In alphabetical order
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This category is judged based on evidence provided according to the British LGBT Awards criteria.
CHRISTINA PEACH
FLEISHMAN-HILLARD FISHBURN
Christina Peach is an Account Director at PR firm, FleishmanHillard Fishburn (FHF) and is a founding member of OPEN Pride UK, Omnicom’s LGBT+ employee resource group (ERG). Christina is one of the most visible LGBT+ role models within OPEN Pride UK and leads successful campaigns to engage LGBT+ staff and allies across the Omnicom network.
Over the last four years, Christina’s work has ensured that LGBT+ employees at FHF and the wider Omnicom network feel included, supported and empowered to create work that reflects the LGBT+ community around them.
Beyond agency walls Christina’s work includes naming and supporting the launch of Openly, Thomson Reuters Foundation’s impartial LGBT+ newswire and campaigns to raise visibility for small LGBT+ charities in the UK.
ELLIS LANYON
L’OREAL
Ellis Lanyon is Head of Digital at L’ORÉAL and chairs OUT@L’ORÉAL, the company’s LGBTQ+ & Allies Network. In 2018 he took advantage of a sabbatical scheme to travel to New York and volunteer with LGBTQ+ youth over four weeks at the Hetrick-Martin Institute to learn as much as possible about LGBTQ+ inclusion & history – a personal passion. He has lead the launch of L’ORÉAL’s Trans Support Policy, organised L’ORÉAL UK’s first Pride Walk and raised almost £50,000 for LGBTQ+ causes. Ellis’ passion, drive and vision has been instrumental to the network’s success.
IAN GUSTAV AHLBERG
TikTok
As part of the European Communications team at TikTok, Ian works across a range of issues, with a specialist focus on Trust & Safety communications. Before working at TikTok, Ian was part of the Communications team at the Financial Times where he co-lead the FT’s global LGBTQ+ employee network. He graduated from London College of Communications in 2016 with a Ba(Hons) in Public Relations. He is originally from Estonia.
JAMIE BARRELL
PUBLICIS SAPIENT
Jamie is the UK Lead of Égalité, the global LGBT+ Network for Publicis Groupe, alongside his daily job. This entails initiating and driving LGBT+ initiatives and his interest in Inclusion & Diversity also extends to his role as a mental health ambassador.
Jamie represented Publicis Groupe at the 2019 European Diversity Awards where Égalité won Highly Commended for ‘Outstanding Employee Network’. He spearheaded our presence at the past two London Pride Parades and was selected to attend the 2019 ‘Out and Equal’ Annual Workplace Summit in Washington DC. His work takes an intersectional approach and includes all races and cultures.
JOHN HUTCHINSON
HOMESERVE
John started at HomeServe over 12 years ago and in the last 10 months has helped to transform the LGBT+ agenda in the business. He has organised an international Pride day across all the UK sites including the USA. He also instigated a review of policies to make them LGBT friendly within the workplace.
With regular social communication he has created a safe place for people to be who they are without stigma or condemnation from others. He says ‘People spend a lot of time at work; they should be able to be who they are at all times’
MARIANNE COWIE
ZURICH INSURANCE
Marianne Cowie is a commercial property underwriter at Zurich Insurance and Chair of Zurich Pride UK. Marianne has played a huge role in improving the visibility of Pride and educating her colleagues at Zurich, from executive members marching at London Pride to delivering training on inclusive language.
Marianne is a visible lesbian role model both within Zurich and in the wider insurance market as a member of the LGBT Insurance Network committee. She has consistently worked to champion the rights of the whole LGBT+ community, lending particular support to the trans, non-binary and intersex communities.
MICHAEL GEELEHER
SONY PLAYSTATION
Michael is PlayStation’s European Internal Communications Manager and co-lead of the Pride@PlayStation employee group.
As owner of the company intranet and editor of its internal news site, he ensures that there is LGBTQ+ representation across PlayStation’s internal channels by publishing articles on LGBTQ+ initiatives and showcasing Pride@PlayStation’s work to the wider employee population.
As co-lead of Pride@PlayStation, he chairs LGBTQ+ employee forums, produces panel events, and runs employee initiatives, including a project that updated company policies to make them more inclusive of trans and non-binary employees.
Outside of work Michael is proud to sing with the London Gay Men’s Chorus.
NATHAN JORDAN
AMAZON WEB SERVICES (AWS)
Nathan was appointed Chair of the LGBT+ network at his previous employer and was responsible for creating a steering group and defining the LGBT+ agenda for the business. Nathan formulated an ambitious plan envisioning an internal LGBT+ Network that stretched beyond the office and served local communities.
Now working for AWS, Nathan is globally responsible for learning and enablement across AWS’s Start-Ups Segment. Nathan believes in inclusion by design and incorporates this practice into global learning strategies. Nathan also partners with external organisations to improve inclusion outcomes for all.
Nathan also featured in the UK’s Top 50 LGBT+ Professionals List.
ROBERT DOWNER
UBER
Robert Downer, 34, is a Strategy Manager who helped set up Uber’s LGBTQ+ network in 2015. He serves as Global Co-Chair for the Pride at Uber network group, serving 27,000 employees in more than 700 cities and 66 countries worldwide.
In 2019 Robert developed and featured in Uber’s global Pride Comes in Many Colours campaign which celebrated individuals represented by 15 different flags of the LGBTQ+ community.
Recently, Robert also oversaw the introduction of a feature to report discrimination within the Uber app, and continues to work with Uber’s global leaders to inform the company’s products, policies, and partnerships.
TOM STOCKTON
MSB
Property law specialist, Tom Stockton, has committed his early legal career to helping transform MSB Solicitors’ commitment to diversity and inclusion.
He was a founding member of the company’s equalities committee and has spearheaded work to secure the Navajo Merseyside & Cheshire LGBT Charter Mark for MSB who are one of Britain’s fastest growing legal practices.
Tom has helped develop policies to help colleagues understand the specific needs, issues and barriers facing the LGBT+ community and has led the company’s presence at various Pride marches across the UK.
He is speaks about his work in secondary schools and is quickly helping MSB become of Britain’s most LGBT+ friendly employers.