In alphabetical order
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This category is judged based on evidence provided according to the british lgbt awards criteria.
ALEX VOWINCKEL
CMS
Alex is an experienced Lawyer at global law firm CMS. In 2018, Alex was awarded the Pink News Corporate Role Model Award for continuously pushing boundaries of LGBT+ inclusion and being fundamental in making non-binary visible. Earlier last year, Alex wrote a widely-read article for The Lawyer about being a non-binary lawyer and made a highly informative film “#WhoIsAlex” for Spectra, addressing some issues faced by a non-binary parent and “mother” (premiered at the Barbican/ nominated for the Charity Film Awards). Alex has a dream that non-binary gender identity will become a legal reality, treated equal to binary gender identity – and that we are all treated with equality on the basis that we are human beings.
BOBBI PICKARD
BP
Bobbi is a senior project manager and incredibly active in the transgender awareness space. As the award winning Co-Chair of BP Pride’s Transgender Group she has been instrumental in changing BP’s level of transgender awareness globally. In addition to founding the multi-company transgender collaboration “Trans in the City” she provides free consultancy and training for schools and organisations through Transknowledge.co.uk.
Bobbi started transitioning at the end of 2017 and came out at BP shortly afterwards – she identifies as transgender, her pronouns being She and Her.
Bobbi is the singer and bassist in a band and has two amazing children
BRUNA GIL
Bruna has driven the charge for LGBT+ inclusivity in her role at LinkedIn and through external networks. She has a global role within LinkedIn’s LGBT+ network leading investment efforts in LGBT+ leadership. As a member of LinkedIn’s Social Impact Board, she has worked with numerous non-profits to create opportunity for youths from diverse backgrounds, as well as enabling LinkedIn employees to volunteer within these organisations. She is on the advisory board for Career Accelerator, an organisation that focuses on empowering minorities to pursue careers in tech. In 2019, she was named an Ambassador for LBTQ Women network.
CHRISTOPHER KENNA
BRAND ADVANCE
Christopher Kenna is CEO and Co-Founder of Brand Advance (BA), a company which connects brands with diverse audiences globally, through Insights, Media and Creative ventures that more authentically engage specific communities.
Chris is also the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at OUTvertising, the advertising industry lobbying group and, as a mixed race, out gay father, is a strong advocate for diversity and representation within the Media and Advertising industry.
Chris is an award winning entrepreneur having recently received the Innovator of the Year Award at the second annual Ex-Forces in Business Awards and was shortlisted for the Chief Executive of the Year at the Inclusive Companies Awards.
DEON PILLAY
LGIM
Deon is Chair of LGIM’S L&GBT+Allies network and Co-chair of InterInvest, a network of investment professionals that drive LGBT+ equality across the investment industry. A role model for LGBT Great, he received their inaugural award for driving inclusion in Asset management. He is a keynote speaker, sharing his personal experiences to surface LGBT+ issues, a panellist championing diversity and inclusion, committee member of the Diversity Project’s LGBT+ stream, and supporter of Queer Britain. He is ranked 36 in the 2019 OUTstanding LGBT+ Future Leader Role Model list, and 3 in the 2019 EMpower Top 50 Ethnic Minority Future Leaders list.
MICHAEL BURNHAM
SSGA
Michael joined State Street in 2012 and has since taken over as Chair of our Pride Network and re-defined our approach to LGBT+ inclusion and visibility for our Pride Networks in Europe for over 12,000 employees. He has led initiatives for Bi Visibility, Trans* Awareness programs, reverse mentoring and help for parents of LGBT+ kids. He has also been a dedicated member on our mentoring scheme for LGBT+ staff across EMEA. Michael has excelled with his involvement in charity work with Opening Doors London and Positive East over 4 years and this saw him win the State Street Chairman’s award for volunteering in 2019. As a Trustee for Positive East, he has helped this charity get access to over £40,000 in funding and led the largest corporate team each year at the annual World AIDS Day Red Run.
NICHOLAS JOHNSON
VIRGIN ATLANTIC
Nick is a Partnership Development Manager at Virgin Atlantic, his home for over 13 years. He is also the Co-chair and Co-founder of G-VPRD the company’s LGBT+ network which was founded in 2017.
In 2019 he led the drive to register one of the airline’s new A350 aircraft as G-VPRD. Rain Bow, as it is also known, is the first aircraft in history to carry a male flying icon. Virgin Atlantic will now fly with pride around the world, every day of the year.
Nick is a champion for inclusion at Virgin Atlantic, leading its 2019 Pride activities in Paris, London and Brighton. He is also an LGBT reverse mentor for a member of his senior leadership team.
SOPHIE HUNT
ADOBE
Sophie Hunt is a Biddable Specialist at Adobe, Chair of the AdobeProud UK Employee Network and EMEA AdobeProud Lead. Her passion for the community allows her to push the key message of inclusivity and ‘Adobe for All’, ensuring employees from all backgrounds and minorities feel included and seen at Adobe. In December 2019, AdobeProud UK were awarded the ‘LGBTQ Network of the Year’ at the Rainbow Honours awards. Adobe was also ranked No.5 on the ‘Great Place to Work’ annual list of UK’s Best Workplaces 2019 and second on the UK’s Best Workplaces in Tech, as well as Fortune Magazine’s ‘Best Workplace for Diversity’ ranking No.30.
SQUADRON LEADER CATHERINE LAWSON
ROYAL AIR FORCE
Squadron Leader Catherine Lawson is an Engineer Officer in the RAF with a career spanning over 24 years. She has led engineering organisations at home and on operations across multiple aircraft types and since 2015 has been a leading voice within the RAF LGBT+ Freedom Network. As the Transgender Lead and Co-Chair she has worked tirelessly alongside the RAF Diversity and Inclusion Team to drive forward inclusion for LGBT+ personnel. A Stonewall Leadership Programme Alumni, she regularly speaks at Diversity and Inclusion events and has been instrumental in the development of tri-service policies to support transgender and non-binary personnel.
THERESA FARRENSON
AON
Theresa Farrenson is Customer Experience Lead for EMEA Affinity, Aon. Theresa was instrumental in the formation of both Aon’s Pride Alliance and the cross-industry LGBT insurance network, Link. Under their leadership Link was awarded Queens Award for Voluntary Service in 2019. Theresa is a visible non-binary role model, organising and speaking at events and appearing in Lloyd’s Guide to Trans and Non-Binary Inclusion. Additionally, they have organised events on: menopause; aging, isolation & elder care; gender stereotypes, inclusive language. Theresa’s contribution to D&I in insurance has been recognised in industry wards and they were a 2018 Top 10 Diversity Champion.