The judging panels will come together to go through Top 10 submissions and decide on the winner. We have chosen judging panels of business and community leaders who are invested in their workplace and also the wider LGBT+ community. The Judging Panels will judge Oustanding Contribution to LGBT+ Life, Brand or Marketing Campaign, and the Business categories. Celebrity and consumer categories will be brought before a public vote.
Categories are:
Business Categories
- Future Leader
- Inspirational Leader
- Business Ally
- Diversity Hero
- LGBT+ Trailblazer
- Network Group or ERG
- Inclusive Employer or Company
Individuals Category
- Outstanding Contribution to LGBT+ Life
Brand Category
- Brand or Marketing Campaign
Please enquire if you would like to receive more information on judging criteria or the nomination process.
Business Category Judges
Judging Panel
PHILIP ANDERSON
LEGAL & GENERAL
Philip is the Chief Operating Officer for HR across Legal and General, a leader in the financial services market. Philip, a previous British LGBT Awards nominee, is a highly visible LGBT ally across the sector, actively sponsoring and mentoring LGBT talent. An advocate for inclusion and diversity across the workforce, Philip works tirelessly to help people thrive in and outside the workplace. With thirty years’ experience building, running and supporting times, Philip loves every opportunity to help people be their best at work, or anywhere else besides. When he’s not at work, you’ll find Philip immersed in the Marvel Universe, celebrating Eurovision or finding every opportunity to enjoy time in the countryside with his long-term partner.
CHARLIE CLARK
MACQUARIE
Charlie has worked within the investment banking industry for 15 years and has enjoyed seeing a huge amount of change in this time. He joined Macquarie 4 years ago and has co-chaired Macquarie’s Pride Employee Network Group for the last 2 years. Under his stewardship, the network has expanded to enable the network to increase visibility, partnering with other networks to serve the entire LGBTQ+ community and their allies. Last year, the Pride ENG won several awards including Highly Commended Network from Stonewall, shortlisted for top 10 network by Diva and played a significant role in Macquarie being named as the number one employer in the UK on the Stonewall Equality Index. Charlie’s work within LGBTQ+ doesn’t stop in the workplace, he also volunteers for the BeYou Project outside of work, which provides young LGBTQ+ people with a safe space to socialise, have fun and support each other.
LAURA DEVANEY
JOHNSON & JOHNSON
Laura joined J&J 18 years ago, spending most of her career in science and Consumer Health. Most recently, she embraced the opportunity to change her career, now working with internal teams to coach and empower them to embrace product management practices and focus on delivering value for customers.
Laura co-launched the UK Chapter of J&J’s LGBT+ and Ally ERG, Open&Out, in 2017, catalysing conversations and taking action to empower LGBT+ colleagues to embrace their authentic selves at work. In 2022, we celebrated the launch of our UK Transgender Policy, and continued provoking thoughtful conversations through our events, including “tackling the fear of saying the wrong thing.”
BABAK ERFANI
NETWORK RAIL
Babak joined Network Rail in 2009, and has spent his career working on the development, design and construction of major infrastructure projects. He led the design and construction of part of London’s Crossrail network, before moving on to head up Network Rail’s major investment programme in signalling and digital railway projects across the South West of the UK.
In 2013 Babak established Archway, the company’s LGBT+ employee network. Now in its 10th anniversary year it’s grown to become the largest LGBT+ network in the rail industry, and in 2022 it was named Stonewall Network Group of the Year. Since 2016 it has hosted a major industry annual conference on LGBT+ inclusion, along with a huge variety of events all over Great Britain, along with a ground-breaking training programme for allies. It now works across Europe with its counterpart LGBT+ employee networks in rail, cementing its position as a global leader.
In 2017 Babak was appointed an MBE for his work at Archway in recognition of the support it has provided for LGBT+ colleagues throughout Britain’s railways.
HENRY GOSLING
TESCO
Henry started working for Tesco in 2004 while still at university. After completing his degree he worked his way through the internal management program holding a number of positions in stores before moving to Head Office in 2012 as a Project Manager.
In 2018 Henry started to work with the LGBTQ+ at Tesco Network helping to create the strategy for the coming years and to ensure that they support and challenge the business. Throughout his time in the network he has held many conversations with external speakers and used his own personal experience and expertise to help our colleagues understand more about the LGBTQ+ community, and ensure everyone is accepted at Tesco, without exception.
By working with the network it supported him in making the transition to Diversity & Inclusion Manager where he now supports all six of the Colleague Networks at Tesco . Using his expertise and skills he is not afraid to challenge the conversation and help to deliver Tesco’s ambitious D&I plans for the future. Most recently Henry helped Tesco to achieve a climb in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index from 23rd to now where Tesco is 15th position.
TERENCE GUIAMO
JUST EAT TAKEAWAY
As an advocate of Inclusion, Diversity and Belonging, Terence Guiamo is committed to anchor the themes in organisations at all levels. With experience as Head of Inclusion & Diversity at PwC, Chair of the Agora Network ( a nation wide network in the Netherlands to support cultural diversity) and currently the Global Director Inclusion, Diversity & Belonging at Just Eat Takeway.com, creating dialogues between people and supporting them to see different perspectives is at the core of his purpose:
“Inclusion is a prerequisite for organisational growth and success, and I strongly believe that we can only create this inclusive culture by being connected to each other and are able to step more into each other’s world. ”
JIMMY HIGGINS
HSBC UK
Joining HSBC in 2011, Jimmy has worked in a variety of roles across the Commercial Bank, where still works as part of the Real Estate Finance business.
Jimmy became co-chair of the HSBC UKs Pride Employee Resource Group in 2021, a network of nearly 5,000 engaged and dynamic members who all work tirelessly to make the Bank a more inclusive place for our colleagues, customers and community. Jimmy has overseen a dramatic increase in HSBC’s Stonewall rankings, helped deliver a full Gender Dysphoria healthcare benefit for employees, and made both internal and external systems more inclusive for the LGBTQ+ population.
WINCIE KNIGHT
PARAMOUNT
As the strategic lead for Paramount’s Office of Global Inclusion outside the USA, Wincie Knight works alongside leaders around the world to implement initiatives which promote diversity, inclusion and belonging across the company.
A seasoned television executive, Wincie began her career in production more than 20 years ago and has since channelled her passion into influencing organisational practices and company culture to drive business success.
Wincie’s leadership spans executive engagement to keep DEI at the forefront of strategic planning; building partnerships with external stakeholders – including community representatives, regulatory bodies and more – and developing workplace initiatives which foster a sense of belonging for staff. In 2018, she introduced Paramount’s first Inclusion Week in the UK – an all-staff programme of DEI-themed events and activities – which has since rolled out to Paramount offices in more than 30 countries.
Wincie also works collaboratively with all of Paramount’s Employee Resource Groups, which empower all staff to develop initiatives that positively impact the business, build a sense of community and provide a forum to speak truth to power.
Wincie holds an MSc in Organisational Behaviour from Birkbeck, University of London where she conducted research focused on Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic employees in media companies. She has also completed an Executive Leadership Programme at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.
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
DANIEL WINTERFELDT
JEFFERIES
Daniel Winterfeldt is the General Counsel for EMEA and Asia at Jefferies. He is a senior corporate and securities lawyer with over 24 years of experience in London and New York.
Daniel founded the Forum for US Securities Lawyers in London in 2006 to address US securities issues in the London market across law firms, banks, and intermediaries. In 2008, Daniel founded the InterLaw Diversity Forum to promote meritocracy and inclusion for all diverse, under-represented, and socially disadvantaged groups in the legal sector. The InterLaw Diversity Forum currently has more than 9,000 members and supporters from 300 law firms and chambers, and from 500 corporates and financial institutions.
In 2020 Daniel was appointed Queen’s Counsel Honoris Causa (Honorary QC) for his contributions to capital markets in England & Wales through his work with the London Stock Exchange and the Forum for US Securities Lawyers in London; as well as for his contributions to diversity, inclusion, and culture in the legal sector through his work with the InterLaw Diversity Forum; and was named an MBE for “Services to Capital Markets, to Equality and to Diversity in the Legal Profession”.
Outstanding Contribution to LGBT+ Life
Judging Panel
EILIDH ‘BOOM’ MACLEOD
GALOP
Boom has over 12 years’ experience working across the diversity and inclusion field, with a focus on LGBT+. She joined Galop as Head of Fundraising and Comms in November 2021, and is committed to using the power of ‘brand’ to expand the charity’s influence in order to reach as many victims and survivors as possible.
Previously, Boom was CMO for SPM Group Ltd, working to bring brands such as the British LGBT Awards to life, alongside developing diversity events and training programmes used by some of the UK’s largest organisations. She also has retail marketing experience with almost five years as a marketing executive for Breitling watches. She sits on the Advisory Board for the Privilege Project.
GURCHATEN SANDHU
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION
Born to Panjabi Sikh working-class migrant parents in the UK, Gurchaten is a widely respected LGBTI changemaker and community leader, joining ILGA World to further strengthen and build on the organisation’s programmatic work and manage its growing Programmes team.
Before their time at ILGA World, Gurchaten was the Non-Discrimination Programme Officer at the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work Branch, where they built their expertise and knowledge on promoting social justice through decent and inclusive work for all, in particular to enhance LGBTIQ+ rights at work and economic inclusion. They were also the President for UN-GLOBE, the group representing LGBTIQ+ personnnel in the United Nations system.
Gurchaten serves as a steering committee member of International Family Equality Day NGO, a fellow of the Salzburg Global LGBT forum, a Sarbat LGBT Sikhs volunteer and a trustee for We Create Space.
Gurchaten has been listed as the OUTStanding LGBT Role Model from 2018 to 2021. They are also an Honouree of the Out & Equal’s 2021 Global LGBTQ Corporate Advocate Outie Award, winner of the British LGBT Award for Exceptional Inclusion 2021 and the Pink News Community Role Model 2022 award.
REVEREND JIDE MACAULAY
HOUSE OF RAINBOW
Reverend Jide Macaulay is the Founder and CEO of House Of Rainbow CIC. Openly gay British-Nigerian born in London, a Christian minister since 1998, Anglican Priest, inspirational speaker, author, poet, pastor and preacher, HIV Positive Activist, holds a degree in Law, masters degree in Theology and Post-graduate certificate in Pastoral Theology.
OSCAR DAVIES
LAMB CHAMBERS
Oscar is the first barrister to come out publicly as non-binary and has an Instagram (@nonbinarybarrister) where they make and share free resources on trans and non-binary law. Oscar sets out recent developments in the law, parliamentary debates about reform, and snippets of their life as a non-binary barrister.
Oscar speaks on panels regarding trans/non-binary issues, in particular in how employers can avoid discrimination in the workplace and how they can implement better policies for e.g. transition.
Outside of Oscar’s trans/non-binary law focus, they have a broad civil practice at Lamb Chambers, covering employment, commercial, property and international work.
LADY PHYLL
UK BLACK PRIDE
Lady Phyll works with activists and changemakers across the African continent and the Commonwealth, to help shape strategies and raise money for ongoing efforts to liberate LGBTQ people impacted by discrimination, persecution and violence. She is regularly called upon to provide guidance, advice and leadership for LGBTQ civil society organisations and is co-founder of UK Black Pride and Executive Director for Kaleidoscope Trust, an LGBT+ International Human Rights charity.
In January 2022, Lady Phyll was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from London Southbank University in recognition of her decades-long work fighting for the rights of marginalised communities in the UK; and in October 2021, she was recognised for her enduring contribution to LGBTQ life in the UK with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the British LGBT Awards.
TIM SPOOR
AKT
Tim Spoor is CEO of the national LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity, akt, and an activist and international adviser on mental health and homelessness issues. This year, Tim is celebrating 35 years of Queer activism, starting with the Section 28 rallies, and 25 years in executive roles with the LGBTQ+ sector.
Tim has been campaigning for the rights of LGBTQ+ people across the UK and internationally since 1988, receiving an MBE in 2016, and fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts in 2018 in recognition. He has spearheaded innovative, ground-breaking national and international development work, supporting some of the most vulnerable and disenfranchised LGBTQ+ people across the fields of mental health, homelessness, HIV, sexual health, substance misuse, and has delivered initiatives in challenging environments, such as prisons and oppressive regimes.
Tim is a passionate advocate for people facing oppression and discrimination, both within and outside Queer communities, and believes that equity, diversity and inclusion comes from understanding and responding to all intersections of someone’s identity and lived experience, and giving up your platform to elevate theirs.
Brand or Marketing Campaign
Judging Panel
ABY HAWKER
TRANSMISSION PR
Aby Hawker is a chartered communications professional with more than 20 years’ experience. She has worked on national, regional and international campaigns for household brands ranging from British Airways and National Grid to Braun and Gillette.
In 2016 she was offered the role of communications lead for a start-up hell-bent on turning the woefully inadequate healthcare provision for trans people on its head. This role gave her a deep understanding of the challenges facing trans and non-binary people, as well as clarity around the urgent need for allies to be proactive in their support.
Today, Aby runs TransMission PR, a transgender awareness and inclusion consultancy focused on making PR, marketing and advertising campaigns inherently inclusive, rather than inclusivity being an afterthought.
LUCY RENNIE
THE DISTILLERY
A creative brand strategist who’s worked on award winning work on both sides of the client-agency fence, across sectors and regions, B2C and B2B, with a passion for DEI.
Lucy is Director of Strategy at distillery and its diverse talent network studio d., where she relishes helping brands connect with audiences in more credible, authentic ways that make a positive impact.
She’s also gives her time as a Director of Outvertising where she’s run awards, supported training for brands & agencies, & consults for the All In programme, encouraging the whole marketing industry to be more diverse and inclusive.
MATT FOSTER
OGILVY
Branded by The Drum magazine as “an activist in adland”, Matt Foster is the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at Ogilvy. He is also a DEI thought leader, frequent public speaker, LGBTQ+ campaigner and multicultural specialist who has spent the last 18 years as a communications expert working in the marketing industry. As a British Diversity Award-winning and founding member of WPP’s LGBTQ+ network UNITE, he has front-line experience of launching successful employee networks that drive organisational change. Matt currently sits on the Brixton Finishing School Board and the European Association of Communications Agencies’ (EACA) DEI Task Force. As a proud, queer, multi-racial British Filipino, Matt is a patron of Pinxy Creatives UK: an organisation supporting British Filipinos in the media, arts and creative industries.
NWORA EMENIKE
Nwora graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2018, having moved to London from the vibrant city of Leeds at the tender age of 17 to gain a qualification in Advanced Marketing. They’ve worked with Meta, Gal-Dem, the Advertising Association, Vizeum UK, the UK Government Communication Service and have recently started building a career as a stylist and host. They are currently a Digital Communications Manager at the Royal African Society, and has a keen interest in the role media can play in promoting the fair and full representation of people from marginalised groups. You can see some of their work in their online portfolio @nworaemenike, the 2021 Google Rare Book and Campaign Magazine.
PHILIP O’FERRALL
OUTERNET
Philip O’Ferrall leads game changing shifts in broadcasting and immersive entertainment. He is CEO and originator of Outernet London, an immersive media and culture district driven by the most advanced screen technology in the world. Outernet delivers extraordinary digital experiences for brands and consumers.
A music and media streaming pioneer he created the Mobile Media Video Club – the very first music video on a mobile phone and MTV sessions for artists – a model later adopted across broadcasting.
Philip launched all of Viacom’s digital platforms, managing to huge success the transition from linear TV into online and digital audiences. A 13-year tenure followed as Executive Vice President at ViacomCBS (MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, Channel 5, Comedy Central). In 2018 he became President and CEO of Outernet.
Please enquire if you would like to receive more information on judging criteria or the nomination process. The Outstanding Contribution to LGBT+ Life category will return before a judging panel as well as Brand or Marketing Campaign, which has moved from a public vote to official judging.