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Jeanette has served as a prison officer in the prison service for 27 years, and has demonstrated an increasing passion for fairness, respect and equality throughout her role. She became an Equality Officer in 2008, and with the difficult task of undertaking a diverse prison and workforce, worked tirelessly to embed inclusion into the organisation at every level. Jeanette has delivered a phenomenal sustainable strategy and has given staff a greater awareness around the protected characteristics, which has enhanced their performance; this was reflected in an HMCIP Inspection and equality audit, achieving over 95% good practice. In addition, Jeanette has developed a new staff equality and diversity induction programme including an e-learning resource, and she personally inducts all newly employed staff. Jeanette’s own life experiences have provided her with core values to tackle the challenges faced within the prison service; an outstanding amount of progress has been made through positive action and this deserves to be applauded.

Michael has had a remarkable life – his story is one of consistently overcoming incredible odds. At 18yrs, he was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, a deteriorative muscle wasting disease that remains the single biggest genetic killer of children in our world. Nearly 30 years on, Michael is in demand around the world as a sought after inspirational business speaker – he provokes, stimulates and inspires change. When not speaking or consulting, Michael is raising funds and awareness for his charity The Muscle Help Foundation, that delivers transformational experiences in the UK called Muscle Dreams for children and young people afflicted by muscular dystrophy. In January 2004, Michael returned from Antarctica, having successfully led his team to the South Pole. In doing so, he made history by becoming the first disabled person in the world to have successfully led expeditions to both the North and South Poles. Michael is the driving force behind MHF and is a nationwide role model to beneficiaries and young disabled people.

Geoffrey is a Diversity and Inclusion specialist at Thomson Reuters and actively contributed in making the company climb from the position of 208th to 62nd in one year in the stonewall index for best place to work for LGB staff. Geoffrey advocated the need for the business to implement changes that included reflecting the LGBT community visibly in their employee survey, and began to transform the organisation using his training experience, designing and implementing programs geared at mid-level managers around recruitment and diversity. In parallel to his current work at Thomson Reuters, Geoffrey is also co-founder of “Rocking Ur Teens”, a community interest company that focuses on inspiring and empowering young people between the ages of 13/14. This year they will host a conference targeted at teenage girls with activities to support their development. Geoffrey is a leader in good practice in the field of diversity and inclusion, and an overwhelming amount of endorsements evidence his passion and dedication for such a cause.

For the first time in 40 years Pride in London and the LGBT community had a chance to advertise on mainstream London advertising. The advertising and social media campaign allowed them to take the message of Pride to the whole of London and further afield with the aim of driving attitudinal change. Exterion and creative agency Enigma worked seamlessly with Pride and delivered an integrated campaign of engagement and communication that achieved outstanding reach. Powerful ‘FreedomTo’ statements from the LGBT+ community were picked up by the press, in particular The Evening Standard. The ‘Freedom To’ campaign made each story equally important from role models, straight allies, community leaders, sponsors and celebrities. As a direct result of the #FreedomTo campaign and its personal story approach, pride gained its first Media Partnership from The Evening Standard (ES) and London Live. Through this partnership pride successfully challenged perceptions and ES changed their reporting on LGBT issues, which still remain today.

Jiten is the Acting Head of Equality & Diversity at The Open University and has made a significant impact on the education sector through his passion for diversity and inclusion. Jiten designed and delivered an outstanding Leadership Mentoring Programme for minority groups at The OU, and is course Author for their Centre for Continual Professional Learning and Development. Additionally Jiten has specialised in ‘Positive Action’ and mentoring, and delivered pioneering diversity training to all staff at the National College for School Leadership. Jiten developed the cutting edge ‘Aspire’ programme for BAME staff, which due to its phenomenal success was extended to reach out to staff with disabilities. The unique development programme has been running for 4 years. In that time 50 people have been through it with c.20% of participants having made career related moves which they attribute directly to the Apsire Programmes. An incredible amount of endorsements showcase Jiten as a perfect example of a diversity champion.

Lloyds International recruits in a highly diverse market to achieve diversity in its workforce, they bind together different perspectives, experiences and talents of our society in order to learn from each other and best serve our culturally rich and diverse communities. Recognising the importance of their workforce reflecting the communities that they serve, Lloyds International launched a ground breaking network in the Isle of Man, covering fours strands of diversity; LGBT, Gender, Disability and Ethnicity. The Diversity & Inclusion Network has demonstrated true ‘Excellence in Diversity’ by playing a pivotal role for the launch of their networks GEM, Rainbow, Breakthrough and Access, with the common agenda of Inclusion, Fairness and Equality. Despite the challenges faced, this outstanding initiative has successfully engaged with 25% of colleagues who have actively become involved in the network. This dynamic tool is a perfect example of an inclusive network supporting and embracing the diversity of an organisation.

As Tower Hamlets Homes Workforce Diversity Project Officer, Apsana has single-handedly transformed the approach which THH has a taken to improve the recruitment, development and retention of under-represented community groups – specifically BME, women and disabled colleagues. Apsana has applied her passion, commitment and knowledge of the issues related to workplace inequality to deliver significantly improved outcomes for the organisation. Through Apsana’s leadership and tireless work, the Workforce Diversity Project has driven through a range of positive action initiatives, as well as introducing mandatory training for all managers on issues such as unconscious bias and inclusive leadership with phenomenal results. Apsana is also a founding member of the THH Women’s Network, providing coaching and mentoring to improve the confidence, knowledge and skills of potential applicants from under-represented groups. Apsana is an inspirational colleague, who applies her knowledge, skills and passion to tackle longstanding inequality.

As the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority, Centro takes a leading role in transforming public transport services in the region. Centro puts diversity and inclusion at the heart of public transport services and employment practice. They have invested and continue to invest in a range of strategies to ensure they are a diverse and inclusive employer. In service delivery, Centro has heavily invested in the development of fully accessible facilities such as state of the art bus stations, and accessibility aids, such as their award winning bus hailers. Over the last 10 years, 55 community projects have been funded through the Transport Regeneration Fund. This has resulted in Centro partnering with over 120 organisations and 63 match funders. A range of pioneering initiatives have been implemented to achieve a diverse workforce such as A ‘Get into Transport’ programme, comprehensive equality training and objective assessment recruitment methods. As a result Centro has significantly improves its workforce representation.

Youth Media Agency is the national home for UK Youth Media: raising the profile of, and supporting over 300 exciting media platforms. They deliver campaigns and media training, working with 16-25 year olds and support over 150 Youth Media platforms. Their impressive network highlights youth media as a credible careers pathway, showcasing extraordinary young people from diverse backgrounds. They have over 280 young Creative Associates under the YMA wing and for the past year have been helping them to find opportunities within the media industry. YMA offer concepts and branding for ethical campaigns and produce online campaigns and viral film making to influence change. #Presschange4youth is their extraordinary National Campaign calling for fair press for children & young people across the UK. They are also leading on a submission to the Leveson Inquiry calling for more balanced reporting and a more accessible PCC. An outstanding array of endorsements showcase how YMA have bought a voice to young people across the nation.

Lindsey witnessed ethnic violence and killings in Sri Lanka so, together with her family, chose to warn and rescue people. Growing up, Lindsey qualified as a lawyer, volunteered with Citizens Advice Bureau, developed a Law Society national helpline for trainee solicitors and staff diversity awareness at Northampton University. Lindsey’s diversity work for a council and now health services, in Northants and beyond, has been recognised as inspirational, including in Parliament and by government departments, top performer Stonewall Equality Index ratings, Anne Frank Trust, Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, HRH Prince Charles’s Mosaic awards and in a book for mental health nurse development nationwide. Outstanding youth-led anti-bullying work was recognised regionally by government and the LGBT community. Lindsey has continued to assist people in fear for their lives and has helped to draw in £millions of investment to Northampton. Lindsey also leads on ensuring rights for carers and patients at the charity St Andrew’s Healthcare.