifford Chance

  Tiernan is the Global Director of Inclusion for Clifford Chance. He is an equality campaigner and was the Political Director of the successful Irish referendum campaign for marriage equality which saw Ireland become the first country in the world to introduce marriage equality by a public vote. He subsequently became the Executive Director of The Equality Campaign, the successful Australian public vote campaign for marriage equality. They remain the only two countries in the world to have introduced marriage equality through a public vote. He is also the Director of Equal Future, a global campaign working with LGBT faith groups to deliver equality. He served as Policy Director of GLEN – The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network in Ireland where he was responsible for designing and implementing the successful political strategy to pass civil unions legislation. He designed and launched KnowNow, Ireland's first free community based rapid HIV testing program. He served as Director of Organisation to the then Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) of Ireland, Mary Coughlan as well as serving two terms as Mayor of his home town of Bundoran in Ireland.

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  Dasha Karzunina

  Head of Research
  GTI

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  Alessandro Ceccarelli

  Senior Associate, Research Manager (SEO)
  Equality and Human Rights

  Alessandro is a Senior Associate / Senior Executive Officer for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (UK Government, Civil Service). He has extensive experience in education, research and E&D policy, building on his career in the Higher Education sector over the past decade in Europe, India and UK. He completed a PhD in Archaeology at the University of Cambridge. His research in South Asia aims to rediscover ancient technologies, teaching and learning behaviours, and mechanisms of resilience in the face of urban ‘collapse’ and climate change in the third millennium BC. Alessandro was President and Chair at Cambridge University Graduate Union.

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  Victoria Vasey

  Head of Legal
  The Human Dignity Trust

  Victoria is Head of Legal at the Human Dignity Trust, a charity that uses the law to defend the human rights of LGBT people globally. She has been involved in supporting court cases in all regions of the world that seek to decriminalise LGBT people and challenge other discriminatory actions against them, including several landmark cases that are pushing the boundaries of international and constitutional law. Before joining the Trust, Victoria was Legal Director at the European Roma Rights Centre and, most recently, Director of North Kensington Law Centre. Previously, Victoria was a criminal defence barrister in London. She has experience of litigating strategic human rights cases, with a focus on equality law, in many European jurisdictions and before the European Court of Human Rights, the European Committee of Social Rights and UN treaty bodies. She has delivered training in human rights and strategic litigation to human rights defenders, students, lawyers and judges. Victoria’s first degree is from Oxford University and she holds a DESS (Masters) in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law from the University of Paris II (Panthéon-Assas).

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  Ligia Thomaz Vieira Leite

  Assistant Researcher
  Getulio Vargas Foundation Law School's Diversity Program

  As a Law student in the University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), I'm an active member of LGBTheusa, the LGBT student association of UERJ's Law School. Believing in interdisciplinary exchange, I am also enrolled in Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) for a BA in Portuguese. Working with Human Rights as a volunteer since 2012 brought my attention to the importance of working with employers to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace as well as in other aspects of life. Since 2019 I've been an assistant researcher at the Diversity Program of the Getulio Vargas Foundation's Law School, focusing mostly on gender studies in Law and diversity practices within universities and enterprises. Believing also in the power of change through cultural production, I'm a writer for Revista Subjetiva, New Order and Revista Passaporte and a columnist in the local newspaper of my hometown Voz de S. João. Specialities: Gender Studies, Criminology, Human Rights, Literature, Theory of Law.

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  Max Taylor

  SOAS, University of London

  • Co-Chair of National Student Pride • SOAS Politics and International Relations finalist student • Erasmus Alumnus of SciencesPo, Paris • Top 10 Finalist for UK Male Undergraduate of the Year Award

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  Laura Yeates - Chartered FCIPD

  Head of Graduate Talent
  Clifford Chance

  Laura Yeates is Head of Graduate Talent at the global law firm, Clifford Chance. In her most recent role she oversees the graduate recruitment and development teams, both of which have won awards for ground-breaking initiatives focused on improving access to the legal profession, tackling the stigma of mental health and sexual harassment in the workplace. She joined Clifford Chance in 2006, having previously worked at J.P. Morgan in both the graduate recruitment team and also in a generalist HR role. With over fifteen years graduate recruitment experience and five years HR experience, she is a Fellow of the CIPD, a Trustee of the Bridge Group, a member of the National Student Pride Steering Committee and on the Advisory Board of The Apples & Pears Foundation, a London based charity enabling inner city families to take weekend school trips with their children and volunteers. She is also a former Board Director of the Institute of Student Employers.

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  Tyler Brklacich

  IE University

  I have spent nearly 7 years working in and out of the non-profit world. It has been my love and passion to try and leave the world a little better than I found it yesterday. Even after all these years, I am still excited as I was the very first day of my first job with an NGO. I have been able to focus on issues including anti-human trafficking, global poverty, autism, elementary and higher education, and international development -- but there is so much more to do. Issues such as gender development, racial injustices, low-income communities, LGBT equality, education, and promoting sustainable development both domestically and internationally. I want to continue the work I have been so lucky to be apart of and use the worldly experience that I have gained both in the United States, traveling abroad, or living in West Africa for two years. It is my goal to be apart of something bigger than myself and contribute to the good in the world.

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  Tom Guy

  President/Chair
  National Student Pride / Architecture LGBT+

  In 2005 I founded National Student Pride whilst at Oxford Brookes University in response to a homophobic talk on campus on Homosexuality and the Bible. We are now the Pride of conversation, tackling different and topical issues each year such as Intersectionality and Mental Health as well as hosting the UK's biggest Diversity Careers Fair. In 2016 I founded Architecture LGBT+ providing a safe, inclusive & prejudice free environment for LGBT+ Architects and those working and studying within the profession through networking events, learning, mentoring and role models. I am Director at Guy Piper Architects, we do a range of residential and commercial projects in London, Oxford and Brighton.

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  Paul Sobers

  Senior Manager - Student Recruitment, Attraction and Early ID
  Amazon

  Paul is a Senior Manager within EY , where he is focused on delivering the student recruitment attraction and early identification strategy for the UK. After graduating with an MEng in Civil Engineering from Loughborough University, he spent a number of years working as a Bridge Engineer before deciding to change careers and move into recruitment. Over the last few years he has built his career in recruitment but particular student recruitment for a number of multi-national organisations. Now, he has an active leadership role within EY with a strong focus on people leadership, stakeholder management and strategic project delivery.

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  Zoe Jenkins

  Graduate Recruitment Specialist
  Clifford Chance

  Zoe is a Graduate Recruitment Specialist at the leading Global Law Firm Clifford Chance, ranked as the most popular graduate recruiter in law at the 2019 and 2020 TARGETjobs Awards. Zoe leads on the firms LGBT+ Grad activity, including their one of a kind ACCEPT Conference in collaboration with myGwork and National Student Pride that aims to provide an opportunity for LGBT+ students interested in a career in law to hear from senior role models and understand how your sexuality can complement your career.

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  Deon Fang

  Associate (Litigation & Dispute Resolution), Co-chair of Arcus LGBTQ+ network
  Clifford Chance

  Litigation & Dispute Resolution lawyer and Solicitor-Advocate at Clifford Chance. I completed undergraduate and postgraduate Law degrees at the University of Oxford. On the BCL, I received a Distinction and the Law Faculty Prize for best performance in Regulation. I also received First Class Honours for my undergraduate degree, during which I was a Domus Scholar at Pembroke College, Oxford, and was awarded all of Pembroke College's Law subject prizes.

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  Phyll Opoku-Gyimah

  Co-Founder & Executive Director
  UK Black Pride

  Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, widely known as Lady Phyll, is the executive director and co-founder of UK Black Pride - Europe's largest celebration for LGBTQ+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American and Middle Eastern descent. Lady Phyll has over 20 years’ experience as an LGBTQ+ rights activist and anti-racism campaigner. She has spent a decade advocating for the rights of workers within the largest civil service union as a lead negotiator on behalf of Civil Service workers and is now the Executive Director of Kaleidoscope Trust an LGBT+ charity that works to defend and uphold human rights. She is also a patron for Albert Kennedy Trust; Diva Magazine columnist, and public speaker focusing on race, gender, sexuality and class. She is named as one of the top 5 on the World Pride Power list.

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  Emma Cusdin

  Director
  Global Butterflies

  Emma Cusdin has over 20 years’ experience in Human Resources having worked for global financial services organisations. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development. Emma is an openly trans woman, having transitioned in 2009, and she is passionate about raising awareness of trans & non-binary issues. Emma has spoken at many trans & non-binary events organised by leading private sector companies. She has been featured in the Financial Times and has written a number of blogs including for the Huffington Post and HR Zone. Emma was a Trustee for the Gender Identity Research & Education Society (GIRES) and she chaired the National Trans Youth Conference for 2 years in succession. She also was a co-founder for Trans*formation. She was delighted to receive the Positive LGBT Role Model Award at the National Diversity Awards and she appeared in the OUT at work top 50 UK LGBT Executives. In 2019, Emma was delighted to receive the Prime Minister’s Office Point of Light award in recognition for her tireless work in trans & non-binary inclusion. Emma is a Director at Global Butterflies, a company that has been extremely successful in bringing about trans & non-binary inclusion and acceptence within corporate organisations in the UK, US and Canada.

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  Michael Jones

  Global Head of Learning & Development
  SR Group

  Hi everyone, I am an out and proud gay man, working in the recruitment sector for almost 15 years. I am a Learning & Development professional and am passionate about helping others reach their potential, particularly people at the graduate and entry-level. I'm available to give young LGBTQ+ professionals career and job-seeking advice, as well as share my experiences of coming out and learning how to be my authentic self. Please feel free to get in touch!

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  Sanjay Sood-Smith

  Executive Director
  Stonewall

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  Aritha Wickramasinghe

  Lawyer, policy expert, human rights activist.
  iProbono

  I am an international banking and real estate finance solicitor with substantial experience in providing premium advice and assistance on some of the largest international transactions in the market. I have always been a champion of diversity and equality in the workplace and lead and support a number of diversity and social mobility initiatives in the UK and Globally. I believe that people perform their best when they are free to be themselves. In order to encourage personal development and productivity growth, we need to create environments at work and elsewhere which encourages individuality and discourages prejudice. I believe in giving back to the community. I have initiated and contribute towards a variety of pro bono work across the world. I am a founding director of iProbono's Justice Programme, an organisation that connects civil society with pro bono legal help across the world and I am a founding trustee of THINK EQUAL - a new UN Human Rights Office endorsed education initiative that is working with countries to introduce a new subject into schools teaching children social and emotional intelligence. Over the next several years, I wish to continue my legal development. I want to develop a sound and niche knowledge of financial transactions with a projects and real estate focus while seeking exposure to emerging and frontier markets. Pro bono and diversity will remain a passion and I intend on continuing the development of my pro bono and diversity portfolio. Specialties: Finance, Real Estate Finance, Diversity networks, Pro bono iniatives, Human Rights and Public Policy

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  Paulina Herrmann

  Director
  Coverpoint Foodservice Consulting

  Paulina’s background is in the tourism and hospitality industry following a degree in international hospitality management and tourism. Her experience began in the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, Australia, training through all F&B departments. After that, Paulina spend 2 years at sea aboard cruise ships, assisting the Cruise Director in a Guest Management role, managing the on-board guest experience, coordinating with all Hotel & Ship departments. From 2012 - 2020 has worked as specialist foodservice consultant at JLL, delivering projects across industries. She also co-authors the JLL Foodservice Trends, an annual publication looking at global foodservice innovation & trends. In addition to overseeing projects and research publications, Paulina played an active role in JLL’s Building a Better Tomorrow team in her role with a focus on sustainability, both in terms of foodservice, but also by leading JLL's LGBT+ Network " Building Pride" for several years. Currently, Paulina is a Director at Coverpoint Foodservice Consulting, working on foodservice strategy across sectors, including but not limited to shopping centres, transport hub, master planning, Food Halls as well as business and industry.

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  Dilraj Sura

  Data Science Director
  GSK

  I have been working in the healthcare industry for over 9 years, with much of that time spent at GSK. I have worked in various roles across manufacturing, R&D, commercial and HR, providing excellence in insightful data visualisation and powerful storytelling, advocating data-driven evidence-based decision-making, underpinned by robust data science, effective consulting and the procurement of best in class data. I have been a leader of our LGBTQ+ employee resource group, Spectrum, since 2017, helping drive the LGBTQ+ agenda while working at sites in Hertfordshire and County Durham, before joining our UK Leadership Team in July 2019. I am extremely passionate and fascinated about people, and exploring the "intersectionalities" that we all exhibit (or often, don't), on a day to day basis, more so how they lend ourselves to experiences we may not have when these don't interact. I believe we all should be allowed to truly express our true selves, all the time. I also work very closely with our Allies at GSK, trying to tap into what is essentially, a big majority of people who are often "passive/positive" allies, to step up and step "out" to do more to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, visibility and inclusion. Lastly, a big passion of mine is mentoring. I've recently decided to become an LGBTQ+ mentor through myGwork, as I look to extend where my experiences can be most useful, beyond the graduates and placement students within the workplace. Outside of work, I spend a lot of time playing and watching football (you can read my article "LGBT and Sports" on myGwork's LinkedIn page, aswell as my profile), as well as travelling (I managed to get in some trips to Reykjavik, Porto, Madrid and Valencia before lock down). I've recently gotten a lot more into running and cycling (now that I've sold my car!).

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  Colette Comerford

  Head of Inclusion & Culture
  LGIM - Legal & General Investment Managment

  Colette Comerford Head of Inclusion & Culture at Legal & General Investment Management Colette joined LGIM in 2018 from M&G Investments where she spent nearly a decade working to create and maintain a balanced workforce. During her tenure, she helped grow and implement M&G’s Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) strategy addressing gender, ethnicity, nationality, LGBT, cultural diversity, social backgrounds and mental health/wellbeing. During her career, she also held senior roles in employer brand, talent attraction and retention, delivering innovative solutions to ensure a diverse candidate pipeline. Colette is responsible for driving the evolution and continuous improvement of LGIM’s culture, as well as LGIM’s diversity and inclusion objectives. Colette works closely with the executive team, LGIM’s diversity and inclusion team (LEGIT), and Legal & General’s Group Diversity and Inclusion team. Colette is a member of the Diversity Project's Steering Group – an initiative which aims to accelerate progress towards an inclusive culture and achieve diversity across all dimensions in the investment profession, and LGBT Great's Lead Role Model Ambassador.

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  Rhammel Afflick

  Trustee
  Bi Pride UK

  Rhammel Afflick is an outspoken campaigner and writer. For the last 15 years, Rhammel has actively lobbied for change on a number of issues including racism and LGBT+ rights in the UK. Rhammel currently works full time in the third-sector and Trustee of Bi Pride UK in his spare time.

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  Louise Sinnerton

  Executive Producer & Content Lead
  Freelance

  An award-winning content lead, writer and director with experience developing content strategies and creating campaigns for global brands. Louise has a strong journalistic background and a passion for storytelling.

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  Emily Heath

  Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Manager
  Yahoo

  A passionate and commercially focused Diversity and Inclusion Manager with multi-industry expertise, and a deep understanding of advanced diversity techniques. Starting in Executive search, followed by 5 years of extensive in-house talent specialist roles. At the inception of Oath (which became Verizon Media) the opportunity for me to combine my passion for people, culture, and diversity was realised. I started my journey by leading our EMEA Program Operations, I also Globally Lead our 9 Employee Resource groups (ERGs). Our ERGs membership is 5,500+, this makes up more than half our employees around the world! We have most recently become Yahoo and our goal is to embed Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in everything we do. Creating a mindset of Conscious Inclusion, a place where everyone belongs and every door is open.

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  Alison Shea

  Vice President Global HR and Corporate Citizenship - Learning and Transformation
  State Street

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  Michael Gunning

  Professional Athlete / TV Personality
  UK/EU

  Michael Gunning is best known as a international competitive swimmer having attended two FINA World Swimming Championships. Holding dual Jamaican and British citizenship, he represented Team GB in the European LEN Cup and after the Rio Olympic Games he changed alliances to represent his fathers heritage of Team Jamaica. Gunning took a break from competing in the Summer of 2018 to participate in the award-winning television series 'The Bi Life' for E! Entertainment & NBC Universal. It was Michael's first public discussion of his sexuality, making him the Caribbean’s first openly gay athlete / swimmer. Since then, Michael is a regular pundit and avid speaker for the sport and recently partnered with Sky Sports, Stonewall and Athlete Ally as a Professional Ambassador/Advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in sport. With a heavy passion for TV Presenting and educational background in Children’s Entertainment, he welcomes new and exciting media opportunities in the world of entertainment.

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  Rachel Reese

  CEO
  Global Butterflies

  Rachel originally trained as an Avionics Software Engineer working within the defence sector, later transferring to a senior position within HR. An interest in employment law led her to study for the Solicitors’ Final Examinations. As a woman with trans history she was unable to obtain a position within a law firm in the 1990s, so instead joined the University of Law working for 15 years in various senior operational roles leading up to Production Director. Rachel is founder and CEO of Global Butterflies, a company that is hugely successful in helping businesses to create trans & non-binary inclusive environments. Global Butterflies donates much of its time and profits to other LGBTQI causes and events. She was Vice Chair of The Law Society LGBT Lawyers Division Committee representing trans & non-binary solicitors and is a trans & non-binary ambassador for Aspiring Solicitors. Rachel has worked with many law firms regarding their trans & non-binary inclusion journeys. She is honoured to be a judge for the People in Law, InsideOut and OutVertising awards each year. In 2019, she wrote the acclaimed “Lloyds of London Trans & Non-binary Inclusion Guide” and also contributed to the popular “Guide to Gender Neutral Drafting” with the Government Legal Department. Rachel joined the IGLTAF trans & nonbinary board in 2021. Advising on tourism support for trans & non-binary travelers. D&I Leaders listed Rachel as one of their Inspirational D&I Leaders in 2021. In 2022, Rachel was listed as a Pride Inclusion Advocate by Pride Life Global. Also in 2022, Rachel was awarded the Chambers Crystal Award (with her wife Emma), for their visible work in trans & non-binary inclusion.

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  Chloë Davies

  Head of Social Impact
  Lucky Generals

  Chloe Davies is a proud bisexual woman, mother of two, a creative, global inclusion & belonging consultant, chef and entrepreneur. Her work sees her campaigning for inclusion and equality in social spaces, corporate organisations and the wider community. She spent over 15 years working in retail, artist management and PR before starting her own catering company in 2015. In September 2021 she took on the role of Head of Social Impact for Lucky Generals – the creative company for people on a mission. Where she will be responsible, in conjunction with management, for setting the company’s social impact goals and ensuring that they are met in the most effective and creative ways possible. The role will be focused on building a sustainable, diverse and inclusive company culture and output. Before this Chloe spent over two years working for Mygwork - The global recruitment and networking hub for LGBT+ students, graduates, professionals and organisations who believe in true workplace equality. As Head of Training & Engagement (Public & Community) she oversaw necessary internal and external conversations surrounding LGBT+ inclusion, training and external consultation. Chloe volunteers with UK Black Pride (UKBP) as the Head of Finance & Governance, working closely with the Executive Director and the Board of Trustees to help shape the future of UK Black Pride. She is the Head of Relations for the London Queer Fashion Show - An annual showcase of fashion, identity, and expression, a Trustee for the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre and an Ambassador for Mental Health First Aid England. She describes herself as a mental health survivor, openly discussing her own journey with depression and mental health and advocates on usualising these conversations both in and outside of the workplace and starred alongside Denise Welch in ‘Depression & Me’ – a short film produced by Mental Health First England which shines a light on lived experience of depression and recovery. In all of her work, which takes Chloe around the globe, she aims to further connect those within the community while educating allies to continue disrupting and push for increased visibility, understanding and appreciation of the communities she works to serve. In July 2021, Chloe was shortlisted out of 52,000 nominees as a finalist for The National Diversity Awards – Positive Role Model of the Year – LGBT..

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  Christian Hug

  VP LifeWorks&Inclusion
  Warner Bros. Discovery

  I have spent my professional career in human resources, both in the financial services industry as well as in media. For the past 9 years i have been focusing on setting up Discovery's global health, wellbeing and inclusion function, being based in Munich Germany. As a certified coach, I also accompany people through their personal change journeys, I have a passion for constellation work, vintage cars, alternative medicine and love travelling through India. www.christian-hug.net

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  Claire Skinner Kennedy

  Principle
  Marsh McLennan

  Claire has over 20 years of experience within the pensions and investment industry and is currently a member of the UK Client Team within Mercer’s UK Investment Solutions business. Located in Birmingham, as well as being the lead consultant on a range of clients she is also a member of the ESG Client Team, contributing to the intellectual capital across both UK and European fiduciary clients. Claire has a particular interest in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), including leading the Mercer Pride (LGBT+) business resource group globally from 2018 to 2021 and the UK diversity champions until the end of 2020.  In 2021 she was confirmed as the Mercer IS International DEI lead.   In 2018 Claire was shortlisted for the British LGBT Awards Diversity Champion, in 2019 she won the Professional Pensions Women in Pensions role model of the year award and in 2020 was shortlisted for the Women in Finance role model of the year. In 2022 she won the Professional Pensions LGBTQ+ Trailblazer award and in 2023 was shortlisted for the DIVA Diversity Champion award. Claire has an honours degree in Economics from the University of Birmingham and is an Associate of the Society of Investment Professionals.

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  Kate Fisher

  Senior Sales Database Specialist
  Amazon

  Seasoned sales professional and a dynamic, engaging leader and speaker for the LGBTQ+ community seeking to empower others to embrace vulnerability and thrive in their personal story. Motivated to develop authentic leaders that lead from their strengths.

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  Louise Wolstenholme

  Vice Chair Army LGBT+ Forum
  British Army

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  Chantelle Miller

  Army Officer
  The British Army

  Major Chantelle Miller was commissioned into the British Army in 2011 after reading Law Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of South Wales. As a Military Police Officer she has deployed to Afghanistan advising the Minister of Interior Affairs on the development of policing capability. Having served as an instructor at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) and the Afghanistan National Army Officer Academy (ANAOA) she has extensive experience operating in a leadership development sphere. She is currently completing Professional Military Education (PME) and a Master of Business Administration qualification. On completion of PME she will be assigned to US Army, Military Police School as the Military Police Exchange Officer. She is married to Tara and they have a beagle called Chilli.

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  Sanchia Constance

  Senior Data Analyst
  GSK

  I joined GSK in 2014 as a Laboratory Analyst in the Quality labs for one of the manufacturing sites, working on life-saving medication for cancer and HIV. I spent around 4 years in the lab, moving up to senior analyst before I joined the Quality Data Team, where I now work as a Senior Data Analyst, helping to keep our lab systems running as smoothly as possible. Outside of my day job, I'm an active member and leader of GSK's LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group, Spectrum. I came out as Bi at work around 2017, and have been working with Spectrum ever since. I currently sit on the UK lead team of Spectrum as the Bi+ and Health & Wellbeing Leads. My aims are to make talking about things such as LGBTQ+ and hidden disabilities part of everyday conversation, and to reduce the stigma bisexual people face and combat bi-erasure. Feel free to message me if you want to talk/have ideas about how to improve Bi+ resources for companies, or anything to do with Health and Wellbeing of LGBTQ+ folk. https://www.mygwork.com/en/my-g-news/my-hope-for-the-future-is-that-mental-health-becomes-a-natural-part-of-conversation-an-interview-with-sanchia-constance This is a piece I wrote for Mental Health Awareness Week a couple of years ago.

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  Tess Brooks

  Vice Chair
  Bi Pride UK

  Tess is a psychotherapist, LGBTQIA awareness trainer, and Senior Independence and Wellbeing Practitioner. They have a Private Practice- Starlight Therapy- where they work exclusively with Gender Relationship and Sexually Diverse clients. They deliver LGBTQIA awareness sessions in various settings from schools to corporate away days and they work within the Learning Disability and Autism team at Suffolk Social care. Tess is passionate about giving their time and energy to support their community and is a Co-chair of the Suffolk County Council LGBT+ Staff Network and Vice-Chair of Bi Pride UK.  Website- www.Starlighttherapy.co.uk , www.Biprideuk.org Facebook, IG and Twitter- StarlTherapy, BiPrideUK

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  Anato Chowdhury

  Senior Policy Advisor
  Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy

  Anato is an engineer and energy policy professional. He is from Bangladesh, a country deeply vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, and this has been the driving force behind his career in the sector. Anato has previously worked in a number of engineering, assessment management and performance improvement roles, and has a particular focus on energy transition strategy and decarbonisation. He is currently a senior policy advisor in the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). As a bisexual man, he has been an advocate for LGBT+ rights throughout his career at BEIS and previously at EY and bp. He has co-chaired a regional bp LGBT+ network, where he led the growth of the network from a membership of 4 to 100 members. Outside of work, Anato helps foster inclusion of LGBT+ people in wider society, and has previously spoken at Bi Pride UK, the London Southbank Alchemy Festival; and has written on faith and sexuality for the Critical Muslim.

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  Sergio Diaz Jubera

  Engineering Manager, Software Development
  Oracle

  Hi! I'm a computer engineer leading software development teams at Oracle Barcelona, with more than 10 years of experience working in different US-based companies and government institutions in Spain and Chile. Apart from my job as software engineer, I'm an advocate of all dimensions of diversity and inclusion. That's why since a couple of years ago I'm also the leader of Oracle’s LGBTQ+ Spanish ERG.

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  Tate Smith

  Legal Secretary
  Memery Crystal

  Tate is an openly transgender man passionate about improving trans male visibility, educating others and debunking common myths surrounding trans people. Recently featured in Attitude Magazine's 101 LGBTQ+ Trailblazers and LinkedIn's Top Voices, Tate has spoken at a number of organisations via lunch and learns and panels, including Clifford Chance, White & Case, Barclays, Ziff Davis, Unilever, Vestiaire Collective, Deutsche Bank, PinkNews, myGwork and The Telegraph. His educational sessions cover topics such as the difference between gender and sexuality, the effects of testosterone, intersectionality, family and workplace acceptance, toxic masculinity and male privilege. This work across various sectors has led to Tate being nominated for the PinkNews Community Role Model award. Outside of his activism and campagining, Tate works as a Legal PA at Memery Crystal, a law firm in London and volunteers his time with Gendered Intelligence's trans youth groups. https://www.tatespeaks.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tate-smith-6331b2152/

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  Preston Taylor

  Head of Supplier Content Programmes
  RS Group

  Preston is Chairman of the employee-led, SPECTRUM LGBTQ+ community within RS Components, in his own words "I believe everyone should be able to bring their true selves to work. We have created an open and honest environment, whilst shining a light on diversity and inclusion through our campaigns and events. As a proud transman, I am always willing to answer questions, provide insight, mentor, guide, or just listen." Preston is currently Head of Supplier Content Programmes and divides his time between digital transformation and his tireless work for the community. "Be Yourself. Everyone Else Is Already Taken" - Oscar Wilde

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  Maxwell King

  Consultant
  Loftus Bradford Executive Search

  A specialist headhunter engaging senior level executive search work for prominent multinationals, working principally in data & analytics along with legal but also with experience in HR and commercial functions. In his previous company he advised Senior Associates and Partners on their careers and orchestrated their moves between different leading law firms.

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  Deena Fidas

  Managing Director - Chief Program & Partnerships Officer
  Out & Equal

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  Steve Keith

  Founder and Director
  The Branding Man

  I am an employer brand specialist with 15 years of experience supporting employers in creating inclusive brand campaigns and experiences that help candidates to find careers where they feel welcomed, and can develop a better sense of belonging. I host a weekly podcast, My Career Story, where I interview people about their career journey to date. Now in its fourth season I have dedicated all episodes to members of the LGBTQ+ community. I am also the founder of the Queer Student Awards, a new celebration of talented LGBTQ+ students and their allies.

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  Martin Kmiecik

  Co-Founder & CEO
  Diversity Pride

  Martin is an ambitious multipreneur, management consultant and LGBTQ activist, working with companies across Europe, Asia and the Americas on their inclusion for all strategies. Martin, alongside being CEO of Diversity Pride consultancy, delivers Executive Education programmes at London Business School, ESCP and MIT focused on inclusive leadership development, inclusive marketing & advertising and HR strategy in transforming organisation. Martin actively works with activists from around the world fighting for LGBTQ rights. After a recent visit to Poland, Martin's motherland, to amplify voices of those who combat the so-called ‘LGBT-free zones’ and encourage global companies to be more active in countries where LGBTQ community faces discrimination.

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  Lau Albjerg

  Brand Management Consultant / Career Coach
  Independent

  Hi, Welcome to my profile. Feel free to reach out for any requests or for networking. 15 years of experience from an international career in marketing and brand management, across northern Europe, where I have delivered growth to some of the world’s most well-known brands. Certified as a coach in cognitive behavioural coaching and hold a Master in Digital Media Management. Working as a career management consultant and brand specialist for the world’s leading outplacement and talent development agencies. If you think coaching might help you to reach your full potential, let's book the first chemistry session. I'm also taking in new mentees who just have or are about to graduate. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/laualbjerg/)

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  KK Harris

  Executive Coach
  Self Employed

  KK Harris is from Los Angeles and her heritage is both Native American Indian and African American. She knows what the lack of inclusion feels like first hand. She remembers going to a bathroom in Mississippi and reading signs that said “colored” and how confusing that was as a four year old. On that same trip her mother had brought her to meet her grandmother and put flowers on her brothers grave who as a teenager was shot in the back as he walked out of the shop by a white racist. Unfortunately the injustice of prejudice continues to affect the lives of many and so standing for the rights of diverse acceptance is important to her. Today KK is a Certified Executive Coach, with major firms in the City of London, specialising in the delivery of Mitigating Unconscious Bias training to large organisations. She is also an author of a parenting book and has a Career coaching practice aimed at helping women from diverse backgrounds . KK doesn’t hold back or make any apologies yet always aims to find solutions. When she delivers a session it should not be missed.

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  Sasha Scott

  CEO
  Inclusive Group

  Sasha Scott runs the Inclusive Group team and is considered an international thought-leader on diversity, bias, inclusivity and managing psychological health.

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  Andrew Dent

  Global Head of Corporate Responsibility & Inclusion
  

  I have been a D&I professional for 16 years. Although personal experiences at work over the years got my more interested in D&I, I wasn’t sure if a full time role was for me. Initially applying for a maternity cover role, I’ve worked in the legal sector since 2009 and prior to that work in Investment Banking. In 2015 I took on my first combined Corporate Responsibility and D&I to broaden my experience but also to better link the two areas. One of the best things about my role is that it continually evolves and challenges me.

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  Chris Bell

  Major General
  The British Army

  Major General Chris Bell was commissioned into the British Army in 1994 after reading Geography at Oxford. His early service was spent on operational tours with the Scots Guards followed by a period of military study in The United States where he completed two Master’s programmes. More recently in his career, after subsequent promotions, he was appointed as the Director of an Army Transformation Programme, to deliver the diverse talent and career pathways required for a 21st Century force. His current position is General Officer Commanding Army Recruitment and Initial Training of all Officers and Soldiers of the British Army.

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  Martyn Thomas

  Global Head of Recruitment
  Booking.com

  As a Teenager I had hopes and dreams of escaping to the bright lights of London so that I could truly be myself and make it as a professional Actor. Both of these dreams were realised and so much more than I could have imagined. But it was tough going. As the World changed, I changed and my direction changed. Now I have been a Talent Acquisition and HR professional for nearly 15 years. I had a huge passion for talent search and offering experiences that matter, be it to the Business or to Candidates. In TA you can really change lives, and you can impact the Business and People in a huge way. As a Leader I am still passionate about these things, but more so it is about growth, of my people.... in terms of craft but also as Human Beings. It's a pleasure to observe growth in people and know that you have contributed to that in some way. I focus a lot on realising a culture of inclusion and belonging and recognise having a sense of purpose and clear direction will foster feelings of care and pride in your work which in turn brings results. I am a proud to work for an organisation that celebrates diversity and stands for equality, that also recognises that there is still a lot of work to do. I have a role in that with my team, as a member of our LGBTQ+ resource group, as an Ally to all the others.... and as a Human.

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  Jack Murray

  Talent & Development Lead
  Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I

  I'm passionate about inclusion in the workplace and how we can better develop our LGBT+ agenda in particular. Happy to share my experiences of being openly LGBT+ in the workplace, developing an integrated D&I agenda and working with our PROUD business resource group.

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  Sarah Fennell

  Head of Diversity and Inclusion - EMEA
  Macquarie Group Limited

  Sarah is the Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Macquarie in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, working to embed an intersectional approach to inclusion throughout the employee lifecycle and to create psychological safety, belonging and innovation. Prior to joining Macquarie she lead EMEA D&I at Moody's and worked at HSBC for 12 years in a variety of roles including Global Insurance Strategy and International Relationship Manager. She finished as Acting Head of Diversity and Inclusion for the UK before the UK head office move to Birmingham. She was selected as a top 10 for "Exceptional Inclusion" in 2021 and top 5 Corporate Rising Star by the British LGBT Awards in 2015 & 2016 and was a judge for the awards in 2017.

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  Cathryn Pool

  Employment Policy
  Royal Air Force

  Squadron Leader Pool is a RAF personnel officer, whose service has principally been in the human resources, media and operational fields. She currently works at HQ Air Command on the Employment Policy team which manage all leave types, terms and conditions of service and alternative working arrangements, including flexible working. She holds a Masters in Strategic Human Resources Management and is currently studying for an MBA through Canfield University.

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  Debbie Lentz

  President, Global Supply Chain
  RS Group

  Debbie Lentz is President, Global Supply Chain for Electrocomponents, a global distributor of electronic and industrial products. She is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and is based in London. Debbie is responsible for developing and executing all aspects of supply chain strategy as well as building capability of her organization. The mission is to create a best in class, flexible and efficient supply chain, providing an innovative and sustainable market-leading service for customers and suppliers. In 2019, Debbie joined Wincanton as a member of the Board of Directors, the largest British logistics firm, providing supply chain consultancy and solutions to the world’s most admired brands. Wincanton employs approximately 17,700 people across 200 sites and has a fleet of 3600 vehicles. Debbie Lentz’s career stands as a shining example of navigating supply chain leadership roles through change. Performing successfully in diverse business situations and applying the full spectrum of supply chain skills, she has earned recognition throughout the industry as a visionary leader, strategic thinker, team builder and strong proponent of women’s leadership. She has many years of supply chain, information systems, global procurement and operations experience with extensive work in integrating acquisitions, building and consolidation of networks, and driving performance excellence, end to end process optimization and significant cost and service improvement. Debbie is the former SVP, Chief Supply Chain Officer for Toys’R’Us, Inc. where she was responsible for all supply chain functions globally including Dotcom/Omni Channel Fulfillment, Merchandise Planning and Allocation, Sales and Operations Planning and Engineering. Before joining Toys‘R’Us, Debbie spent 13 years at Kraft Foods where she achieved successful international leadership and a true cross-cultural perspective. At Kraft, she advanced to the position of Senior Vice President, Customer Service and Logistics. In this role, she oversaw 3,500 associates across a network of distribution centers, direct store delivery branches and a transportation fleet. She led a successful transformation which drove significant cost savings, inventory reduction and service improvement as well as the seamless separation and spin off of Kraft Foods Group from Mondelēz International for Logistics. Prior to this role, she lived and worked in Zurich, Switzerland where she was the Vice President of Manufacturing Operations for Kraft Europe’s $3.5B coffee business and Vice President of Customer Service and Logistics. In 2015, she was presented with the AWESOME Legendary Leadership award; in 2013, she received the “Thinkers & Movers” Award from DSC Logistics, and in 2008, the Robert D. Pashek award for significant contributions to the practice and development of supply chain by Penn State University. She served on the Board of Directors of the International Women’s Forum Leadership Foundation from 2007 through 2015 and for the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) in 2015. Debbie has actively participated in AWESOME as an advisor since its inception in 2013.

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  John Wilson

  Group VP People & Culture
  Warner Bros. Discovery

  Group VP of Discovery's People & Culture team, based in LA. I've been with Discovery since May 2011. I'm also a qualified employment lawyer and was in private practice for 10 years prior to starting my career in HR at Discovery. In my current role, I support the Factual US Networks and the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). I transferred to LA from London in 2017.

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  Jason ‘Jae’ Sloan

  Consultant and Coach
  Apis Consultancy Group

  I help individuals, teams and organisations perform at their best. I am a purpose-driven organisational development consultant and business coach and mentor with expertise in business strategy, performance, engagement, leadership and change. I have 20 years’ experience working in a multinational pharma organisation as well as more than 5 years of professional experience working in education/non-profit community organisations. I am an out queer (non-binary, gay) person with years of leadership in LGBTQ+ inclusion, and I have been recognised as an Involve Top 50 OUTstanding LGBT+ Future Leader. I am a Co-Founder and current Co-Chair of the Proud Science Alliance, a collective of healthcare and life sciences sector LGBTQ+ networks and partners who work together to raise the bar on LGBTQ+ inclusion within their organisations and the sector as a whole. I'm a creative type who understands the necessity and value of research and detail. I prefer diverse, open-minded, relatively informal environments that support doing great, meaningful work. What does diversity and inclusion mean to me? To be our best selves, our best teams and our best organisations, we must recognise and honour the value we and others bring. This means not simply getting the numbers equal, putting up quotes on websites or simply complying with laws. We must invite everyone to participate, to contribute and to co-create in order to realise our ambition to be creative, innovate and perform at the highest level—to be our best we all must show up completely, open hearted, and we have to invite others to do the same. SPECIALTIES: Organisational Development, Business Coaching, Change Management, Inclusion and Diversity, Business Strategy Development/Execution, Business/Employee Engagement, Leadership, Project Management, Internal Communication, Corporate Social Responsibility, Global Health, Writing, Researching I am from the United States and emigrated to the UK in 2005 to be with my now husband, Greg, who is British. I love exercise, reading, spending time with friends, collecting urban/street art and making things with my hands.

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  Marcus Frysol

  Managing Director
  Macquarie Group Limited

  Marcus' financial services career spans over 15 years with expertise founded in capital markets, and heads Macquarie's Market Operations in EMEA. Shortly after joining Macquarie in 2015, Marcus signed up as a Pride ally and a member of the Pride Steering Committee. As an active and visible champion of diversity, Marcus designed and implemented Macquarie's reverse mentoring programme to educate leaders and people managers on LGBT diversity issues and subsequently extended the programme to Macquarie's Senior Executives.

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  Kirsten Dagless

  Assistant Head of Professional Development
  The British Army

  Colonel Kirsten Dagless was commissioned into the British Army in 1999. Her early service saw tours in Northern Ireland, Germany and Iraq. She holds a Master of Arts in Defence Studies, a joint honours degree in French and German, a Post Graduate Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership, a Post Graduate Certificate in Higher and Professional Education and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. An experienced military officer, she has a demonstrated history of working in talent development, workforce planning, personnel employment policy and logistics. She is currently employed as the Assistant Head of Professional Development for the British Army, responsible for the development and delivery of military training and education.

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  Keelin Mitchell

  Knowledge Management Analyst
  Pearson

  Keelin is based in Orlando, FL and is a Knowledge Management Analyst at Pearson Education, the world's leading learning company. She brings experience in social psychology as well as communications, and applies it to her role within the education sector. She has a passion for mental health, particularly as it pertains to LGBTQ+ issues. She is a member of Pearson's Spectrum, a global resource group for LGBTQ+ people and allies.

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  Damien Shieber

  Head of Culture, Inclusion and Experience
  Santander UK

  Damien is the Head of Culture, Inclusion and Experience for Santander UK plc. Alongside the role at Santander, Damien sits on the HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter Industry Board as the UK Banking representative and on the Business in the Community Wellbeing Leadership Team with the aim to build a movement that is committed to positioning health and wellbeing as strategic boardroom issues with a particular focus on mental health; driving collective action through evidence-based, practical solutions.

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  Arlene McDermott

  Portfolio Director
  LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group)

  Recently becoming Co-chair of London Stock Exchange Group’s (LSEG) Proud LGBT+ network has made me realise that we all still have more to do to fully smash the corporate closet and show support for our community in the workplace. When I first came out, being out at work didn’t feel safe and was full of uncertainty. But now I have been out at work for many years because I assume that my management and my colleagues simply won’t care. And as far as I’m aware I’ve been right so far. But I’ve realised that’s not necessarily the case for everyone. I talk to people across the city who feel that LGBT+ issues may not be supported by senior executives. I also meet people who are unsure of how they would be received if they come out at work and are therefore filtering out a huge part of themselves. With enormous support, through our network I am committed to demonstrating the power of being out in the workplace. Being out at work is not only good for the individual, it’s good for teams, departments and whole companies. It’s good for productivity and it’s good for the bottom line. So I encourage anyone who may be afraid of being out at work to reach out to your network or to trusted colleagues and take a small risk for a huge reward.

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  Cheryl Lander

  Sr. Director, Release Management
  Oracle

  Cheryl Lander, San Jose, CA, is the Sr. Director, Oracle CX Industries Release Management, responsible for ensuring quality and compliance of industry-specific SaaS releases. During her career, she has managed nearly all aspects of product development including documentation, training and enablement, QA, release engineering, program/release management, and human factors. At Oracle, she also is Board Co-Chair of the Oracle Pride Employee Network (OPEN) – LGBTQ+ and Allies, a global Oracle employee resource group, and an executive sponsor for her local Oracle Women’s Network (OWL) group. She represents Oracle on the Silicon Valley/San Francisco Alliance of LGBTQ+ ERGs; has represented Oracle at Lesbians Who Tech, Out & Equal Executive Forum, and Out & Equal Workplace Summit; and is a charter member of the Silicon Valley Rainbow Rotary. She also is a facilitator with the South Bay Pachamama Alliance team, a group that promotes an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, and socially just human presence on our planet. She and her wife enjoy travel, photography, and volunteer with a handful of non-profits, including C.A.R.E. (a dog rescue organization from whom they adopted their two Carnoodles, Salt and Pepper), Stage One Theatre (local community theater), and Silicon Valley Child Advocates (advocate for foster children).

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  Salmaan Mohammed

  Public Policy Expert, Public Health Advocate, Healthcare Professional, DEI Consultant, Drag Queen, DJ
  Self Employed

  I am a Policy professional with 12 years' experience in the Public Health, Social Care, Diversity & Inclusion, Humanitarian Aid, Grassroots campaigning and Public Engagement. I'm also an Internationally performing Drag Queen with a string of Arts commissions and TV appearances, using this often berated art form to tell stories that matter and can reshape our world. Read about my career portfolio and unlikely journey here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-linkedin-coming-out-story-sal-mohammed

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  David Weston

  Associate Director of Emerging Innovations | Global Inclusion Council
  AstraZeneca

  David is Associate Director of Emerging Innovations in AstraZeneca’s Biopharmaceutical R&D Unit, where he is responsible for driving entrepreneurial activities and identifying game-changing technologies for use across R&D. A neuroscientist by training, David holds a PhD in Molecular Neuroscience from the University of Cambridge and prior to joining AZ was a strategy consultant for PwC’s Strategy& where he advised Life Sciences companies and public organisations on topics related to R&D strategy, M&A, pricing and market access, and growth strategy. David is passionate about Inclusion and Diversity and is a member of AstraZeneca's corporate-wide Inclusion & Diversity Council. David also co-chairs AstraZeneca's LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group AZPride, where he has driven strategic initiatives on global LGBTQIA+ inclusion and has spoken externally about the impact of Employee Resource Groups.

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  Gurchaten Sandhu

  President
  UN-GLOBE

  Born to Indian migrant parents in the UK, Gurchaten (Nanoo) Sandhu (he/his; they/them) is a Programme Support Officer at the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work Branch. Alongside his B.A. (HONS) in Economics and MSc in Development Economics, his passion for social justice has led him to focus his efforts on promoting the principle of non-discrimination in employment and occupation. Over the past 12 years, Gurchaten has built his expertise and knowledge on promoting social justice through quality, decent and inclusive work for all, in particular to enhance LGBTIQ+ rights at work and economic inclusion. He also finds the time to volunteer as President for UN GLOBE, the group representing LGBTIQ+ staff in the UN system. As its President, he works to ensure the voice and rights of LGBTI staff are represented in UN policies and procedures. He also serves as committee member of International Family Equality Day NGO, advising on non-discrimination based on family status in the world of work, and is a fellow of the Salzburg Global LGBT forum. In 2018 & 2019, he was listed as the Top 30 OUTstanding Role Model in the Public Sector.

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  Spyros Diakakis

  Global Project Leader
  AstraZeneca

  I am a project manager (and a chemical engineer by training) working in the biopharmaceutical industry. I am currently leading global projects in AstraZeneca's global supply chain and strategy function to implement supply chain changes and regulatory requirements across the operations supply network. I co-founded and led AZPride UK, AstraZeneca's global employee resource group, that works to empower our LGBTQIA+ colleagues to reach their full potential.

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  Paul J. Reed

  Chairman and non executive director
  Various

  Paul spent his whole career in BP in a variety of posts predominantly in supply, trading and business development. He worked in 6 countries in 3 continents, and among his roles he was a crude and oil products trader, ran the Mergers and Acquisitions department, was head of Strategy for the Refining and Marketing business, and for seven years was the Chief Executive of BP’s International Trading division of 4000 staff in 40 offices worldwide, responsible for all trading globally of oil, gas and foreign exchange for BP. He was active at different stages on the group chief executive’s diversity council, and was executive sponsor of BP’s LGBT and of their Ethnicity employee networks. He was for three years named in the top ten of the Financial Times Outstanding in Business LGBT leaders and today works as a non-executive Director of three international companies.

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  Lisa Moore

  EVP, Chief People Officer
  Yahoo!

  I am a member of Yahoo's exec team and lead the People Team globally. I spent 15 years in various HR roles before moving from London to New York in 2017. I studied Modern Languages (French, German and Spanish) at The University of Sheffield in the UK before embarking on a career in HR. I have worked in various global companies across multiple sectors from professional services to media and tech. She formed and ran an independent HR consultancy whilst on her second maternity leave. I have lived and worked in the UK, Spain, France, Italy, Japan and now the US. I am a Board Director at HMI: Hetrick Martin Institute, the largest and longest-standing organisation in the US founded on the belief that all young people, regardless of sexual identity and orientation deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential. I am executive sponsor of the PRISM ERG, Yahoo’s employee resource group for the LGBT+ community and allies. When I am not at work, I hang out with her 2 teenage kids, walk my dog Captain, spend whole days in thrift stores and listen to all kinds of music. I ran the New York marathon in 2022 (her 4th).

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  Tamara Box

  Managing Partner, EME
  Reed Smith LLP UK

  I am the Managing Partner for Europe & the Middle East of top 20 international law firm Reed Smith LLP, a member of the firm’s Senior Management Team and its global board, as well as a market leading finance lawyer. In 2019, I was ranked 30th in the Global Yahoo Finance HERoes Women Role Model List and shortlisted for Woman in Law at the British Legal Awards. In 2018, I was Highly Commended as Woman Lawyer of the Year by the Law Society of England & Wales and ranked 15th in the Financial Times & HERoes 100 Champions of Women in Business list. I also ranked 9th in the Financial Times & HERoes 50 Champions of Women in Business list in 2017. I was named the Champion of Rising Stars (Mentor) in the We Are the City Rising Star Awards in 2016 and also won the Mentor of the Year at the Women of the Future awards in 2016. I’ve been named a Top 30 Inspirational Woman and Champion of Diversity by Brummel Magazine. I am a founding member of the Steering Committee of the 30% Club, on the board of Companions for the Chartered Management Institute and sit on the Advisory Board of charity Theirworld. Finally, I am a member of the Court of Governors of the London School of Economics and sit on the school’s audit committee.

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  Moriaki Kida

  Regional Chief Operating Officer
  EY Japan

  Joined the audit practice in New York, NY in 1996 and became an audit partner in July 2007 in San Jose, CA. Served as an audit partner in sectors such as Technology, Diversified Industrial Products, Consumer Products and Energy. Spent 3 years in London as part of Global Professional Practice. Global Capital Markets groups, responsible for global assurance policies, consulted on foreign private issuer (SEC registrant) teams, Audit Quality Reviews, Litigation Support and gave audit and accounting trainings. Based in New York, was the Americas Area Director of Japanese Business Services (JBS) from 2013 to 2016, the largest Japanese Business Service practice Area in our global organization Moved to Tokyo in 2016 to become the Japan Area Deputy Area Managing Partner Founding member of LBGT ERG “Unity” in Japan and was a member of the steering committee bEYond (LGBT ERG) based in the US during the first half of 2000s. Financial Times Top 100 LGBT+ Executives in 2017 and 2019.

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  Hannah Grove

  Chief Marketing Officer
  State Street

  Hannah leads teams at State Street focused on strategy, client onboarding, brand, media relations, content marketing, digital and client experience. She is a member of the Company’s Management Committee, its senior-most strategy and policy-making team. Hannah supports State Street’s revenue growth and client acquisition and retention, and serves to positively influence all constituencies’ understanding of the company. She also serves as executive sponsor for State Street Pride, the company’s LGBTQ employee network, and its Asian Professional Alliance; as a founder of “Leading Women,” a mentoring program for senior women across the company; as an advisory board member for the Company’s Professional Women’s Network; as a member of the company’s Executive Talent and Client Committees, and its Conduct Standards Committee; and serves on the Board of State Street Hangzhou, its operations in mainland China. Prior to joining State Street in 1998, Hannah was marketing director for the Money Matters Institute, an initiative supported by the United Nations, the World Bank and private sector companies to foster sustainable development in emerging economies. Earlier in her career Hannah owned and operated a public relations firm in London. She moved to the US as communications director of the World Economic Development Congress in Washington, DC. Hannah has been named to American Banker’s annual list of “Most Powerful Women in Banking” 2017, 2018 and 2019; to OUTstanding’s list of top LGBTQ allies for the past four years; and for the past three years to the HERoes Champions of Women in Business list of female role models helping to increase gender diversity. Hannah currently serves as a board member of Project Bread, which focuses on eradicating hunger in Massachusetts, and as a member of the fund board for the Boston Public Library. She previously served as the president of the board of directors for the Women’s Lunch Place, a daytime community in Boston for disadvantaged women. LinkedIn Profile ; Twitter: @HannahGrove9

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  Jacqui Gavin

  Chief of Culture
  Britishvolt

  I’m a diversity professional with experience working in Central Government and at local level

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  Matthew Beard

  Executive Director
  All Out

  Matt Beard is the Executive Director at All Out, a global LGBT+ human rights group, partnering with frontline organisations to work towards a world in which nobody has to sacrifice their family, freedom, safety or dignity because of who they are or who they love. Prior to starting at All Out in 2016, Matt served as the International Director of Fundraising and Communications at Action Aid, a global anti-poverty and women's rights organisation. Before joining Action Aid, Matt worked for 10 years at Amnesty International in the UK, Australia, Germany and Canada, leading teams working on digital engagement, fundraising and communications.

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  Annie Newman

  Senior digital content editor
  GSK

  Being able to make a difference to LGBT+ inclusion in the health & life sciences sector is of upmost importance to me. Having grown up identifying as gay, I like many in the LGBT community have had to deal with the challenges that that can bring but as an adult I am out and proud and passionate about doing what I can to help others. As the first female lead of GSK’s award-winning LGBT+ employee network group Spectrum, I feel privileged to be able to influence GSK’s LGBT+ agenda and to be in a position to support and be the voice for those within the organisation. During my involvement with Spectrum we have grown from strength to strength and I believe one of my biggest contributions to be enabling the community to connect better than ever before. I also see that through my day job as Senior digital content editor for GSK's internal and external corporate channels, I have been able to utilise my passion for bringing to life the diversity of employees across the company. As Company Director and Engagement lead for the Proud Science Alliance, a ground-breaking cross-company collaboration. I'm responsible for engagement across our member communities. To bring such a large and diverse group of LGBT+ employee groups together with one mission takes a robust strategy and great story-telling. It’s an honour to bring their stories to life and also to work across the organisations to ensure best practice is shared. I recently was named Role Model of the Year 2020 by Pink News. Over the past few years I have placed in the 2019 and 2020 OUTstanding LGBT+ Role Model list, LGBT+ future leader category and was a finalist in DIVA's Rainbow Honours LGBT Champion category.

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  Felipe Cardenas

  CEO
  Colombian LGBT Chamber of Commerce

  Colombian. Business Executive with +12 years of experience in Business Growth Strategies, co-founder & CEO of Acciones de la Frontera, advisory firm specialized in creating & calibrating Financial & Commercial Models for SMEs to grow sustainable! Former co-founder of the International Business Center at PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Mexico. Co-founder & CEO as well of the Colombian LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Non for Profit; Bogota based; focused on providing economic empowerment routes to Sexually Diverse Entrepreneurs as well as advisory to Corporations on Diversity & Inclusion programs for Talent, Customers & Suppliers.

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  Abril Rodriguez

  Partner
  EY Mexico

  I am specialized in wealth planning for high net-worth individuals in Mexico; specifically, regarding the design, implementation, restructure and liquidation of offshore and domestic structures. Also, I have proposed tax efficient investment portfolios for clients. I work with binational families and I am familiar with foreign estate taxes and diverse proper structures to minimize them. I have presented in diverse local and foreign forums regarding these topics. I am also specialized in the design and implementation of international business restructures, providing tax advice on national and international transactions and in charities and not-for-profits. Beside my tax practice, in 2017 I was appointed Regional Leader of Diversity and Inclussion for the Latam North Region. Since 2017 I am a member of the Regional Board of EY. I am the Latam North representative in the Inclusiveness Advisory Council led by the Global Leader of D&I and the EY US Managing Partner.

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  Jessica Stern

  Executive Director
  OutRight ACTION INTERNATIONAL

  Jessica Stern, Executive Director of OutRight Action International, specializes in gender, sexuality and human rights globally. At OutRight, she has doubled the budget, supported the legal registration of LGBTIQ organizations globally, helped secure the mandate of the United Nations Independent Expert on Discrimination and Violence based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, and advanced the UN LGBTI Core Group. She is frequently quoted by the media in The New York Times, The Guardian, and Time. She has provided expert opinions to governments globally and UN mechanisms, including UNWomen where she serves as a member of the LGBTI Reference Group and Women Human Rights Defenders Reference Group. Her writing has been cited by the Indian Supreme Court in its seminal judgement decriminalizing homosexuality (Navtej Singh Johar versus the Union of India) and featured in a new chapter in The Oxford Handbook of Women, Peace and Security (2019). She is an adjunct associate professor at Columbia University.

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  Belton Flournoy

  Director
  Protiviti

  In addition to being a Director in Protiviti’s Technology & Digital consulting practice, Belton is founder of Protiviti UK's LGBT+ group, which won best LGBT+ network in 2019 by the Inclusive Tech Alliance. Belton was shortlisted as a top 10 inspirational business leader in 2020 by the British LGBT+ awards, was recently listed as #18 on Yahoo Finance’s Top 100 Future Leaders, #15 on Yahoo Finance’s Top 100 Ethnic Minority Leaders and was featured on the top UK Black Role models, presented by Google. Belton was co-founder of Pride in the City with Pride in London where he ran a Mayor backed initiative dedicated to increasing diversity and inclusivity across London businesses.  In January 2021, Belton joined The Inclusion Initiative (TII) at the London School of Economics as an Advisory Board Member supporting their three-year innovative partnership programme bringing together research and practice to build more inclusive work environments. He has over a decade of experience supporting clients with deploying strategic solutions across some of the world’s leading financial services institutions, while maintaining a strong passion for ensuring diversity and inclusivity remain high on organisations business agenda.  He is extremely passionate about intersectionality, where he believes it is each person’s role to support other groups who are in the minority – “after all, we don’t want to preach to the converted, we want to educate and inspire people to be more aware and inclusive.” Belton also acts as an adviser to the UK Multicultural network, proCulture. He has experience delivering Cyber Security, Customer Experience, Identity & Access Management (IAM), Spreadsheet Risk and Compliance/Regulatory Risk programs across Europe. He has managed global teams across large organisations, as well as supporting small and medium-sized organisations to implement fit-for-purpose solutions. Protiviti is a global consulting firm that delivers deep expertise, objective insights, a tailored approach and unparalleled collaboration through consulting solutions in finance, technology, operations, data, analytics, governance, risk and internal audit. Please do not contact me if you require financial support.

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  Antonia Belcher

  Director
  MHBCCumming

  Antonia has 40 plus years’ experience in the construction and property industries and leads her own business that she formed in 2007. Transitioning in 2000/2003 in a very male dominated working environment, where there was no history or visible LGBT influences to draw on, she presses for positive change for LGBT+ good in all business spheres, but especially in her chosen career path of Surveying. A Board Director of the Chartered Surveyors Training Trust, Diversity Role Models, Terrence Higgins Trust, and a Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors, and advisor to other organisations she particularly seeks equal opportunities for Women/LGBT+ within the Construction Industry, which has of course been a side of business generally slow to react to such. She was shortlisted in 2017 for the Gay Times ‘Success in Entrepreneurship’ Gary Frisch award and in 2018 nominated in the NatWest British LGBT Awards – Inspiration Leader category, and nominated amongst a group of “exceptional surveyors from The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)” to celebrate their 150th Anniversary, showcasing significant and positive impact that surveyors have made to society through those 150 years.

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  Tim Bardell

  Vice President, Head of Consulting
  NTT DATA UK

  As the Head of Impact for NTT DATA UK, I lead our design, technology, data and business consultancy practices, guiding organisations through transformation and change to deliver business value. During my career I have worked in multiple industries including telecoms, pharmaceuticals, FMCG and management consultancy with roles in engineering, production management, consulting, IT management, business operations and sales. I have switched between industry and consulting twice, relishing the different challenges and opportunities that each bring. I’m driven by the opportunity to make lasting change happen for our clients, their teams, their customers and the society in which we live. As such, I believe that putting people at the heart of business transformation is the key to success. This includes creating a working culture at NTT DATA that allows our own consultants to thrive. Here at NTT DATA UK we need to attract, grow and retain the best talent. As an employer we therefore need to be a safe, inclusive and diverse workplace that excludes no one and enables everyone to bring their whole, authentic self to work. As a huge advocate for fairness, equality and opportunity for all; I’m an active member of NTT DATA UK’s Diversity & Inclusion steering committee and proud to be both the sponsor of our LGBT+ Forum and head of our Allies Network.

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  Jane Hill

  Journalist & broadcaster
  BBC

  I wrote this profile in early 2020 - world events have since taken over. But I leave it here, in a spirit of optimism: I'm in remission from breast cancer so am trying to rebalance life - spending a little less time in the newsroom and more with the charities and causes I support; plus enjoying the things that are important to me: friends, theatre, cinema, art - and Couch to 5K! At work: I'm generally found on the BBC News at One, as well as the Six & Ten and the News Channel; I particularly love my weekly chat with Mark Kermode on The Film Review. Outside work: personal experience led to my work in the field of diversity & inclusion. For 15 years I've been involved with organisations that highlight the value and importance of inclusion & role modelling. I'm proud to work with, ia, Diversity Role Models and The Albert Kennedy Trust; I've mentored young journalists; and host conferences and projects that help women & girls, and members of all minority groups, attain their potential. I also support health charities that are close to my heart: Parkinson's UK, Breast Cancer Now and Cancer Research UK. I live in London with my wife Sara and our border collie. I’m a Fellow of the British American Project and sit on its Advisory Board, and am an Honorary Fellow of Queen Mary, University of London.

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  Deon Pillay

  Head of Marketing Operations
  LGIM, Founding member & Co-Chair at InterInvest

  Deon is the Head of Marketing Operations, Legal and General Investment Management in London and also the Chair of the firm’s L&GBT+Allies network. Outside of the office, he is the Co-chair of InterInvest, a network of investment professionals, that drives LGBT+ equality across the investment management industry. Since arriving in London from his home town in South Africa, Deon started his career in financial services at a private wealth management company in client services before joining LGIM in 2010. Deon is passionate about people, a mentor to others, a life coach and an NLP practitioner who is passionate about personal development. Deon has several notable achievements for his contributions to diversity and inclusion. He is a keynote speaker, sharing his personal experiences to surface LGBT+ issues, a panellist championing diversity and inclusion, committee member of the Diversity Project’s LGBT+ stream and a supporter of Queer Britain. In 2019/2020 Deon was recognised as an LGBT+ Future Leader in the OUTstanding list and also featured in Empower’s Top 50 Ethnic Minority Future Leaders list in both 2019/2020 and a top 10 Diversity Hero at the 2020 British lgbt awards He has also been a supporter of LGBT Great since inception and was the recipient of the inaugural role models award. Being a passionate believer in equality, diversity and inclusion, Deon believes strongly in the power of visible role models and allies and has encouraged others to feature in LGBT Great’s Project 1000. Overall, Deon believes that we all have a key role to play in driving this change and through fostering a culture of inclusion and diversity we can make a difference.

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  Grace Lordan

  Director of The Inclusion Initiative at the LSE & Associate Professor in Behavioural Science
  London School of Economics

  Dr Grace Lordan is an associate professor in behavioural science at the London School of Economics. Grace is also the founding Director of The Inclusion Initiative, a research center at the London School of Economics whose aim is to improve inclusion in firms and provide proof of cost effectiveness. She is an economist by background, and her research is focused on understanding why some individuals succeed over others because of factors beyond their control. In this regard, she has expertise on the effects of bias, discrimination and technology changes. Grace has advised and given talks to large investment banks, private equity firms, hedge funds and international conferences. Grace has also led projects to advise commissioners in the UK and policy makers in the EC on the future of skills. Grace’s academic writings have been published in top international journals in economics and the broader social sciences. At the LSE Grace trains executives through her teaching on corporate behaviour and decision making and is the founding director of the MSc in behavioural science.

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  Saul McCracken

  Head Of Digital Content Enrichment
  RS Group

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