Jim Fitterling

1
Chief Executive Officer
The Dow Chemical Company

As CEO of Dow, Jim uses his position to aggressively drive change. After 30 years with the organization, he came out to all employees in 2014 and has been instrumental in driving greater inclusion for Dow’s LGBT+ community. A strong proponent of the company’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), he takes a hands-on approach to create Dow’s strategy to increase inclusion and diversity in every part of the company. He was instrumental in creating and appointing Dow’s first Chief Inclusion Officer who reports directly to him. He is Chair of Dow’s President’s Inclusion Council, which sets the scope and strategy of the company’s inclusion and diversity strategy. In addition, he is an active member of Dow’s GLAD network and participates regularly in LGBT+ awareness activities both locally and around the world. Eternally, Jim was a keynote panellist for the Reaching Out MBA conference to inspire and educate LGBTQ and graduates MBA students, and at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers annual conference where he advocated for greater diversity and inclusion within the industry. Jim and his partner are members of the Human Rights Campaign Federal Club, PFLAG, and active contributors to the Dow PFLAG Scholarship Fund.

Stacey Friedman

2
General Counsel
JPMorgan Chase

Stacey Friedman is Executive Vice President and General Counsel for JPMorgan Chase & Co. and a member of the firm's Operating Committee. Stacey is a committed advocate for LGBT+ individuals in the workplace. She is a thought leader within and outside of the company, and has led several initiatives, such as a review of how the firm's infertility & surrogacy benefits were adversely impacting employees in same-sex relationships, leading to the recommendation to waive the infertility pre-certification requirement to access pregnancy-inducing procedures. She is also committed to promoting diversity in her department and across the industry. Under her leadership, the JPMorgan legal department seeks to have at least 50 percent women or other diverse lawyers in leadership positions on the bank’s litigation, regulatory investigations, and arbitration and employment matters. Nearly 20 global law firms have followed JPMorgan’s lead, seeking to meet the same goal. Externally, Stacey has addressed various audiences at companies across industries and thought leadership forums, including OUTWomen and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's celebratory gala, reinforcing the importance of creating a culture of respect through everyday actions.

Peter Arvai

3
CEO & Co-Founder
Prezi

At Prezi, Peter wanted to create an open environment where they celebrate diversity and everyone--regardless of gender, sexual orientation or national origin-- feels comfortable with sharing their identity with others. They have been so successful in this difficult environment that they have become the subject of 5 year-long Swedish university research on the topic. To achieve their goal of promoting diversity, they organize internal and external events around LGBT+ inclusion. In 2017, they also built an internal structure behind the values they are supporting called “Spur” - action for positive change. Externally, Peter is the co-founder and chair of the organisation called WeAreOpen, which we launched with support from Google, espell and Prezi. This NGO aims to promote openness at the workplace and create an environment where the leadership of businesses can make a difference. In 2018, he gave the opening speech of the 23th Budapest Pride Festival. In his opening remarks, covered extensively by Hungarian media, he gave inspiration and encouragement to young people in Hungary facing the tough challenge of coming out by telling them that through WeAreOpen, they have built a coalition of 1000+ companies where they will be accepted as they are.

Stephen Jacques

4
Chief Executive
Key Assets - The Children's Services Provider

As the lead LGBT+ Diversity Champion for the Group Stephen has undertaken a wide variety of inclusion activities. He is the co-convenor of the LGBT+ Staff Network, Rainbow Assets, and was the lead sponsor for the development of the Group’s LGBT+ Strategy, which included deliverables for staff, foster carers, young people and their families. He has also ensured that all workplace policies and procedures are and continue to be inclusive for LGBT+ stakeholders and are gender neutral. He led on and implemented the ‘This is an LGBT+ Inclusive Workplace’ campaign, launched during LGBT History month. Externally, Stephen has been involved in the LGBT+ community for over 20 years. He was actively involved in campaigning for marriage equality both in Ireland and Australia, both in person and online. He supported, with Board approval, his company’s visible support of the Marriage Equality campaigns including clear messaging to staff, foster carers and the wider community. He is actively involved, as a board director, in the National LGBT+ Federation (NXF) in Ireland, and has supported and campaigned for the ban on the harmful practice of Conversion Therapy, recently supporting Senator Fintan Warfield’s bill to ban such practice in Ireland.

R. Martin Chavez

5
Vice Chairman
Goldman Sachs

Martin pioneered the formation of the LGBT Network at Goldman Sachs, and successfully urged leadership at Goldman Sachs to expand benefits to gay partners before the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage. He also supported CEO Lloyd Blankfein as he engaged on LGBT issues and became one of the first US corporate leaders to support same-sex marriage. Additionally, he helped to introduce a Managing Director Ally Strategy, where senior leaders host roundtables with junior staff to advocate for LGBT inclusion. Martin has helped organize and host a full program of workshops and roadshows to educate and sensitize employees to LGBT issues at the workplace, targeting all levels and divisions with a view to enable all employees to bring their whole self to the workplace. He also spoke at the Out for Undergrad Business Conference, hosted by Goldman Sachs for the past 3 years, where 300+ students and professionals from over 40 companies come to GS for 3 days of content, networking, and skills workshops. Externally, he served for 10+ years as a trustee and major donor of the Foundation for AIDS Research, which has committed itself to achieving a functional cure for HIV / AIDS by 2020.

Edward Enninful

6
Editor-In-Chief
British Vogue

Edward made history last year when he was announced as the replacement for British Vogue's editor of 25 years Alexandra Schulman. The Ghanaian-born stylist began his career as fashion director of British youth culture magazine i-D at age 18, the youngest ever to be named an editor at a major international fashion title. British Vogue is about being inclusive and highlighting diversity as this is what will drive us forward. It is incredibly important to Edward to make sure the magazine reflects the world today, and that includes all sexualities, backgrounds, race, sizes and cultures. He ensures that they have the best team to create an exciting and compelling magazine, representing the diverse landscape Britain is today. He regularly features a diverse selection of people for Vogue editorial and is a strong believer in equal opportunities for everyone. Edward was recently awarded the PPA Chairman’s Award for his work in diversity in British Vogue and the industry, and was nominated for the British LGBT+ Awards 2018. This year, he also received the Media Award in honour of Eugenia Sheppard from the Council of Fashion Designers of America in recognition of his contribution to the industry during his career.

David Hynam

7
UK CEO
Bupa

David is a firm believer that you get the best out of people when you allow them to bring their whole selves to work. In Bupa UK, he hassupported the Bupa Code of Conduct, which robustly sets out that all people should be treated equally, regardless of sexual orientation or other factors like gender, age, race or religion. He also recently personallylaunched Bupa UK’s ‘Everyone’s Welcome’ pledge to promote an open and inclusive working environment for all, Bupa UK is encouraging other businesses to sign up and show their support. He is an active sponsor of employee-led DiverCity group, a movement that was created to raise awareness and understanding of diversity and inclusion in the workplace, from LGBT+ to disability. Externally, David is a very active voice on diversity and inclusion and has spoken in the media, and at a number of events on issues that matter to him including the support of LGBT+ colleagues.

Angelica Ross

8
President
Miss Ross Inc

As a content creator through Miss Ross, Inc., Angelica produces short films, as well as short form conversational media content to help push organizations and U.S. Policies on trans issues forward. She tours nationally, speaking her powerful mission into action with business leaders, educators, and politicians. Angelica also founded TransTech Social Enterprises, a social enterprise sponsored by Allied Media Projects. This project focuses on helping LGBTQ people, with a focus on trans people building skills, professional networks as well as having access to job leads, freelance opportunities, mentorship, and online eCourses created by and for the LGBTQ community. She also launched the TransTech Summit, an annual tech conference at the Groupon headquarters in Chicago. Angelica is also an actor and her roles have helped further the conversation about trans people, not only playing trans roles but having more seats at the table behind the scenes, in the writing room as well as opportunities for trans people to produce and executive produce their own projects. She has been awarded the Human Rights Campaign - Visibility Award, a Glaad Media Award for Best Television Interview with the Daily show with Trevor Noah, and been listed on the MIPAD 100 (Most Influential People of African Descent) in 2017.

Margot Slattery

9
Country President - Ireland
Sodexo

Margot sits on Sodexo's global LGBT leadership team and has been influential in ensuring LGBT considerations are included in Sodexo’s Global D&I strategy, and that practical guides to LGBT inclusion have been developed for use across the globe. She is a member of SoTogether, a group of top 30 global leaders within Sodexo who are visible role models for gender balance in the company worldwide, and leads the development of transitioning policy at the company. In the last year Margot spoke at 19 external events in Ireland and worldwide, promoting LGBT equality in the workplace to over 5,000 people, including the Out & Equal Summit in Philadelphia, Diversity Best Practices Conference, Dublin, Women’s Executive Network Speaker Series Dublin, Perspectives on Gender Diversity Seminar Dublin, The Alliance Conference, Portugal and the Women’s Philanthropy Circle, Dublin. She also holds non-exec board memberships including BITC Ireland, and Out and Equal Workplace Advocates. In 2018, Margot was FM Leader of the Year at the Facilities Management Awards for Ireland and a Business Leader of the Year at the Women’s Executive Network (WXN) Ireland Awards.

Suresh Raj

10
Managing Director, Global Business Development
Zeno Group

Suresh is a senior mentor of the global agency's Diversity & Inclusion Council - ensuring equality in race, gender, sexuality and ability across all of the networks offices across North America, Europe, APAC and LatAm. He is actively involved in programs for LGBT+ communities, and is a personal mentor to a number of LGBTQ+ individuals. He also runs professional mentoring programs for individuals internally and externally across the USA, the UK, the UAE, Asia. Externally, Suresh sits on a number of advisory boards including The Village Voice Pride Awards in New York, who honour the massive contribution significant influencers have had in helping shape the LGBT+ and equality agenda in the USA and rest of the world. He is actively involved with numerous global LGBTQ organisations such as OutRight International where Suresh sat on the judging panel for global LGBTQ advocates from around the world, applying for a place at the UN’s Advocacy Week 2018. He is also one of a select list of Senior LGBTQ Executives invited to The Alliance, McKinsey’s Davos-like forum for the most senior LGBTQ Executives from around the world. He continues to speak professionally and personally, at various ground-breaking forums in emerging and established markets.

Jan Siegmund

11
Chief Financial Officer
ADP

Jan is Executive Sponsor of ADP Pride, which he founded shortly after joining ADP 20 years ago.  ADP Pride actively focuses on inclusion, creating and delivering programs targeted at ADP’s LGBTQ community, as well as allies.  Pride is the largest and fastest growing business resource group at ADP, and includes many transgender employees who are benefiting from best-in-class health benefits introduced by Jan.  He has driven adoption of LGBTQ Self-identification for U.S. employees, and introduced and participates as a mentor in ‘FAB,’ which continues to be ADP’s most successful mentorship program.  He oversees ADP Foundation grants and collaborations with organizations such as StartOut and the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.  He also drove ADP’s co-signing of the HRC Business Coalition for the Equality Act, and regularly addresses ADP employees on the topics of LGBTQ inclusion at internal events.  Externally, Jan serves on the Board of Directors of The Center, and was awarded the prestigious Corporate Impact Award by the Center.  In addition, he supports other LGBTQ organizations financially, and is a frequent guest speaker at LGBTQ conferences, including delivering a keynote speech at the global The Economist Pride & Prejudice event and the Reaching Out MBA conference.

Lisa Wainwright

12
CEO
GB Basketball

Lisa signed the Charter against Homophobia in Sport and attended Number 10 to meet the PM, following which she ensured a training session was undertaken by all staff, and the Charter was printed and put up on the main office door. She arranged for LGBT+ speakers at Loughborough University staff/student group and has spoken at various athlete briefings. She ensures they know they have a supportive environment to compete in, and she set up a Duty of Care Ambassador for the sport, should athletes or staff wish to raise any concerns. Externally, Lisa was a panel member at the first Stonewall Rainbow Laces Summit and spoke about her experiences in the sector. She was also asked by UK Sport to support outreach work in Namibia, by meeting and supporting via an informal group - providing confidence, education and a listening ear to the LGBT+ community of Namibia. Lisa has spoken on a variety of local, national and international platforms - always ensuring the audience are aware of her own leadership journey and challenges. Recently at the IOD Women in Leaders Convention, she gained a standing ovation for talking openly about international experiences as a lesbian mum and leader in sport.

Victor Nieves

13
Director, EMEIA Capital Markets
EY

Victor is an active champion of LGBT inclusion and is an out role model to his team - sharing his personal story, getting people to join the Unity network, providing reverse mentoring to change perceptions from the top down and inspiring others to come out. As co-chair emeritus of Unity, EY’s LGBT+ network, for the wider firm, he drives the network strategy on inclusion, works with the D&I team on the firm LGBT strategy, and identifies areas for improvement in talent acquisition and retention, among others. Examples include ensuring the firm’s policies are LGBT inclusive, mentoring LGBT graduates and network members, and organising professional development. Externally, Victor is an active participant in a wide variety of LGBT+ inclusion efforts. He has been a keynote at Stonewall conferences and spoken at other organisation LGBT events. For the past three years he was named to the Pride Power List Top 100, and was shortlisted for the Coca-Cola Hero of the Year award at the European Diversity Awards.

Nick Mott

14
Assistant General Council and Partner
Dentons

Nick co-founded Dentons' UK LGBT network and helps drive its initiatives. He engages with senior management and the Board on LGBT+  awareness, and introduced reverse-mentoring for LGBT+ staff to mentor board members. He promotes greater understanding of issues faced by Trans* people and launched Dentons’ UK Trans* policies and related training. Nick founded and chairs Dentons Global LGBT+ network and created Dentons Global Pride Day, which focusses on improving the work environment for LGBT+ colleagues through Allies, especially in more challenging locations. This year's Pride included a video produced by Nick with senior leaders speaking in support of Allies, emailed to staff with a supporting message from the Global CEO and Chair. Nick also produced an awareness-raising video where LGBT+ staff talk about the importance of being out.  A passionate believer in inclusivity, as chair of Dentons' Diversity and Inclusion Committee he encourages collaboration between staff network groups. Externally, Nick supports the Albert Kennedy Trust and Opening Doors London, and is a founder-sponsor of the annual London School of Economics LGBT Moot in which law students participate in a mock hearing on LGBT-related issues. Nick also co-founded an EC4-based LGBT business-networking group and mentors two law firms on LGBT-related programmes.

Daniel Gerring

15
Partner, Head of Pensions
Travers Smith

Daniel is Travers Smith’s senior champion for LGBT+ equality.  He is a passionate LGBT+ activist and a trustee director of a number of charities, including Just Like Us – the LGBT+ charity for young people. He chairs Travers' LGBT+ network and is a strong advocate for D&I more broadly, sitting on the firm's Diversity and Inclusion Board. He has made policies, practices and benefits significantly more LGBT+ inclusive, most recently launching an initiative for trans and non-binary colleagues, and championed intersectional work between the firm's different network groups.  He mentors LGBT+ colleagues and co-founded and co-runs a mentoring programme to help university students successfully move into employment, confidently open in their sexuality and gender identity.  Externally, as well as working with Just Like Us, Daniel sits on the boards of Refugees At Home – a charity which has provided close to 100,000 nights of free accommodation to refugees and asylum-seekers since he helped found it in late 2015 – and City YMCA – which works with homeless young people.  He is also a Founding Member of the Law Society's LGBT+ Committee, delivering nationwide initiatives supporting LGBT+ solicitors, and a regular speaker and panellist on the topic of LGBT+ inclusion internationally.

Jim Ford

16
Co-Head of Life Sciences
Allen and Overy

Jim has been Chair of A&O’s international LGBT network since 2009, with primary responsibility for acting as a visible senior role model. The network is involved in BD, graduate recruitment, mentoring and social responsibility activities. His profile raising of LGBT initiatives led to LGBT/gender diversity becoming one of the firm’s 5 strategic priorities for management. He delivered a key speech on diversity at A&O’s Global Partners Conference to promote D&I within the partnership, and co-organised the firm’s first senior executive LGBT diversity event for clients at the Tate Britain, with another scheduled for 2019. He also organised a programme of staff talks covering LGBT issues, including talks on LGBT parenting, trans-awareness and LGBT bullying, and regularly acts as a mentor to junior LGBT staff. Externally, Jim has been a Stonewall Ambassador since April 2018, is a Board Member of Diversity Role Models, and is joint lead of a team that provided pro bono legal advice to Stonewall on Turing’s law. He is a regular panellist, most recently with Pride in the City, GSK, and InterComms. He also participates in various mentoring schemes for more junior employees at other corporates, and for university students.

Brian Rolfes

17
Partner, Global Recruiting
McKinsey & Company

In 1995, Brian co-founded GLAM, McKinsey’s LGBTQ+ global group, which he continues to co-lead. GLAM has been instrumental in making McKinsey an excellent role model for inclusive policies, hiring LGBTQ+ talent, and diversity/inclusion training. The network also has an external focus, supporting other organizations to be more inclusive. Recently, Brian helped create McKinsey’s "LGBTQ+ Leadership Masterclasses", a pro bono 2-day workshop for executives. McKinsey has held 25 workshops globally and he has personally led 10. This year, he helped McKinsey create "The Alliance", a distinctive network of >125 senior LGBTQ+ executives to make workplaces, and the world, more inclusive. Externally, Brian was previously the Chair of the Board of the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto, a successful litigant for equal marriage in Canada. He leads the Ontario Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee; in 2017, he spoke at the inaugural LGBTQ Rhodes Scholar forum at Oxford. Additionally, Brian has supported and spoken at numerous LGBTQ+ organizations globally, such as Out on Bay Street, EurOut, Sticks&Stones, Stonewall, Out for Australia, and OutNext. In 2015, Brian received McKinsey’s inaugural LGBTQ Leadership Award for his work founding, growing and leading GLAM. Brian and his husband Brad were among the first married gay couples in Canada.

Geoff Godwin

18
UK COO
AIG

Geoff is Executive Sponsor of AIG’s UK LGBT Employee Network, providing education and support for LGBT employees and allies. He is responsible for the company UK induction process, expanding to 2 days to incorporate two specific sessions on Diversity & Inclusion. As the lead for the induction, he attends every session to welcome all the new starters and talk about how the AIG culture is open and inclusive. He also attended and spoke at AIG’s first global D&I Conference, and sits on the Dive In Global Steering Committee, which is responsible for coordinating events around the globe to promote the insurance industry diversity & inclusion agenda. Externally, Geoff was a speaker at the Link (Insurance LGBT network) 5 year anniversary event at the Chartered Insurance Institute, and at the ABI Inclusion Breakfast – to promote CEO awareness of LGBT rights. He is a regular speaker at conferences globally, discussing topics such as LGBT workplace inclusion and mental health. Geoff is also a mentor to the CEO of an LGBT charity, and to other senior individuals in the Diversity & Inclusion sector. Additionally, he was shortlisted as a Top 10 Inspirational Role Model at British Insurance Awards, for the second time.

Angela Darlington

19
Group Chief Risk Officer
Aviva

Angela is the executive sponsor and an active member of Aviva Pride. She is a champion of diversity throughout Aviva, working towards change through both being an LGBT role model, and through education and promoting understanding both in the UK and internationally, by focussing on the issues faced by LGBT staff in the countries Aviva operates in globally. In the UK, she has supported Aviva's increased sponsorship of many regional Pride events in the UK, and encouraged over 100 colleagues to attend London Pride. Outside of the UK, she has been integral to building Pride networks in their French, Italian, Polish and Singapore businesses. She also regularly mentors women and LGBT individuals throughout the insurance industry. Externally, Angela is an active supporter of Stonewall as a Top Table Ambassador, and sits on the Advisory Board for the 2019 One Young World Summit in London, specifically to provide an LGBT perspective in the design and operation of the event. She also continues working to bring together Women's Networks and LGBT networks both within Aviva and externally.

Ken Janssens

20
Managing Director Global Technology
J.P. Morgan

Ken is the co-chair for the J.P. Morgan LGBT+ Executive Council. He led the creation of a 25 page J.P. Morgan LGBT+ Toolkit for managers and allies. The toolkit is based on research by 10 different organizations, and was put together with input from J.P. Morgan LGBT+ ERG leaders across Asia, Europe, Latin America and the US, the firm’s D&I team, several transgender J.P. Morgan employees, and three external partners who each gave detailed comments and suggestions. In addition, in March he spoke at an LGBT ERG event at the JP Morgan Singapore office on the importance of personal story telling and Allies. Externally, Ken serves on the board of Out & Equal and delivered one of the plenaries at their Workplace Summit in Seattle in October 2018 focusing on his work to advance LGBT workplace inclusion in Brazil and India. He also provided the opening and closing remarks, and conducted a fireside chat with CEO of JP Morgan, Jamie Dimon, at the 2nd Out & Equal Brazil Forum. He is also mentor of LGBT Talent and a regular, active speaker at events and in the press.

Saleem Fazal

21
Partner
Taylor Wessing

Saleem represents the LGBT+ strand on TW's Diversity Committee, chaired by the Managing Partner, influencing change and promoting policies to effect inclusion and acceptance. He created objectives and action plan for the Executive Board to ensure that TW is a welcoming environment that nurtures and retains LGBT+ talent. He is a member of TW's LGBT+ Committee (EqualiTW) which drives forward the action plan and fosters relations with other TW networks. He also promoted the distribution of rainbow mouse mats and mugs to straight allies which state "Proud to be an LGBT+ Supporter". Saleem is a mentor to two LGBT+ employees, encouraging progress and promotion of their activities and role in the firm. He also features as an LGBT+ role model on the TW intranet which contains a story about his experiences of working in a law firm as both a junior and senior lawyer, and the challenges he has faced in the past. Externally, Saleem is the co-founder and co-chair of Freehold, the networking group for LGBT+ real estate professionals. He is a regular speaker at external events, and spoke on LGBT+ issues alongside Crown Estate Chief Executive, Alison Nimmo, in 2018.

Iain Anderson

22
Executive Chairman
Cicero Group

Iain is a mentor and role model for LGBT people internally, and through various external initiatives. He is a regular speaker on LGBT issues and inclusion, specifically supporting the SME sector to help build capabilities. He has had regular engagement with the Number 10 Policy and Business Units on diversity in the workplace, attending the annual Number 10 LGBT event as an LGBT business leader, and supported 'The Diversity Project' work for the investment sector on inclusion with a focus on LGBT issues. He is now developing an Investor Forum for Open for Business, and supporting the Institute of Business Ethics on their approach towards inclusion. Externally, Iain was recognised by the 'Pink News Awards' as one of their Leading Corporate Role Models for 2018. He is a Stonewall Top Tier Ambassador and contributes towards supporting the leading lobbying body for LGBT people on their lobbying strategies. He is also a Trustee of GiveOUT, which in its first year has been recognised as a 'breakthrough charity' in the Third Sector Awards. Iain also led and hosted an initiative at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit 2018 with the UK Home Secretary to discuss and drive LGBT inclusion across the Commonwealth.

Geffrye Parsons

23
Managing Director
Macquarie Bank Limited

Geff has been LGBT+ network chair and a Diversity Action Group delegate at Macquarie for five years. He is designated as an LGBT+ workplace role model and mental wellbeing ambassador for LGBT+ matters within Macquarie.  Geff has implemented a programme of events for Macquarie staff and guests, including panel discussions on topics such as LGBT+ intersections with faith, mental wellbeing and bullying, commemorative events (e.g. Pride Month, IDAHOBIT Day),  and themed key speaker and networking events. Geff also ensures that all key LGBT+ dates are highlighted in staff communications.  Under Geff’s stewardship, Macquarie’s LGBT+ network has facilitated the introduction of sexual orientation and gender identity language in HR policies and appraisal forms, a trans policy, and LGBT+ compliant parenting policies. Geff also launched Macquarie’s allies network, and created a reverse mentoring programme for staff across the EMEA region, boasting many of the senior leadership team as allies and targeted mentees.  Outside Macquarie, Geff is a frequent speaker and panellist at LGBT+ events, has driven cross-industry best practice learning in various forums, and is a designated role model for LGBT Great and Diversity Role Models. He engages with and has fundraised for multiple LGBT+ charities and is a prominent LGBT+ advocate.

David Furnish

24
CEO
Rocket Entertainment Group

David has always strived to ensure that his workplace is welcoming for LGBT+ individuals. He has introduced policies across the organisation that focus on equality and providing opportunities for all individuals, and refined the recruitment and selection approach to ensure they are recruiting on capability and experience. He has also introduced an engagement tool to ensure that they are regularly asking the right questions within the team. Externally, David is involved with a wide variety of organisation focused on LGBT+ inclusion and support. He collaborated with the Albert Kennedy Trust to support their LGBT+ youth programme, and more recently publicly celebrated the decriminalisation of gay sex in India. He channels his huge reach on social media to enact genuine positive change for good. 2017 saw the AIDS Foundation surpass $400 million in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Elton and David personally met with the New Generation NGO in Armenia this year, whose primary objective is to protect the rights of LGBT+ people and reduce discrimination, increase healthcare access and integrate this population.

Joshua Graff

25
UK Country Manager & VP EMEA Marketing Solutions
LinkedIn

Working at LinkedIn and being the Country Head for the LinkedIn UK business, Joshua is in a unique position to drive the LGBT agenda. He is the Global Executive Sponsor for LinkedIn’s LGBT Employee Resource Group Out@In, and takes part in Out@In events, from local Pride marches, to mentoring internal high-performing talent. He provides updates to the worldwide business about their LGBT programs during the Global All-Hands, and frequently uses the LinkedIn platform to share his personal experiences, hoping to inspire those on his team to bring their authentic selves to work. He also has a number of mentees, both internally and externally, and has organised workshops for all UK employees on unconscious bias. Externally, Joshua is a founding member of Open For Business and has arranged LinkedIn participation and hosting of roundtables in India, Sao Paolo and Singapore. He is a regular speaker, having shared his story at a House of Lords event earlier this year, and has spoken on the benefits of being out in the workplace at a number of D&I events. He is also often featured in the press, including interviews with British Airways in-flight magazine, The Evening Standard, Management Today, City AM, and more.

Jason Grenfell-Gardner

26
President & CEO
Teligent

Jason has helped build a culture at Teligent that approaches diversity broadly and aligns with the core tenants of the LGBT+ community as one of only a handful of openly gay CEOs managing a U.S. public company.  Teligent offers coverage for opposite and same-sex domestic partners, and provides outlets for employees to voice concerns if they ever feel that standards are not being met. As both the CEO of Teligent and the Chairman of Pfenex, Inc., Jason has also helped to drive diversity on Boards by encouraging public company boards to embrace LGBT+ diversity as part of the selection criteria. Working with the team at Quorum, he has raised the issue of LGBT+ board diversity and offered perspectives to the broader community on how to succeed in securing board representation. He also was a keynote speaker on diversity for the Vanguard Healthcare Forum, a global leadership forum of top Healthcare executives, where he challenged and inspired C-suite and board members alike to question what it means to be diverse and find ways to further diversity within their organizations. Externally, Jason is an active supporter of a number of LGBT+ communities including Immigration Equality, the Trevor Project, and various science-based organizations.

Mark Anderson

27
Executive Vice President, Customer
Virgin Atlantic

Since becoming Executive Vice President - Customer at Virgin Atlantic, Mark has overseen the introduction of Virgin Atlantic’s first LGBT+ working group – bringing together a cross section of people from across the airline to discuss, debate and create positive change on the issues that matter. The 400 strong group is now working closely with Stonewall, Prism, the Rolls Royce LGBT+ group and the Albert Kennedy Trust, as well as applying for Virgin Atlantic to be listed on the Stonewall Diversity Index. Many Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays destinations still have laws that criminalise same-sex activity between consenting adults, and Mark has been a long term campaigner on the issue, making the business and tourism case for inclusivity in destinations such as the Caribbean. As part of this, Virgin Atlantic put the world’s first Rainbow flight on sale in October – fully staffed by LGBT pilots and crew, and operating to World Pride in New York. Mark also extended the range of Pride events that Virgin Atlantic supports, providing an opportunity for staff to celebrate their sexuality. He recently spoke at the Heads of Commonwealth conference on developing a sustainable diversity strategy, and he is a judge at the British LGBT+ Awards.

James Allan

28
Managing Director - Head of CBFX
Barclays

James was promoted to Executive Sponsor of Spectrum, Barclays LGBT employee network, this year having been co-chair for 3 years. He was a leader in a team for IDAHOBIT day, where Barclays created a platform globally for colleagues to share their coming out stories, with senior MDs sharing for the first time. He was invited to present the Spectrum strategy to Barclays International CEO, who is now hosting the Spectrum Gala Dinner in aid of THT. He has also been working to champion LGBT inclusion in countries where LGBT rights are not as advanced as the UK, and has worked with clients like Tata to educate their colleagues on LGBT inclusion via the Spectrum Client Network. Externally, James has participated in Stonewall’s corporate mentoring programme, where he worked with Compass Group to set up their LGBT network. Also, following successful support of the Disney LGBT Filmfest during LGBT History Month, the two companies intend to hold events in Singapore and potentially the US next year. He is also a leader on EPA Women in Paytech, and is a regular speaker on external panels. James has also been invite to judge on the EWPN and Harrington Star Diversity Awards this year.

David Levine

29
GM, Disney Channels UK/I, Nordics, VP Programming/Production, EMEA
Disney

David is the Executive Sponsor for Pride UK&I, Disney’s resource group for LGBT+ and ally employees. He actively participates with the team, attending leadership meetings and events, was profiled in its newsletter, and promotes activities to senior management. He led Disney’s float at Pride in London, and secured marching in Dublin Pride for the first time. He has secured Disney as a Stonewall Diversity Champion, and has worked closely with HR to review and update the company’s policies to reflect LGBT+ needs. David has also helped support the creation of Pride groups in Scandinavia and Asia, and is working with Disneyland Paris on the first-ever official Disney event for LGBT+ guests and their families. He has driven philanthropic support for AKT, THT and Diversity Role Models with new ideas such as set furnishing sales and auction guest voice roles. Externally, David spoke at the Children’s Media Conference on LGBT+ storylines in kids TV, and contributed an article to the Conference Journal - subsequently headlined by global media industry periodical C21. He has been named to the Diversity Advisory Board for MIP Markets, the leading trade events for the global television industry, and is a judge of the 2018 Diversify Awards.

Cynthia Armine-Klein

30
Executive VP - Chief Control Officer
First Data Corporation

Since beginning First Data’s LGBT ERG four years ago, Cindy has worked tirelessly to promote a culture where everyone at the company feels comfortable bringing their whole selves to work. She holds gay-straight alliance discussions with members of the senior leadership team and creates educational videos that include coming out stories and information on the challenges facing the LGBT community. She has also spearheaded efforts to expand First Data’s parental leave policy to be gender-neutral and inclusive of families pursuing adoption or foster placement, and she launched a project to make First Data one of the earliest Fortune 500 companies to achieve pay equity. She has deployed transgender training and policies, expanded anti-discrimination language beyond sexual orientation to include gender identity, and expanded benefits to cover children of domestic partners and supplements life insurance. Externally, Cindy serves as Vice Chairman on the Board of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network), she was the former treasurer and Board Member for Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, and serves as treasurer on the Board of WIN (Women in Need). She has also worked extensively with key LGBT organizations such as the Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

Sander van’t Noordende

31
Group Chief Executive - Products
Accenture

Sander is a member of the global Accenture Inclusion and Diversity Board, and is global sponsor of the LGBT agenda for Accenture. He is driving LGBT progress in a structured way, by benchmarking all countries Accenture operates in and requiring them to make progress on networks, same sex benefits, trans health benefits etc. he also meets with LGBT groups around the globe on a regular basis. Externally, Sander is a member of the Board at Out and Equal, and is co-leading a group of WEF companies to persuade the World Economic Forum to make LGBT an integral part of their agenda. He organized the 5th LGBT panel at the WEF Davos with C-level participation of Lloyds, Deutsche Bank, Marriott and the UN. He will also feature in a television series called 'How to be Gay' which will be aired on Dutch Television later this year. Sander is a member of the HRW LGBT global circle, and recently gave a speech at the Dive In Festival (inclusion in insurance) in Netherlands

Pippa Dale

32
Head of Global Markets Roadshows
BNP Paribas

Pippa is dedicated to the LGBT+ community both within her own workplace, BNP Paribas and as well as the wider community.  She has co-hosted a variety of events focused on LGBT+ inclusion, initiating the first dedicated bank/client training day for graduates from BNP Paribas and M&G. Other collaborations she has been involved with include BNP Paribas working alongside the Army recognising and celebrating trans inclusion. She continues to work hard to create space for a Senior Executives to network and share good practice.  Pippa celebrated BNP Paribas’s sponsorship of the Gay Games in Paris by winning a silver medal in boxing! She is currently co-chair of the Pride network, and oversaw BNP Paribas’ sponsorship of and participation of Pride in London, UK Black Pride and AltW. Externally, Pippa is a founding member of LBWomen, and in the past 12 months has found engagement across Europe, the Amercias and Africa. She orchestrated the LBWomen US launch in New York and with the help of an ever growing community of lesbian, bi and trans women was invited to attend the Out and Equal Summit in Seattle.  Pippa is mentored within the LGBT+ community and also a mentor to 2 LGBT+ individuals.

Sarah Dimmelow

33
Managing Director
Core Assets Children's Services

In order to ensure that LGBT+ clients are offered a welcoming and inclusive service by staff, Sarah has run a number of initiatives in her company. She introduced a ‘Be Authentic’ campaign where individual staff were asked to blog about their personal identity and how it impacted upon them as employees, and on their work supporting children and families. She successfully pushed for an overhaul of employment policies to make them LGBT+ inclusive. She co-convened the LGBT+ staff network, Rainbow Assets, and leads on the company wide LGBT+ strategy. She also supported Adopters for Adoption, their Adoption Agency to target LGBT+ individuals as potential adopters, and made Equality and Diversity their main brand recogniser. Externally, Sarah has given pro-bono business development advice for an organisation providing equality training around trans issues. She offers mentoring to young care leavers, and has supported lesbian mothers as a member of a local support network for LGBT+ parents. Serving previously as the Chair of Manchester’s LGBT+ Choir, she engaged many times with civic leaders to promote awareness and equality in Manchester.

Pips Bunce

34
Director
Credit Suisse

Pips is co-lead of the Credit Suisse LGBT* and Ally Program which drives ally membership and engagement, and is an active member of the LGBT* and Ally Network steering committee. She is also a reverse mentor to the firm’s to the firm’s group CFO and UK CEO, informing him on the importance of LGBT* inclusion and helping drive change. She authored the ‘Trans* Your Questions Answered’ educational guide and Trans videos circulated to thousands of allies internally. She also drives many initiatives including helping deliver a fully Trans inclusive healthcare plan, LGBT* inclusive policy updates, gender-neutral restrooms, LGBT* self-selection identification, introduction of the Mx pronoun, and educational content. Externally, Pips works with many charities and organisations to raise awareness of LGBT* and non-binary inclusion, and is an ambassador for Trans*formation, the GIRES Society, P3 (Proud Professional Parents), DRM, and Mermaids. She is a regular speaker, panellist and presenter on LGBTQI inclusion, and the role corporates can play in advancing societal support for the LGBTQI communities. She has also received much external recognition for her work including amongst others winning the British LGBT Awards category for LGBT Inspirational Leader and, appeared in many publications in positive support of this work.

Amanda McKay

35
Quality Director Major Projects
Balfour Beatty

As an out Trans Woman, and the most senior LGBT employee within Balfour Beatty, Amanda actively works to demonstrate that Balfour Beatty is a diverse, inclusive and accepting employer. She is a Co-Chair+ of both the Women’s network, and the LGBT and Allies network, promoting both through public speaking, running internal events and workshops, contributing to internal media and communications, and acting as mentor to LGBT staff. She has also developed policy and guidance for Trans people at work, and helped to develop guidance within Balfour Beatty. She participated in Pride events across the UK, as well as promoting Balfour Beatty as an LGBT employer through recruitment events, including graduate and armed forces leavers. Externally, Amanda supports LGBT+ communities through mentoring, coaching, public speaking, and community work. She is the Scottish lead for the National Trans Police Association and a member of the BTP Independent advisory group. She works closely with Police Scotland and LGBT groups in policing, supporting staff in transition and advising the police on trans victims, and perpetrators of crime. In 2017 she received the Fairness Inclusion and Respect Inspiration award from the Civil Engineering Contractors association, for her work promoting LGBT awareness within the Construction sector.

David Isaac

36
Equity Partner and Sector Head
Pinsent Masons

David chairs the firm’s D&I steering group and is senior role model and business sponsor for Pinsent Masons’ diversity work. In the last year, he led on the firm’s submission to the Stonewall WEI and new international initiatives for inclusion for trans colleagues. He works with clients and the wider business community in the UK to promote the business case for LGBT inclusion, and is a senior mentor in the firm. He frequently speaks on LGBT issues, including at The Law Society, Interlaw, and the Network of Networks for University LGBT groups. He also organised the firm’s photography exhibition of International LGBT activists for CHOGM with the Kaleidoscope Trust. For his work at Pinsent Masons’ he has been shortlisted by Pink News as a Corporate Role Model. Externally, David is Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, working with the board and the senior executive team to ensure they protect LGBT rights. He is also the newly appointed Chair of the Governors at the University of the Arts London. As the former Chair of Stonewall he is still a very active supporter and ambassador of the charity, an advocate for Stonewall’s WEI, and a mentor to the current chair.

Bob Annibale

37
Global Director, Citi Inclusive Finance
Citi

As a senior out executive, Bob champions Citi’s commitment to supporting LGBT+ colleagues, clients, and communities. He co-leads the Citi Pride global affinity group, working to promote LGBT inclusion and rights globally, to expand Citi Pride Networks in more countries, enhance internal policies, and advocate for the community externally. Citi  recently announced that it will expand their Voice of the Employee survey and employee self-ID to include LGBT, and to expand partner benefits to all countries where it is legally possible. He and Citi have opposed proposed/actual hostile legislation, in a number of US states. Bob worked with seniors at Citi and PinkNews to convene the five party leaders in Stormont for the first time in nearly two years to raise awareness of LGBT issues and marriage equality in Northern Ireland.  Citi also became a founding signatory supporting ‘Business for Love Equality’ in Northern Ireland. Bob serves as a Founding Member  of SAGE’s Housing Advisory Council supporting the senior LGBT community, and sits on the boards of Accion International, the U.S. FDIC Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion, Advisory Committee of Big Society Capital, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corp. and the Citi Foundation.

Daisy Reeves

38
Partner
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

Daisy is one of the most senior ‘out’ gay female lawyers in the industry. She is BCLP’s LGBT* Champion, driving the LGBT* agenda in the UK, and leading the company to ranking #7 in the Stonewall Work Equality Index and gaining Stonewall Top Trans Employer status. She spearheaded the award-winning LGBT* Legal graduate recruitment event, ‘DiversCity’, now in its eighth year, and developed a first-of-its-kind cross-sector event for LGBT* students/apprentices interested in a career in the wider City of London, called ‘AuthentiCity’. The event gives hands-on advice about different career paths, reflecting that the City is, for the most part, no longer a draconian place to work for LGBT* individuals. She also initiated a UK-wide mentoring programme for the legal profession. Daisy is a founding ambassador of LBWomen, addressing the issue that L/B women often feel more discriminated against than their gay male counterparts, reflected in the national questionnaire responded to by 1300 L/B women. She regularly supports LGBT+ charities, is a judge for the British LGBT+ Awards, and has been given a huge number of accolades for her inclusion work.

Jon Miller

39
Partner
Brunswick Group

Jon is the founder of Open For Business, the global coalition of companies taking action to create LGBT+ inclusive societies, focused on countries hostile to LGBT+ rights. He has co-authored two major Open For Business reports on the economic case for LGBT+ inclusion. He has recently spoken on this at the World Economic Forum, Davos, the UN Human Rights Council, the European Parliament, and the Economist Pride & Prejudice. He also hosted an Open For Business reception at parliament during the Commonwealth Summit for business leaders to meet activists and parliamentarians. At Brunswick, Jon co-leads the global Business & Society practice, advising the senior leadership of global companies on how they can create value for society alongside value for shareholders. He is the co-author, with Lucy Parker, of Everybody’s Business, which looks at the potential for big business to be a force for positive social progress.

Richard Socarides

40
Chief Communications Officer
GLG

Richard leads communications and policy at GLG, the world’s leading expert economy platform, and is a forceful advocate for inclusion as a senior member of GLG’s global diversity committee. Throughout his career, both in government and the private sector, Richard has been an important role model, proving that visible advocacy can go hand in hand with professional achievement. An early advocate for workplace anti-discrimination policies as a White House aide, Richard was the driving force behind President Clinton’s historic 1998 executive order banning sexual orientation discrimination in the civilian federal workforce. He was also one of the first openly gay senior U.S. officials to receive Top Secret security clearance. Richard was an early and relentless campaigner for marriage equality in the U.S., using his columns in The New Yorker and regular TV appearances to help elevate and propel the cause. He has done pro bono work for many LGBT rights organizations; helped spearhead GLG’s partnership with Open for Business and Out Leadership, among others; and has served on the board of several LGBT rights organizations. Richard has received the Human Rights Campaign award in recognition of his efforts.

Masa Yanagisawa

41
Co-Head of Japan Equity Sales
Deutsche Bank

As a dbPride leader in APAC, Masa has been promoting a better understanding of issues around the LGBT and workplace in various locations in Asia. He helped to open four new dbPride teams in India, and put orientation and gender identity into the equal and inclusive benefits. He also hosted APAC initiatives including the regional IDAHOT summit in Singapore, and connected 6 offices via video conference to discuss LGBT+ and their own careers. He held dbPride sessions on "how you can talk about LGBT to your kids", "Let's learn about issues around LGBT and sports" and "Unconscious bias in workplace and LGBT". Externally, Masa established the forum called "Work With Pride", and its workplace equality index (Pride Index). It is now widely used in Japan, and the Japanese government Ministry of Health and Welfare officially supports the initiative. He is also a vice-chair person of Human Rights Watch Tokyo committee and has been promoting research on LGBT kids and bullying in Japan as well as transgender rights in Japan.

Louis A. Vega

42
President Dow Australia & New Zealand and VP, Olympic & Sports Solutions
The Dow Chemical Company

Louis is an outspoken advocate for a culture of inclusion to ensure every employee feels valued and is treated with equal opportunity to succeed.   From his Chairmanship of Chemistry Australia, the national body representing the $40 billion Australian chemistry industry, to board seats on GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute, the University of Queensland’s Centre for Sustainable Engineering, the UTS Dean’s Industry Advisory Board, and board of Australia’s Male Champions of Change Institute which works with influential leaders to redefine men’s role in taking action on gender inequality, Louis brings issues of inclusion to various stakeholders globally.  A long time philanthropist, Louis’ business acumen, strategic expertise and global network make him a sought after and influential thought leader to advocate for a culture of inclusion across the world of sports, the global business community and governments at all levels.  A proud multi-year member of the OUTstanding LGBT+ Role Models list, Louis was also named to Australia’s 50 outstanding LGBTI business executives of 2018.

Antonia Belcher

43
Managing Partner
MHBC

Antonia is a regular a panellist and speaker on Trans workplace inclusion and role modelling, most recently with the Chartered Insurance Institute, the WSP VIBE Equality Network, and various Pride in the City events. She has contributed to two books; “Transitioning in the Workplace – A Guidebook” & “The CEO Guide to Diversity and Inclusion”. This year she also launched the ‘Antonia & Andrea Belcher Trans Fund’ to support trans causes worldwide. It is administered by the newly established charity vehicle set up by Elliot Vaughn, called GiveOut, and it will now make small grants to help those activists and organisations working across the world to improve the lives of trans people. She is also a Trustee of Diversity Role Models, and attends South Bank University EDI Steering Group meetings to assist on Trans issues for their policy work. She produced a blog for Pride in the City, and recently attended the AKT Dinner with Sir Ian McKellen. She has been nominated for a number of accolades, including the NatWest British LGBT Awards 2018, the Gary Frisch Gay Times Honour 2017, and was included in the City AM Power 100 Women listing in 2016.

Robert Hanson

44
CEO
John Hardy

Robert has been an out gay executive for as long as he has been in business, and he has actively built advocacy groups and addressed code of conduct policies to ensure welcoming and supportive corporate cultures for LGBT+people. He represents his company and industry in LGBT+ Executive visibility initiatives, often writing on his experiences in order to role model a pathway forward for others. He co-sponsored an Amicus Brief arguing for marriage equality as a benefit for attracting and retaining the best talent possible. He was also a keynote speaker at Out and Equal.  Externally, Robert is a Board Director of Constellation Brands and Urban Outfitters, a rarity among Fortune 100, 500 and 1000 Boards, and has been in Director roles at several LGBT+ organisations.   He is a frequent mentor to LGBT+ talent in career development activities and has conducted several education sessions with Boards on the topic of LGBT+ inclusion.  He has also been engaging with Out Leadership, speaking at their global conferences related to LGBT+ leadership advancement in business, as well as coaching high potential LGBT+ executives in successfully seeking Senior Executive and BoD Director positions.

Ollie Saunders

45
Lead Director - Alternatives & Building
JLL

Ollie was one of the first visible LGBT professionals in real estate, and is regularly quoted in real estate press about diversity. He has been executive sponsor of the JLL LGBT network since joining in 2014. JLL were the first main property consultancy to march at London Pride and he has been a visible leader through internal media and in his role on the Executive board of JLL.  Externally, Ollie joined the board of Freehold when it was founded in 2011. He runs their mentoring programme, which has mentored more than 50 LGBT+ people, and is now establishing a reverse mentoring programme to influence senior leadership in real estate. He has also challenged senior leadership of competitors where he has fed back the issues that have emerged in the mentoring programme, to increase the rate of change in real estate. He has also personally mentored over 10 people in recent years, including colleagues who have LGBT children. Ollie has also worked with Tonic Housing and provided pro-bono advice through his team to help establish the first LGBT Retirement Living platform, as well as organising a real estate seminar on the issue in order to galvanise support from LGBT professional networks.

Patrick Mispagel

46
Managing Director – EMEA Ratings and Research Support
Moody's Investors Service

Patrick has been one of Moody’s most visible OUT senior leaders. Throughout his 16 years at the firm, he has educated leaders about the LGBT+ employee experience, and more broadly has shared his personal experiences through events, interviews and profile pieces on the firm’s intranet. He is a D&I Ambassador, was co-founder/co-chair of Moody’s LGBTA Employee Resource Group (ERG) in the APAC region, and is now a senior advisor to the EMEA chapter. As leader of Moody’s junior analytical staff for EMEA, he seeks to foster awareness of LGBT+ issues within his teams and visibly supports inclusion. Externally, Patrick has represented Moody’s at the Out Leadership Senior Summit in the UK and Hong Kong. He has actively engaged with Moody’s CSR strategy, participating on selection panels with The Fore, a grant-maker supporting organizational development of small charities and social enterprises. He supports a small charity based in Newcastle – The Josephine & Jack Project – which provides individuals with learning disabilities access to workshops related to sexual health and well-being, including on LGBT+ topics. Patrick has also served as a mentor and panellist for the UK arm of his university’s alumni organization, where he provided an out perspective about careers in finance.

Thomas Sanchez

47
CEO
Social Driver

Thomas Sanchez is CEO and founder of Social Driver, one of the fastest growing digital agencies in the United States and a certified LGBT business enterprise. Social Driver is trusted by the world's leading corporations and nonprofit organizations to provide digital solutions for social media, websites, and marketing. The company’s mantra captures its mission and values: “we believe the future is bright, all progress is social, and the drivers make history.” Under his leadership, Social Driver’s collaborative culture and cutting-edge strategies have received wide acclaim, including the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce’s Supplier of the Year award. Thomas has been credited as one of the “most innovative people in Washington, DC” (DCInno) and a top “minority business leader” (Washington Business Journal), but his passion for entrepreneurship began humbly, growing up on a farm in Missouri, where he learned valuable lessons that helped him launch a successful technology career and build a business. Thomas serves on the Board of The Trevor Project, the national nonprofit providing suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth. The Mayor of the District of Columbia appointed him as an advisor for LGBTQ Affairs and to the Innovation Technology and Inclusion Council.

David Shelley

48
CEO
Hachette UK

As CEO, David does all he can to emphasise that everyone is welcome at Hachette, no matter what their background, and that diversity helps them to succeed Two years ago, he launched Changing the Story, an initiative that aimed to make Hachette the publisher and employer of choice for all people, irrespective of background. The initiative developed into Hachette's Diversity and Inclusion programme, which has revolutionised the company and now boasts 7 staff networks and 800+ members, including the Pride network, which provides support, information and fellowship for LGBT+ people. The network has presented at board meetings and is very much integrated into the fabric of the company. Externally, David is vocal in his support for a wide variety of organisations which campaign for LGBT+ rights.

Robyn Streisand

49
CEO
The Mixx

At both of her companies, Robyn promotes a fully inclusive and open culture. Her team makeup is truly diverse, and she truly believes that diverse people promote diverse thinking, approaches and creative solutions for clients. Under her leadership, The MIXX have done awareness work for the UNHCR LGBT+ Refugee program and NLGBTMA, and have developed LGBT+ marketing programs for Mercedes Benz USA. Externally, Robyn co-founded the NGLCC NY as the first and only licensed chapter outside of the NGLCC in DC. She currently sits on the Board of Advisors for the Phluid Project, which is the world's first gender free shopping experience. Robyn was also voted as one of Ad Age's 2017- Women to Watch, and was selected as one of the OUT 100 in 2016, alongside icons like Tom Ford and Ellen Degeneres.

Michael Brunt

50
Publisher and Chief Operating Officer
The Economist

In order to demonstrate a commitment to the LGBT+ community within the company, Michael launched the WILDE network (Workplace Inclusion of LGBT Diversity at The Economist), for which he is now the Executive Sponsor. It’s a network for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex employees and allies at the company. Its mission is to ensure that The Economist’s longstanding tradition of championing the rights of LGBT+ people continues, and these rights are upheld in the workplace and in the wider community. Employees meet up regularly to talk about what is on their mind concerning LGBT+ issues. He has also mentored young and diverse team members, and has been very involved in the creation of The Economist’s annual Pride & Prejudice global event, which makes the business case for LGBT diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Michael is also a mentor to young people outside of the workplace. He has given interviews and written op-eds in a number of publications in order to show how important it is for people to be their authentic selves both in and outside of work.

Maggie Lower

51
CMO
TrueBlue

While relatively new to TrueBlue, Maggie was asked to serve as Executive Sponsor of the “Be Proud” employee resource group. She is a strong believer that everyone should be judged on their job performance, from the results they deliver to the way they treat others. She personally makes the workplace welcoming by confidently demonstrating that standard every day, and unapologetically sharing her story while contributing to her company’s success. Externally, Maggie acts as a mentor for many high potential LGBT+ professionals, and shares her story at national conferences on the importance of diversity & inclusion, women in the c-suite and non-traditional career pathing. She has spoken both inside and outside of the staffing industry on these subjects.

Jens Audenaert

52
Division Vice President & General Manager
ADP

Jens is General Manager of WorkMarket, an ADP Company. Jens serves as the global Chair of ADP Pride, ADP’s LGBTQ business resource group. Since being elected Chair four years ago, membership has increased over twenty-fold with a 50/50 mix between LGBTQ members and allies. The team also launched chapters in traditionally non-LGBTQ-friendly places such as Brazil and India. This year’s new activities included launching an ADP Pride mentorship program, hosting a cross-company event to discuss best-in-class employee resource group practices, publishing (internally and externally) a series of short training videos on LGBTQ topics, and building an app to allow other companies to create best-in-class employee resource groups. He also drives policy recommendations, leading for example to the adoption of LGBTQ Self-identification at ADP. Externally, Jens serves as the President of the Board of Directors of Reaching Out MBA, a non-profit organization focused on educating, inspiring, and connecting the LGBTQ MBA community to impact change in the workplace. He is also a member of the Leadership Council of God’s Love We Deliver, and member of the Board of Visitors of Fenway Health.

Elliot Vaughn

53
Partner & Managing Director
The Boston Consulting Group

As part of global senior leadership of Pride@BCG, and lead in Europe, Elliot has pushed BCG forward while being a visible role model within and outside the firm. In addition to programmes for recruiting, mentoring and allies, this year he has signed the company up to the new UN Standards, spoken on platforms supporting Australian and Taiwan marriage equality, and personally authoring a study with Open for Business. He is also leading an intersectional approach to inclusion, teaming with women@BCG and BAME teams for more impact. This year he was recognised with a global BCG Wurster Achievement Award for sustained contribution to the LGBT network, which is 20 years old this year. Externally, Elliot has founded a new UK charity called GiveOut, which is raising funds for LGBTI activists globally. In 8 months GiveOut has received pledges >£250k, donations of >£150k, set up a dedicated Trans fund, and been shortlisted by the Third Sector Awards as 'breakthrough of the year'. He personally led the work to set up GiveOut and was its principal source of funds in its early days. He also serves as a Board Director of the US based NGO, OutRight Action International, chairing its Development Committee.

John Clifford

54
Partner
McMillan LLP

John was a founding member, and is now co-Chair, of the Inclusion and Diversity Committee of McMillan. Under his leadership, the firm completed its second diversity and inclusion survey of all firm members, the learning from which is now improving D&I training, programs, and events. The Committee also led the development of a policy and guidelines for supporting and accommodating the needs of transgender employees, which were recently released firm wide. He has also been an active member of the Law Firm Diversity and Inclusion Network since its inception. Earlier this year he participated in a caucus to discuss issues of inclusiveness faced by LGBTQ lawyers in Canada, and what industry leaders can do to effect change. Externally, John founded exeQutive, to promote, support and strengthen the careers and businesses of Toronto-based LGBT executives, professionals and business and community leaders. They host networking events featuring speakers and discussions about LGBT-focused professional development. exeQutive financially supports LGBT community groups and supported younger LGBT professionals through a mentoring program. He played a key role in the 2014 proudTOvote campaign, and is an active member of the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section, where he was Chair of the Section’s LGBT Involvement Subcommittee.

Darren Rickards

55
Managing Director, EM Corporate Banking
Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Darren has shared his personal journey and message of inclusiveness with people at all levels of the company - from senior managers in one-to-one meetings to junior members of staff, some of whom he has mentored through their own ‘coming out’ journeys. He regularly addresses teams at internal meetings, region-wide town halls and LGBT+ Pride and Ally panel events - both internally and externally. He also inspires senior allies to visibly signal their support for LGBT+ employees, by encouraging attendance at various LGBT+ Pride events. He is an active member of the bank’s global LGBT+ Leadership Executive Council, and the Executive Co-Sponsor of the LGBT+ Pride Network in Europe. Externally, Darren recently penned an article in Gay Times, which examined the importance of supporting the next generation of LGBT+ talent in the workplace. The story was published online and in print, and was supported by BofAML’s social media channels. Earlier this year, he partnered with the bank’s Arts & Culture team to secure significant budget and organise an unprecedented event at the British Museum’s Rodin exhibition. It brought together a broad audience of professionals from across the City to celebrate diversity.

Lisa Davis

56
Managing Director, Global Head of Enterprise Services
Citi

Lisa was part of the team that co-founded the Citi PRIDE Employee network and later became co-chair of the network leading multiple initiatives to help with the advancement of diversity and inclusion specifically in the LGBT+ space. She currently sits on the PRIDE Affinity Steering Committee as the North America representative and has the responsibility to support and help bring together best practices, programming, and policy creation across 14 PRIDE network chapters throughout the country. She participates as a leader in Citi's diversity recruiting efforts specifically targeting LGBT+ people, and is currently the co-chair of the Diversity Committee for Citi's North America Treasury & Trade Services business. Externally, Lisa is on the Board of Directors for SAGE, and chairs the development committee. She is also chair of the development committee for the Brooklyn Community Pride Center, and was instrumental in getting Citi to sign on to the amicus brief for both the Edie Windsor and Masterpiece Cake supreme court cases.

Joey Gonzalez

57
CEO
Barry's Boot Camp

At Barry’s, Joey strives to foster an environment that celebrates equality, uniqueness, and the LGBT community on a daily basis. The most significant initiative recently has been their global marketing campaign, United We Sprint. This is a frequency challenge in which they celebrate their community, both in and out of the red room during the month of Pride. All proceeds from the challenge are donated to The Family Equality Council, where Joey sits on the board. They also highlighted the power of their LGBT community during the#BarrysStories activation. Externally, Joey uses his public platform to positively impact the LGBT+ community, and is very active on social media. He was named one of Fast Company’s 2018 “Most Innovative People in Buisness”, and received the CEO of the Year award from North Castle Partners.

David Finlayson

58
Global Chief of Staff - Group Operations
Credit Suisse

David is the most senior openly LGBT+ leader at Credit Suisse EMEA and is a highly visible role model. He successfully secured funding from the Board to support a range of LGBT+ inclusive initiatives. He devised and led the launch of the LGBT Ally Program, and travelled across locations to launch the program. He Co-chairs the LGBT and Ally Employee Network and drives the Bank’s strategy to foster LGBT+ Inclusion. He regularly talks at divisional Management Committees and town halls on LGBT+ Inclusion and the Ally Program. He also designed and gained Board support to launch the LGBT Reverse Mentoring Program. As a member of the Bank's Policies Committee, David was able to extend their mandate to ensure inclusive language on all policies, and led discussions to implement staff monitoring across all diversity characteristics. He played a leading role in partnering with the Benefits Team to extend Trans inclusive employee benefits, and helped to gain agreement on gender neutral bathroom signage on campus. Externally, David is an active mentor to LGBT+ individuals, and participated in the Proud Professional Parents (P3) counselling program. He appeared in the P3 “Family is Love” video, and has featured in the Stonewall Starting Out Guide.

Sylvia Ng

59
MD, Head of Business Development, Greater China
HSBC

As a visible member of the LGBT+ community within HSBC Asian headquarters in Hong Kong, Sylvia has spoken openly in internal HSBC Pride events and InterBank / Lesbian in Finance events on coming out, the experience as applied to the work place and on starting a same-sex family. She has mentored junior members of the community on their careers and navigating social attitudes in Hong Kong. Sylvia has also reverse-mentored senior leaders on LGBT+ issues, enhancing their understanding of the topic. Externally, Sylvia is a supporter of HSBC Pride events and Pink Dot. She has made herself available to mentor members of the community outside HSBC, encouraging them to be genuine, listening to their concerns and offering advice.

Will Smith

60
Partner
Deloitte

Will is the executive sponsor for Deloitte’s LGBT+ GLOBE network, which comprises approximately 1,000 Allies and LGBT+ employees. Under his leadership the network launched its hugely successful Allies programme, a trans inclusion plan, and a series of senior client dinners, raising the profile of various topics relevant to LGBT+ inclusion. Last year he hosted an all-network event, bringing together ten Deloitte diversity networks for the first time to identify areas of shared experience on inclusion. He provides support for the GLOBE leadership team to ensure that their efforts are recognised and rewarded across the firm. He has also acted as a mentor for a number of LGBT people at Deloitte, counselling them around coming out at work and enabling them to bring the best of themselves to the office. He has been part of Deloitte’s campaign in support of marriage equality in Northern Ireland, joining a number of large businesses in an open letter to Government on this important issue, which was covered by the BBC and the Financial Times. He also attended and helped organise Deloitte’s entry in London Pride, and co-hosted the after party at Somerset House attended by over 100 people.

Ben Foat

61
Group Legal Director
Post Office

Ben was co-founder and actively participates in the Post Office PRISM (LGBT+) network. At the Post Office’s Diversity and Inclusion Launch Event last year, he spoke as a senior LGBT+ leader on what it was like to grow up being gay and to be an openly out leader. Since establishing PRISM, he has co-ordinated sponsorship of Chesterfield Pride, marched in London and Bolton Pride, written on School Diversity Week, and introduced the idea of using rainbow lanyards to increase LGBT+ visibility at Post Office. He has also registered a trademark for a rainbow flag version of the iconic Post Office logo which has been subsequently used in social media and emails. The PRISM network has also seen a number of achievements this year, including participating in three Pride events for the first time. Externally, Ben is a Stonewall Ambassador and a mentor to a number of LBGT+ people. He attended the launch of School Diversity week at Parliament, aimed at ensuring that children are better protected in schools from homophobic, biphobic and transphobic prejudice. He regularly contributes to LGBT+ organisations, and has been a vocal advocate of Marriage Equality in Australia having spoken publically about through social media and presentations.

Tony Wood

62
Partner and UK Leader
Mercer Marsh Benefits

Tony is Executive sponsor of Mercer’s LGBT+ Pride group. He has worked with the team to design a series of internal intersectionality seminars including unbundling LGBT, LGBT and Age. They created a very successful IDOHOT day in Mercer offices nationally, and have actively supported improvements in Mercer’s Stonewall ranking. He also created a new Pride governance model, including the appointment of their first Ally co-chair. Tony has lobbied and supported both Mercer and Marsh Health Trusts to include Trans* healthcare benefits, which has now been implemented in both organisations. He has presented at a number of Mercer UK and international client forums for clients on LGBT healthcare, and in particular Trans* Healthcare, in conjunction with Mx Pippa Bunce from Credit Suisse. Externally, Tony arranged Mercer sponsorship of Disney’s LGBT film festival, where staff and clients were invited. He has spoken at a number of external events, and supported StateStreet’s Mental Health and LGBT groups speaking as a panellist at their intersectionality event. He has also been lobbying UK Private Medical Insurers on the policy inclusion of Trans* healthcare benefits. He has also driven a focus on LGBT+ mental health in the Business In The Community Mental Health at Work Report.

Tim Millward

63
CEO
Extrastaff

Tim has created an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone is comfortable bringing their authentic whole selves to work. He has developed excellent equal opportunities and diversity policies, including gender reassignment, and an external coach mentoring teams and training managers to promote mental wellbeing, equality and inclusion. They have workshops and team polling to better understand the potential challenges regarding sexuality and unconscious bias and how to navigate them. Externally, Tim supports, advises and encourages those in the LGBT community—particularly talented youth and promising business entrepreneurs. He is a mentor among a wide pool of the LGBT community, as well as being a Stonewall Ambassador, an Associate Friend for Life of the Terrence Higgins Trust and a supporter of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Brian Bickell

64
Chief Executive
Shaftesbury

Brian is an openly gay CEO who aims to lead by example. He speaks regularly at public events to raise awareness of the LGBT community in the wider debate on Diversity Inclusion in the real estate sector and workplace generally. All of his staff have completed diversity awareness training, and actively promote awareness across their supply chain through a supplier Code of Conduct. Since Brian becoming CEO, the company have become corporate supporters of Pride in London, providing Pride with office space and a pop up merchandising space. He is a volunteer mentor for Just Like Us, working with young LGBT moving out from education in to the workplace. Outside of work, Brian is a board member of Freehold. He has successfully raised the profile of LGBT community working in the property sector with employers, professional bodies and trade organisations, and works with other D&I groups in the sector. He is a speaker and panellist at a wide range of diversity and inclusion events, on the topic of LGBT+ inclusion specifically. He has also been featured in a number of media outlets as a senior voice in the LGBT+ community.

Darren Styles

65
Managing Director
Stream Publishing

With the help of Peter Tatchell, Darren has put together a presentation for all new starters that emphasises the value of human rights on a global scale, and explains how they express that locally and within an office environment. Additionally, during recent mergers between Attitude magazine and Stream Publishing, he addressed with the whole team the language and standards around LGBT+ and gender to harmonise understanding and correct use of terminology. Since acquiring the Attitude brand, Darren has implemented a strategy to better utilise the significant platforms and visibility they have for the wider benefit of the LGBT+ community. He has reintroduced the Attitude Pride Awards alongside the big and glamorous Attitude Awards, a move which has generated significant mainstream media coverage. Externally, he is an Ambassador for Downing Street's GREAT Campaign, to promote the UK as a place to visit, invest or seek an education. Through this, he has been responsible for developing the 'Love is GREAT' strand that promotes the UK as a safe space for LGBT+ individuals. Darren was on the Queen's Birthday Honours list in June, awarded an OBE for services to the economy, diversity and charity.

Brian Winterfeldt

66
Founder & Principal
Winterfeldt IP Group

As the Founder and Principal for Winterfeldt IP Group (WIPG), a specialized intellectual property firm. Brian sets the cultural tone for the workplace. Inclusion activities specific to LGBT have included the annual LGBT-focused Lavender Law conference, pro bono services to The Trevor Project and the LGBT Bar, and contributing to articles on the LGBT+ experience in the legal industry. He also mentors other LGBT+ employees, both attorneys and support staff, within his own team. Externally, Brian was a founding member of GLINTA, an LGBT+ affinity group for members of the International Trademark Association, the largest professional association in his practice area. He has been involved in the LGBT Bar for over 10 years, including regularly speaking at the Lavender Law conference, and for the past 5+ years has chaired an IP Institute at Lavender Law, offering speaking opportunities to LGBT+ attorneys and allies. He has also served as a member of the Board of Directors for The Trevor Project. He has spoken regularly at the Symposia organized by the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession on his experience as an LGBT+ attorney, raising awareness of both progress in the past couple decades and the significant challenges still faced.

Timothy Thompson

67
SVP Strategy and Transformation
TD Bank Group

As chair of TD's LGBTQ2+ Executive Steering Committee, Tim drove year-round communications on LGBTQ2+, and incorporated queer, gender non-binary and two-spirit identities into the conversation, to increase understanding of unique experiences across the diverse community. Under Tim's leadership, TD launched a speaker series for employees, featuring LGBTQ2+ company executives and external LGBTQ2+ thought leaders, to highlight visible role models inclusive environments for professional growth. He developed an in-house LGBTQ2+ talent development program, to support continuing growth and unique needs of emerging leaders. He also provided mentorship to LGBTQ2+ employees, and attended events in different markets, to connect with LGBTQ2+ employees and allies, to ensure their voices and concerns are heard. Externally, TD sponsored 83 Pride festivals and over 160 LGBTQ2+ community initiatives across North America, and drove new building standards to include All Gender Restrooms for all new and renovated retail locations. He is a speaker at LGBTQ2+ university events, meeting and mentoring students and young professionals. He also established and funded an annual scholarship at McGill University in Montreal, to support strong LGBTQ2+ or Ally MBA students who demonstrate exemplary leadership with the LGBTQ2+ community.

Timothy Chow

68
General Counsel, Latin America & the Caribbean
Diageo

Timothy served as an executive sponsor of Diageo's Rainbow Network during its formation at the company's corporate headquarters in the UK, and has helped advise the company on its participation in a number of LGBT+ initiatives. As one of the most senior, openly gay executives in the company, he has used various leadership conferences and other platforms to raise LGBT+ related concerns. He has also actively helped facilitate corporate sponsorships by Diageo and its brands for various LGBT+ related charities. Externally, he has served on the board of the LGBT Community Center of New York. They offer a range of social service, health and wellness, family, cultural and advocacy programming to over 6000 LGBT+ visitors weekly. During his time on the board, he served as treasurer and board president, as well as chair of various fundraising and programming initiatives, helping to raise over $8m for The Center and its programming. He has been involved with various LGBT+ causes, most focused on the LGBT+ community in New York.

Greg Johns

69
Director and Senior Negotiations Executive
IBM North America

Greg is a member of IBM's LGBT+ Global Council, an executive mentor, and has attended Out & Equal several times. He also sponsored a global IBM initiative to introduce guidelines for health benefit coverage for gender affirmation surgery in countries outside of the US, leading to introduction of coverage in Canada and several other countries. Recently, he has been executive co-sponsor of IBM's Global Ally 365 initiative to engage more LGBT+ allies within IBM to be active throughout the year. This autumn, he spoke to a new IBM group of LGBT+ Out Role Models from 30+ countries to share his story and insights. Externally, Greg works mainly with two organizations - the Bill 7 Award Trust LGBTQ Scholarships and exeQutive. He has been a board member of the Bill 7 Award Scholarships for over 10 years and became Chair in 2017. Bill 7 Award scholarships are awarded to LGBTQ post-secondary students based on demonstrated financial need. He was also a founder of a Toronto group called exeQutive and has been on its steering committee since its inception. exeQutive provides a unique forum for LGBT executives and leaders to network, learn from and support each other.

Cliff Hopkins

70
Global Head of Marketing
Instagram

Cliff founded the LGBTQ+ at Instagram Employee Resource Group. The purpose of the group is to strengthen the vibrant community of LGBTQ employees at Instagram and give back to the community at large. He, and the group, provide mentorship and run internal programs to raise visibility for equality and inclusion. This year, they celebrated Pride 2018 with a campaign to lift up young LGBTQ+ voices and highlight the role models who inspire them. They also rolled out a rainbow gradient across hashtags, location stickers and live reactions. Externally, Cliff is a member of the board of directors of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. He is also a member of the board of directors of The Trevor Project. Cliff is deeply committed to working with both organisations to achieve their respective missions and improve the lives of LGBT+ communities. Cliff was named by Business Insider as one of the top 50 most innovative CMOs in the world in 2017.

Emma Woollcott

71
Partner
Mishcon De Reya

Emma founded the firm's active and inclusive LGBT+ Pride network, which hosts regular events for clients, contacts and colleagues. Before the formal Pride network was set up, they carried out ad hoc pro bono work for LGBT+ causes and hosted events with the GWN and with Stonewall. Since the creation of the network, it has gone from strength to strength, offering a place for colleagues to network and grow friendships, as well as to collaborate on business development projects. Outside of the workplace, Emma established the firm's support to Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre in two of their award-winning pro bono legal projects; Pink Law and SPITE. She also volunteers with Diversity Role Models and has provided pro bono advice to various LGBT+ campaigns, charities and people. Emma was recently recognised as outstanding in her field by Spears Wealth Management's Index for Reputation Protection lawyers, and is described as a trusted advisor in Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500.

Huw Morris

72
Partner - Advertising & Marketing
Lee & Thompson LLP

On his second day at Lee & Thompson, one of the UK's leading law firms for the media, technology and creative industries, Huw officially launched the firm's Inclusion Network, streamlining all of its existing D&I activities and bringing everyone to the table to focus on driving forward a progressive 360º inclusion strategy. He sponsors various firm D&I initiatives, including for women and working parents in the music industry, unconscious bias and interview training, and mentoring; drawing from personal experience of mentoring junior LGBT+ employees. As part of an active D&I events calendar, he arranged the firm's first sponsorship of a major D&I event - the British LGBT Awards 2018. Externally, Huw is a Trustee and Non-Executive Director of Ditch The Label (one of the world's largest anti-bullying charities), a seed investor and Strategic Advisor of myGwork (the leading online recruitment and networking hub for LGBT+ professionals and organisations) and a founding member of the LGBT+ Lawyers Division of the Law Society, which promotes inclusion across the legal industry. A specialist advertising and marketing lawyer, Huw is also a founding Board Member of PrideAM, which promotes positive LGBT+ content in advertising, and visible LGBT+ role models across the advertising industry.

Shachar Grembek

73
Co-Founder & CTO
Reps AI

Shachar founded LGBTech and co-founded the Israel Diversity Standard (IDS), both first-in-kind organizations in Israel, as part of his vision to promote inclusiveness for LGBT+ people in the workforce. Their events play host to world-class roles models, and in 2018 they also launched a list of the top LGBT+ executives in Israel in conjunction with the leading local financial periodical. Under his leadership, LGBTech was one of the founders of a scholarship fund for transgender young people, together with Ma'avarim, and this year he personally helped raise funds for 12 scholarships. Earlier this year, Shachar’s work had a huge national impact, helping to lead a country-wide strike against a surrogacy law discriminating against the LGBT+ community. The strike was conceived by the Israeli LGBT-Task-Force’s chair, and he immediately leveraged his companies’ strong networks, built up over 8 years, to ensure widespread and unprecedented corporate support for the LGBT+ community

Matt Scarff

74
Director of ITV Creative & Experiences
ITV

Matt has worked with key areas of ITV to introduce ITV’s ‘Transitioning at Work’ policy and helped drive gender-neutral identification when registering on the ITV Hub catch up service. On screen, his standout moments included ITV running ‘Pride’ channel idents into key programmes and introducing Pride branding on ITV's daytime shows This Morning and Lorraine, with Lorraine Kelly leading ITV's coverage of Pride In London in July 2018 at the event and on her morning programme. He invited ITV's new Chief Exec, Carolyn McCall to the Summer of ITV Pride meeting in June to participate and answer questions relevant to the LGBT+ community at ITV and asked Managing Director of ITV Commercial, Kelly Williams, to be Board Sponsor of the ITV Pride LGBT+ Network. Onboarding packs for new colleagues include references to ITV Pride, explaining what the network group is and how they support colleagues within the organisation. Externally, Matt is a key member of the InterMediaUK network group, having previously chaired the Steering Committee. He has spoken at the Institute of Directors Diversity and Inclusion Conference and featured in an authored report from ITV News around LGBT+ and why Pride Matters in 2018.

Hayley Sudbury

75
Founder & CEO
WERKIN

Hayley’s company, WERKIN, strives to work with organisations that prioritise LGBT+ inclusion as a core business function, that seek to make sponsorship accessible to all and that are committed to accelerating underrepresented talent into senior leadership positions. As part of their dedicated CSR programme, they partner with companies that have equality at the heart of their business operations. WERKIN is committed to creating a fundamental shift for the female, LGBT+ and BAME talent pipeline and uses its technology to support mentoring programmes for a number of LGBT+ organisations, including LBWomen. Externally, Hayley is an Ambassador for LBWomen, and Sponsor of the inaugural Global Mentoring programme. She is a strong advocate for workplaces that enable employees to bring their whole selves to work and a frequent speaker in the UK and US. In 2018, she was named We Are Tech Women’s Tech 50 Awards Champion, Silicon Republic Women Invent Top 100, Brummell Magazine’s Inspirational Women, a leading Queer Scientist and nominated as Inspirational Role Model, DIVA Awards. She also hosts a podcast featuring diverse voices, particularly LGBT+ leaders in tech and finance, sharing their perspectives on workplace inclusion.

Wesley Bizzell

76
Senior Assistant General Counsel; Managing Director of Political Law & Ethics Programs
Altria

In 2014, Wesley co-founded Altria's LGBTQ Employee Resource Group, Mosaic. Since that time, he has served on Mosaic's leadership team, chairing the committee that identifies improvements to corporate policies and corporate culture that would benefit Altria's LGBTQ employees and make the company more welcoming and inclusive. He has initiated and led numerous projects that have created positive changes in Altria's policies, practices, and culture. He is leading the effort to develop guidelines that can be used when a transgender employee transitions in the workplace. Additionally, he led the effort to successfully roll out a self-identification option for LGBTQ employees via their internal human resources database. Externally, Wesley serves as president-elect of the National LGBT Bar Association. He is a frequent author and speaker on diversity and LGBTQ issues within the legal profession, and has presented at the International Bar Association on LGBTQ Discrimination in the Workplace. Additionally, he is active in promoting adoption for LGBTQ families and volunteers with AsylumConnect, a non-profit creating the first ever online resource database to help asylum seekers find LGBTQ- and asylum-friendly resources near them.

Catherine Vaughan

77
Partner, Global Compliance Leader
EY

Catherine established the ERG, Unity, in Ireland over 10 years ago, and is now the executive sponsor. Driving strategy has included delivering leadership training on LGBT+ workplace equality, providing mentoring to junior members of staff, and speaking regularly on LGBT+ issues at internal D&I forums, events and meetings. More recently, she has pushed the debate on data and monitoring to identify where LGBT+ staff may not be fully recognized, rewarded or developed to their full potential. In her Executive role, she is working with colleagues to formulate a D&I strategy for her team, part of which involves developing D&I Training. Externally, Catherine has helped a number of companies establish their own employee resource groups, working with their D&I Sponsors as well as their LGBT+ employees to consider their LGBT+ strategy and the role of ERGs as part of that strategy. She was the visionary behind Ireland's newest business network of networks, FuSIon, the Financial Services Inclusion Network, now one of Ireland's leading business networks for LGBT+ employees.

Olfert de Wit

78
Chief Operating Officer HSBC Singapore
HSBC

During his time as Partner at The Boston Consulting Group, Olfert was the leader of BCG's LGBT Network in Europe, Middle East and South America. After joining HSBC, he has continued to be an active role model. Earlier this year, Olfert and his husband moved to Singapore for HSBC, where he is the Executive Sponsor of the HSBC Pride Network. Given his seniority, his appointment shows HSBC’s global commitment to diversity and inclusion. Externally, Olfert is a regular donor and supporter of a variety of LGBT+ inclusion organisations.

Lawrence Spicer

79
Vice President, Personal & Commercial Banking Internal Audit Services
RBC

Since assuming the role of Executive Chair of RBC PRIDE Canada in 2014, Lawrence has led the growth of the employee resource group by 30% and championed concerns of LGBT+ employees at RBC. His influence resulted in the ability for employees to self-identify their LGBT+ status in HR talent management processes and the creation of a formal mentorship program connecting LGBT+ employees with LGBT+ executives and allies. In June 2017, he spearheaded the first RBC enterprise-wide PRIDE event, which was hosted by the CEO and Group Executive, and led an executive panel discussing the importance of allies. He also led RBC to become a founding sponsor of the inaugural Queen’s University’s LGBT+ Executive Leadership program. In addition, he helped Start Proud, Canada’s leading organization for LGBT+ students and young professionals, obtain long term funding from RBC to enable expansion of their national speaker series. Externally, Lawrence is a regular speaker on panels and at events focused on LGBT+ inclusion. He plays an active role connecting members of the LGBT+ community internationally, and is a mentor to young professionals and a peer coach to executives about being out in the corporate world.

Cynthia Fortlage

80
CIO
GHY

The sole executive in GHY International who identifies as non-cis gender, non-hetro normative, Cynthia leads by example every day. She started a business helping to develop people to their full potential in business, with a focus on women and LBGT+ individuals. She is the President of the Board for local LBGT+ centre, and a social media blogger on LBGT+ issues. A transgender leader within community, Cynthia is also a playwright and actor working to accurately portray the stories of women and transgender people. She has been regularly recognised for her inclusion work, having recently been ranked among Huffington Post’s Top 100 Most Social CIOs on Twitter, and as one of CXO Talk’s 20 Most Influential CIOs.

Gabrielle Novacek

81
Partner & Managing Director
The Boston Consulting Group

Since 2010, Gabrielle has served as the global leader of the Boston Consulting Group's LGBTQ+ employee organization, "Pride@BCG". In those 8 years, she has helped with the expansion of their presence to almost every BCG office, including Asia and Latin America. She has contributed to the ongoing extension of internal benefits and policies - including trans and unmarried domestic partner health coverage in the US. She has also achieved continuous innovation in programming to support the LGBTQ+ consultant experience - including mentorship, allyship, career development support, recruiting, and alumni engagement. As a result of Pride@BCG's work, LGBTQ+ inclusion and advocacy sits as a core priority within the people agenda of BCG's CEO, regional chairs, and local office leadership. Externally, Gabrielle serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors for Reaching Out MBA, as well as the chair of the group's Strategy sub-committee. She is currently overseeing the development of the group's 5-year strategic plan, in addition to year-round engagement and steering as a senior member of the Board of Directors.

Amin Kassam

82
Chief of Staff and Senior Counsel, Legal Department
Bloomberg

Amin serves as the Chief of Staff and Senior Counsel for Bloomberg’s Legal Department. Along with litigating and advising on a variety of complex legal matters, Amin is responsible for the global operations of the Company’s legal and compliance functions. Earlier this year, Amin completed his two year term as the global co-lead for Bloomberg’s LGBT & Ally (BProud) Community. During his tenure, BProud substantially increased its visibility and impact, expanding to ten chapters and doubling in size. He serves on Bloomberg's Diversity Council and is currently representing a gay Bangladeshi refugee in his application for asylum as part of Bloomberg's legal pro bono program. Over the past several years, Amin has personally led numerous corporate advocacy efforts in support of LGBT rights including Bloomberg signing on to five corporate amicus briefs advocating for the rights of the LGBT community in the US and the United Nations LGBTI Standards of Conduct for Business. Amin currently serves on the Board of Directors of the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Muslim Bar Association of New York. He is regularly called upon to speak on issues relating to diversity, inclusion, and intersectionality.

Monica Boll

83
Managing Director
Accenture

In September 2018, Monica was appointed the global sponsor for Accenture’s Pride Employee Resource Group (ERG).  She has a particular interest in raising visibility for women leaders, both within and outside of Accenture.  Her appointment follows serving as the sponsor for the New York Pride Network for the past three years and being involved in the Atlanta Pride Network for nearly a decade. Monica recently joined and supported the New York launch of the UK-based organization, LBWomen. She provided strategic guidance to introduce them at the Out & Equal Summit in Seattle, where she also spoke on a women’s leadership panel.  In 2016 and 2017, she was part of the consultation team supporting Accenture’s partnership with the United Nations. Their objective was to create and launch their Corporate Standards of Conduct on Tackling Discrimination against LGBT+ people. Monica and her wife are long-time active Federal Club Council members of the Human Rights Campaign; she serves on one of their New York steering committees. She often speaks on LGBT+ rights at large conferences and webinars including Out Women in Business, Out for Undergrad, the Fairygodboss GALVANIZE event in New York and the Forum on Workplace Inclusion.

Jeffrey Krogh

84
Managing Director
BNP Paribas

Jeffrey was one of the founders of Pride (BNP Paribas’ LGBT+ network) in the UK, which has since become the driving force behind LGBT diversity within the group. He is on the Pride Steering Committee and is leading a number of initiatives, as well as working with Pride in France and guiding them in their ongoing work. He is a promoter for making LGBT diversity and inclusion part of the business case. At BNPP, Jeffrey is the most senior out executive in the UK. He has been a guest speaker several times at EURout, organised by London business school, and he has hosted events in BNPP for the LBS network. Externally, Jeffrey is a member of The Alliance, set up by McKinsey, following participating in their LGBT Master Class programme. He recently participated in their inaugural meeting in Lisbon and will be participating in several initiatives which will follow from this gathering. He is a mentor and regular speaker on LGBT+ inclusion and is helping to changing the perception of the financial sector for existing and potential LGBT+ talent.

Narind Singh

85
Partner
Clifford Chance

Narind is the senior executive sponsor for Arcus, the Firm's LGBT+ network and has been for 8 years. In this role, he regularly advocates for LGBT causes with the board and other management committees in the firm. He acts as an informal mentor to senior allies and for members of staff. This includes career mentoring, sponsoring LGBT rising stars as well as being a sounding board when issues arise in the workplace. He speaks very openly about his experiences, and the challenges that being both Asian and bipolar have brought alongside being LGBT+. He has spoken at numerous internal events ranging from talks on mental health and LGBT+ to intersectionality between ethnicity and sexual orientation, as well as gender issues. Externally, Narind led the team that represented Christie Elan Cane in a high profile judicial review of HM Passport Office's refusal to issue a passport to Christie with a non-gender specific X marker. He won the Stonewall award for Senior Champion of the Year 2018, and was shortlisted for the Top 10 LGBT+ Inspirational Leaders 2018 at the British LGBT Awards. Narind is a member of the board of governors of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

Martin Stead

86
Chief Executive Officer
Nutmeg

Martin set up and actively participates in Nutmeg's LGBT+ network. He led the company’s march in Pride 2018, signed Nutmeg up to Stonewall’s Diversity Role Models programme, sponsored a "Pride History Wall" initiative to improve LGBT+ awareness amongst all employees, and has hosted lunches with the LGBT+ community. Martin also led the introduction of unisex toilets to the office, an important and yet often overlooked step for transgender inclusion. Externally, Martin is active in the InterTech community. He hosted an Intertech event at Nutmeg and gave a plenary speech on the importance of, and opportunity for, tech start-ups to do business a better way for employees, customers, and society. He is a frequent social media poster and blogs on the importance of diversity. He is also a Diversity Role Model schools mentor, makes personal charitable contributions, and is a figurehead for LGBT Great Role Model initiative, aiming to improve diversity in wealth management.

Steve Wardlaw

87
Executive Chairman
Emerald Life

Founded by Steve and under his leadership, Emerald has changed the insurance sector - rewritten policies, produced marketing campaigns and improved customer journeys to make sure that everyone feels included. They have spent a great deal of time on trans issues and insurance, and were the first to allow Mx as a title in the sector. Emerald was the first insurer to include surrogate children in the definition of ‘family’ for their travel policy. In July they became the first travel insurer where those living with HIV no longer have to declare that as a medical condition. Externally, Steve is a role model for Diversity Role Models and Stonewall, as well as being a Stonewall ambassador (which included giving sessions to Stonewall ambassadors on being a trans ally). With the charity GiveOut, he will shortly announce a new personal fund set up for grassroots LGBT+ and women’s initiatives in South Africa, and customers of Emerald Life will have the opportunity to donate part of their premium to the fund. He regularly blogs on HuffPost about LGBT issues globally, and has also been taken on by Thomson Reuters for the same purpose.

Abby Fiorella

88
General Auditor
MasterCard

Abby is an advocate and sponsor of the MasterCard Pride Network and standing member of the Company's Global Diversity and Inclusion Council, giving voice and bringing attention to LGBT+ workplace issues and equality. Recognizing her role and mantle as the most senior out executive, she also maintains a highly visible presence, open door, and path in /support for prospective and current LGBT+ employees worldwide. On behalf of the Company, she has engaged and led partnerships with OutLeadership, OutWomen, Lambda, Open for Business, and the NYC Gay & Lesbian Community Center. These efforts, along with more targeted outreach, have helped set the stage and support efforts to foster diverse and inclusive workforces and communities around the world. Abby is a Member of OutLeadership and OutWomen Advisory Councils, an OutWomen “Supermodel,” and the 2018 recipient of the NYC Gay & Lesbian Community Center’s Corporate Impact Award.   

Vincent Francois

89
Regional Chief Audit Executive
Société Générale

Vincent created the first LGBT network in a French bank in 2009 and since then has acted as a role model within his company, and promoted LGBT equality in the workplace and in society in general. He is the Chair of the Societe Generale UK LGBT network and has been instrumental in the organisation of events for staff internally and sponsorship of key external LGBT events such as The Stonewall Summer party, the Diversity Careers Show, the European Diversity Award, and The British LGBT Awards. Under his leadership, the network created a Straight Allies stream 4 years ago and are also organising internal events to promote better inclusion of LGBT Staff in the workplace. Externally, Vincent is a regular speaker on LGBT+ inclusion. He recently gave a speech at the House of Commons in support of the Amy Winehouse Foundation, and often gives speeches in schools to help tackle homophobic bullying on IDAHO day. As the Chairman of the Association for Foreign Bank Head of Internal Audit Committee, he is also helping the AfB HR Committee in including LGBT D&I in their agenda.

Ellen van Essen

90
Shared Services Director
Vodafone

Ellen implemented a Vodafone Shared Services Diversity & Inclusion strategy for 20,000 employees, with a focus on LGBT+ inclusion. As part of this, she rolled out the #Proudtobelong Engagement Roadshow across 4 countries, where they shared personal stories on LGBT+ inclusion. Being openly out as a bi-sexual senior executive, Ellen has also become an LGBT+ executive sponsor for Vodafone Group representing LGBT+ interests amongst Vodafone’s top 200 Senior Leadership Team leaders. Currently, she is planning to initiate Vodafone’s first external LGBT+ roundtable in India with representatives from other large corporations in India, to align and move forward on creating LGBT+ inclusive workplaces. Externally, Ellen has been an Advisory Board Member of the Workplace Pride Foundation since 2015. This has helped her connect with other senior leaders to better understand and influence the needs and support of LGBT+ community as well as allies around the world. She is also a speaker at many global events around the world on LGBT+ inclusion.

Justin D’Agostino

91
Global Head of Disputes and Asia Managing Partner
Herbert Smith Freehills

Considered the legal industry's "diversity trailblazer", Justin founded the firm's first LGBT* network in London in 2007. As the network's executive sponsor, he has since continued to proactively support and drive its growth across Asia and Australia and recently focused on developing LGBT* activity in the firm's EMEA offices where LGBT* inclusion is less advanced. HSF was the first law firm to sign up to L'Autre Circle, a public commitment to LGBT+ equality in France. This year, he launched the firm's global trans* guidelines and support for the UN LGBTI Standard of Conduct for Business. Internally, Justin is an active mentor and role model. When travelling, he ensures that in-country leaders and our people are aware of our policies and the IRIS (LGBT*) network. He played an instrumental role to secure the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity information within the firm's first annual global diversity audit. Externally, Justin is a Top Table Stonewall ambassador and gave the welcome speech at the launch of the Stonewall Top 12 Global Employers launch with UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. He is also a mentor with the Queer Straight Alliance in Hong Kong, and a proud supporter and mentor of Pink Dot.

Emma Goodford

92
Proprietary Partner & Head of National Offices
Knight Frank

In 2016 Emma established and has chaired the RD+I initiative at Knight Frank. They encourage diversity, in all its forms, and have created 6 specific areas to focus this initiative on- one being LGBT+. Emma is a senior role model for LB Women and supports this initiative by attending events and speaking openly about her experience- within and outside the workplace. Knight Frank have received the RICS kitemark for Diversity and Inclusion, and they are a Global Sponsor of Stonewall, demonstrating the commitment shown by the firm to this area. Emma is involved with mentoring and graduate recruitment, showing her dedication to creating a pipeline of diverse talent.

Eric Dube

93
Head Viiv North America
Viiv Healthcare

Eric has been an advocate for inclusion and diversity for 18 years at GSK and subsidiary ViiV Healthcare. He has worked hard to increase visibility of LGBT+ issues and rights at the highest levels within the business. He was an executive member of GSK’s Global LGBT+ Council in 2016-17, during which time he helped increase LGBT+ awareness in countries where the focus was historically on gender. He is also an active member of the LGBT+ employee resource group, Spectrum, whose increased influence has helped pave the way for GSK’s success in the Stonewall Top 100. He is also actively mentoring younger employees, and participating in panel discussions designed to help community members develop careers as out leaders. Externally, Eric has long been involved in a number of organisations, including becoming a member of the Human Rights Campaign. He has also recently been very active on his LinkedIn blog, where he has started addressing the topic of inclusion.

Shamina Singh

94
Executive Vice President, Sustainability & President, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth Strategic Growth
MasterCard

Shamina serves on Mastercard’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Council, and on the Gender Inclusion Committee. These committees are cross-functional teams composed of executives who meet regularly to discuss relevant issues and opportunities. In addition, she is a member of several employee engagement groups. As an out married lesbian Shamina plays an active role both inside and outside of Mastercard. She has a long history of engagement outside of the workplace, including years of commitment to organizations and causes including OUT Leadership, HRC, LPAC, Out for Undergrad and a variety of Pride-related activities.

Anna Fullerton-Batten

95
Head of Global People Acquisition and Onboarding
Refinitiv

Anna is a passionate advocate for LGBT+ rights and has spoken at more than 20 events in 2018 about the importance of equality, diversity and the value of feeling able to be out at work in internal and external forums.  In her previous role as Talent Acquisition Senior Director at Johnson & Johnson, she was the most senior out LGBT+ leader in the UK , creating an inclusive work environment by sponsoring training such as bespoke unconscious bias training for +100 front line talent acquisition staff in August 2018. Over the last 3 years, Anna has mentored more than 15 LGBT+ future and senior leaders as well as coaching more than 10 straight leaders to become LGBT+ allies. Outside of work, Anna runs LGBT+ groups for people who identify as women through the organisation Meetup. She established the first group in Dec 2017, entirely self-funded and due to a massively positive response has already added another 3 groups across 4 counties. She has served on the judging panel of the National Diversity Awards since 2012 and is well known for all her E, D&I activities. In 2018, Anna began her new role as VP, Head of Global People Acquisition and Onboarding at Refinitiv, where she will continue to champion diversity in all forms.

Jorge Pikunic

96
Managing Director, Distributed Energy and Power
Centrica

Jorge is a high profile and vocal advocate of LGBT+ inclusion – this year speaking regularly at events such as National Inclusion Week, chairing a panel on intersectionality, World AIDS day, and hosting ‘ally’ sessions for senior directors. Most impactful of all was an interactive company-wide ‘YamJam’ at Centrica (online webchat) where Jorge had a conversation about LGBT+ inclusion and the wider issues affecting the LGBT+ community. He championed the use of data to improve LGBT+ inclusion, with the introduction of questions on sexual orientation and gender identity in Centrica’s annual engagement survey. As executive sponsor for Spectrum, Centrica’s LGBT+ network, he played a key role this year, working with ‘allies’ to secure for the first time a float at London Pride for British Gas, one of Britain’s best-known brands, and ensuring Spectrum representatives get enough time away from their day jobs to run and grow the network. Outside of the workplace, Jorge mentors LGBT+ young people who are rapidly advancing their careers at other firms.

Alex Kalomparis

97
Vice President, Public Affairs, EMEA
Gilead

Alex is a founding member of Gilead’s LGBTQ+ Alliance in EMEA. In 2017, he was actively leading the establishment of the LGBTQ Alliance in EMEA, working with colleagues across the region and with the company HQ in the States. He has secured resources to deliver a programme of activities to support the company’s core value of inclusion. Additionally he led on a number of initiatives, including Gilead’s attendance at Pride events across Europe and in Israel. He is also a mentor and speaks at events on LGBTQ issues in the workplace. Alex has been leading on a partnership with the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Key Populations Fund which supports LGBTQ+ NGOs across the Eastern Europe region in order to reduce stigma associated with being a member of the LGBTQ+ community and being HIV positive. Additionally he works with the Diana Award organisation on their anti-bullying campaign for young people in general and young LGBT+ people in particular.

Erik Luengen

98
COO - SAP Industry and Customer Development
SAP

Being one of the out executives at SAP, Erik strives to make sure everyone feels welcomed. As a big supporter of diversity and inclusion he contributes to initiatives like Pride@SAP, Autism@work or HeForShe. He also focuses on countries where there is more support needed than in Western Europe. He recently helped launch the Pride@SAP network chapter at SAP Labs India to gain visibility and understanding of the local LGBT+ needs. Externally, Erik was part of the Executive jury at the RAHM LGBT+ Leadership Contest 2018 in Berlin working with 100 openly out LGBT+ leaders. Furthermore, he is actively mentoring LGBT+ employees as part of several mentoring and leadership programs. This year he received a diversity and inclusion award of Products and Innovations unit, SAP’s development organization.

Tuvia Borok

99
Executive Director & Senior Counsel
Goldman Sachs

Tuvia is a regular mentor for junior to mid-level LGBT talent, and a reverse-mentor to certain senior management who want to create more inclusive teams. He regularly speaks on European internal panels that challenge views and perceptions of LGBT talent and multi-faceted diversity. Most recently, he flew to NY to share his diversity and authenticity message with Goldman employees pan America. He has provided guidance and advice on new proposed benefits and leave policies to ensure inclusiveness, particularly focussed on LGBT parenting/families. He is also a sponsor on various LGBT driven community outreach initiatives that the Firm partners on. Externally, Tuvia is co-founder & CEO of non-traditional families charity, the P3 Network. P3 supports employees at 72 UK multinationals/government agencies. In Dec 2017, P3 launched a ground breaking anti-stigma video campaign on parenting with HIV, which was endorsed by the NHS, the British HIV Association and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. In October 2017, he gave a TEDx talk on redefining authenticity,  challenging the out-dated approach organisations take to supporting LGBT/ diverse talent. He was also the sole LGBT representative on the steering committee for the Equal Lives report published for UK government in Sept 2018.

Marc Rubinstein

100
Managing Director & General Counsel
Asia Pacific Land

Starting in 2005, Marc co-founded the first LGBT network at a company in Asia both in Tokyo and Hong Kong at Lehman Brothers. Thereafter, he co-founded the Interbank LGBT networks in Tokyo and Hong Kong which have spurred similar networks in Singapore, Taiwan and elsewhere. More recently, he co-founded the Hong Kong LGBT+ Attorneys Network (HKGALA), the first and leading network for the LGBT legal community in Hong Kong. Externally, Marc has been a mentor to LGBT students for the past eight years through the Goldman Sachs sponsored LGBT mentorship program in Hong Kong, organized by the Queer Straight Alliance, and Fruits in Suits. He participates as a panellist and moderator on many panel discussions on diversity in general and LGBT diversity in particular and, volunteered as a lecturer in the recent AIESIC Youth Conference discussing the current state of LGBT rights in Hong Kong.