Emma Horsfall | Barclays
For the past 13 years I have worked for Barclays bank being branch based up until the end of 2019 when I joined the Digital Eagle team full time.
I have done various projects over the years, from working on the transgender working group, where I did various things like introduce Mx to customer and HR titles, removed the need for a GRC to change gender and various other things. I created a coding device to allow children and adults with disabilities to learn how to code, especially partially sighted people. I formed a work experience group for pwd to find work in environments they would normally be excluded from.
In the most recent months I have been introducing british sign language to people across the bank and teaching them the basics so that we have staff members who can use basic sign language with customers.
Joanne Monck | Evergreen
So, to tell you first about what I do. Everything I do is voluntary. I get no financial reward for any of it.
The reward I do get though is the satisfaction of knowing that I've made a difference towards the understanding and awareness of the LGBT community.
I am a hate crime ambassador and independent advisor to Sussex Police. I also serve as an advisor on the forces Trans External Reference Group, their Stop and Search Scrutiny Panel, the force Command Contact and Control Centre Department advisory group, and the Sussex Police LGBT reference group. I am also a public member of the Sussex Police LGBT Network.
I am a member of the South East Crown Prosecution Service Advisory group.
I am an independent Custody Visitor for the Sussex Police Crime Commissioners Office
I am a Stonewall Schools Role Model
I am the Bluebell Heritage Railways Equality, Inclusion and Diversity advisor and a regular event volunteer for the railway
I am also A National Diversity Mentor and founder of an International Lgbt Hate Support Group on Social Media.
I was born Male in 1955. I spent the first 58 years of my life questioning my identity. Trying to fight my inner self was tough. Doing the macho things, getting married, having children but never happy. Mental health problems and suicidal thoughts triggered my inner self to come out to the world, and in 2014 I changed my name by deed poll to Joanne I had joined the Sourh East Coast Ambulance Service as a volunteer community first responder and became a Diversity Champion for the trust. However in 2016 I had to leave the service due to a life threatening medical condition that I still have.
I diverted my passion for all things Diversity related Sussex Police where I was welcomed as an Independent Advisor and Hate Crime Ambassador, shortly afterwards joining as a voluntary member some of the Forces reference groups. Part of my role in these groups is to help the police become more transparent over diversity issues and enable them to be proactively seen as an inclusive workplace.
I also trained as a Stonewall Schools Role Model. I have given several talks in different schools to Students between the ages of 11 and 18 about my life, focusing on bullying and how it affected me. Education of youth about Diversity, is of paramount importance to the creation of a more accepting society in the future. I had Gender surgery in 2017 and became legally female. I have talked on local radio stations on many occasions when transgender issues pop up in the news. My honesty and integrity is always appreciated.
I've had several operations over the last few years but despite my ill health I rise like the Phoenix from the ashes to continue my passion for supporting the LGBT community and by being open and authentic with all the people I come into contact with I know I am making a difference to the understanding of what it's like to be born into the wrong body. Busting the myths surrounding it and being respected for doing so.
I am the Bluebell Railways EID advisor and regularly volunteer my time to help out at events. My mere presence has changed the attitudes of people towards the LGBT community.
As an independent custody Visitor for the police crime Commissioners office, I visit detainees to ensure they are being treated with dignity and respect.
Last year, after some vile hate on Social media that was directed towards me i decided i needed to do more. Rather than let the hate destroy me, I turned negativity into positivity and founded a private facebook group called International Lgbt Hate Support. The aim of this was to support anyone in the lgbt community who was suffering hate on any level.
I was asked to join the South East Crown Prosecution Services advisory group.
I am passionate about raising awareness and understanding about the Lgbt community. We are all human beings and should respect the values that we all hold. Diversity exists. There is a lot to do to get total acceptance but I believe that no matter how small it may be, I am making a positive difference
Catherine Cobb | Amey
I am a traffic signals design assistant engineer for Amey in Sheffield, I have been with Amey nearly 6 years and have worked my way up from trainee technician to assistant engineer in that time, I have worked in almost every department from street lighting design to highways until I settled in traffic signals.
Before Amey I have worked as a semi-skilled machinist, where I made the alternators for bus engines and before that I was a test and inspector for magnets that went in to missiles.
Before I started working for Amey I took a career break of 15 years to look after my special needs sister after both our parents passed away, in that time I did a mechanical engineering degree at Sheffield Hallam University, once I knew that my sister was settled in here new home and happy I went back to pursue my career in engineering.
The thing that makes my story different is that when I was 7 years old I lost my left leg to an osteocarsoma or bone cancer. I have struggled all my life to be an engineer, but I knew that was what I wanted to be right from the point I took my artificial leg to bits when I was 12 years old.
Giulia Olayemi | Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
Giulia Olayemi is presently a 2nd year Medical Student at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry.
She previously graduated from Queen Mary University of London, with a 1st Class Honours in Biochemistry. Asides from her studies, Giulia advocates empowerment and supports her local community. She has multiple roles, one being the current Vice President London and is part of the first ever trilogy of women leading Barts and the London Students Association. As President of the African and Caribbean Society, Giulia led the organisation of the biggest UK University Black-owned Business Fair, with 50 Businesses in attendance! Giulia was crowned the Miss EBONY Ambassador UK 2019 and will be travelling in Nigeria this year to deliver her voluntary project. Her desire to constantly push boundaries has propelled her to do everything she does and make real contributions to society.
Hannah McNamara | Citi
After finishing school at 18 I attended a Further Education College to study an HND in Computing and Systems Development.
I was one of 3 women in my class for the 2 year course. I found that Women in STEM subjects, especially LGBTQ+ women were underrepresented and I decided to run for the Students Union elections. I was elected as SU Secretary from 2012-2014. During campaigns against budget cuts, I got involved with NUS-USI, the student movement in Northern Ireland and in 2013 I was elected as Further Education Officer. I championed campaigns against budget cuts, to improve student mental health and welfare, for LGBTQ+ inclusion and women in STEM subjects. I held this role until 2015.
During my time in NUS-USI, I got involved in politics and joined the Green Party in Northern Ireland in 2013 and was elected as chair of my local constituency group aged 19. I held this role for 2 years. In 2014 I graduated from college and joined Queens University in Belfast to study BSc Hons in Computing and IT. I was out out during this time, although I campaigned strongly for Marriage Equality in Northern Ireland in my roles within the students union and the Green Party.
In 2017, I was elected as Local Representative for my local constituency for the Greens and worked towards securing a Local Council seat in the 2019 elections. In 2018, I came out publicly as bisexual to highlight the erasure of bi+ people in society and especially politics. I was elected Chair of Queer Greens and we continued to campaign passionaltely for Marriage Equalty in NI, despite having no government to lobby at this time. I narrowly lost the council seat election by 70 votes after a notable battle against a former DUP councillor who left the party after he supported LGBTQ+ inclusion by voting for lighting a local town hall in rainbow colours during LGBT awareness week in NI.
Whilst studying and college and uni, aged 18 I joined the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and worked there part time for 5 years whilst studying. I first worked in the Emergency Control Room and finished in the Resource Centre after I graduated university in 2017.
After graduating I secured a graduate position at Citi and joined their Technology Academy. Shortly after joining Citi, I joined the Citi Pride Network in Belfast as a member of the steering committee. We spearheaded campaigns for marraige equality in NI within the corporate sector, working with Love Equality to create Businesses4LoveEquality. Citi were the lead signatory on a letter to the government supporting marriage equality. I am currently the Co-Chair of the network and it is now part of my day job to promote diversity and inclusion within the workplace.
Evlynne Smith | IBM
Evlynne joined IBM as a graduate 8 years ago and started to work in the retail industry as a delivery project manager.
Over the next 4 years, Evlynne grew her portfolio of projects, programmes and clients to manage multi-million pound opportunities and became recognised for her delivery excellence.
As part of a restructure Evlynne was asked to move from Retail to Travel and Transport and focus on improving the delivery on focal clients. One year later, she was asked to reinvent her self in to a sales role and excelled signing 3 new logos to the landscape in a year. She joined the Go To Market team within her sector at IBM and now splits her time between sales and delivery for large travel and transport clients.
Evlynne is passionate and driven and this shines in the work she delivers for her clients. She is passionate about people and mentors a number of individuals to excel in their careers. Previously nominated as a finalist in the Everywoman in Travel Awards, Evlynne is not just seen as an SME within T&T in IBM, but is developing her eminence in the market as well.
Patrice Gordon-Mantey | Virgin Atlantic
Patrice is a Chartered Accountant, qualifying with PwC in 2009 before moving to specialise in Commercial finance within the Airline industry.
She recently moved into the Commercial team lead the Joint Venture with Delta Air Lines & Air France & KLM. She has always had a passion for people and is also a qualified executive and life coach seeking to help people be their best selves.
Saskia Demeyere | Transport for London
Following a career break after having worked in investment banking for some years I joined Transport for London about 5 years ago.
As a complete novice to the industry I started out as a bus station controller and worked my way up through to a Regional Support Manager and then on to my current role as a Service Delivery Manager in Surface Transport. The job role includes managing Walthamstow Bus Station and the team that work there. Walthamstow is the 3rd busiest bus station in London and brings with it many operational challenges. The other aspect of the role is working together with several stakeholders to help mitigate the impact of roadworks and events on the bus network within Waltham Forest and Epping. Managing a large geographical area with dispersed staff keeps things interesting and no two days are alike. I have a keen interest in raising mental health awareness within the operational environment. My home life is also extremely busy as a working mum to 4 children but if I do get some rare spare time I love to read and catch up with friends.
Susan Keir | British Army
My eighteen-year career has seen me serve exclusively within the Royal Logistic Corps of the British Army.
In that time, I have gained an excellent knowledge across the defence logistics spectrum, progressed as manager and leader and developed other skills outside of my vocational field.
As a logistician I have been employed in both first- and second-line accounting departments. I have managed stand-alone accounts throughout this period where effective forecasting, provisioning and delivery in-barracks and on Operations to high customer satisfaction has underpinned each role. Each role has been different and each account dynamic, with the complexity of work reflecting each promotion I have gained. This has culminated in my present role that sees me as a Warrant Officer and as such a logistics middle manager of all general equipment for three Very High Readiness and one Extremely High Readiness Medical Squadron working to 16 Air Assault Brigade. I now provide Subject Matter Expertise to assisting the logistics manager of all general and medical equipment on Operations and exercises over an extended supply line. I act as an advisor to the Command Team on all technical accounting procedures and liaison on logistic matters with military and civilian outside agencies on behalf of the logistics manager (Quartermaster).
My progression from Private Soldier to Warrant Officer in the space of eighteen years has meant I have had to develop my management and leadership skills in line with my vocational role. I have achieved this through the formal military Command, Leadership and Management syllabus. The final part of which has allowed me to develop my report and essay writing skills, my understanding of the theory of management has given me a comprehensive framework with which to manage and develop the soldiers under my command. However, the experience I have gained from having a varied and challenging career has also meant that I have been entrusted to ‘step up’ to carry out tasks of the rank above my current position that has seen me successfully attend and brief meetings at the senior command level.
Complementing my military experience has been my participation in the numerous activities that have been made available to me during my career. A keen sportswoman, I have played representative sport in in Athletics, Boxing, Netball and Football. Very much in line with my professional development, my sporting development has witnessed me go from team member to team organiser and mentor. This has given me the opportunity to produce formal written work outside of my vocational field. I have also represented the Royal Logistic Corps on the Corps Netball and Recruiting Team where my ability to present articulately and succinctly to a diverse and demanding audience was developed. This has stood me in good stead throughout and helped underpin the skills I have used to brief during my military career.
As a manager, I have had to set directions and inspire others to work together to achieve challenging outcome; I have fostered a good team relationship based upon an honest work ethic and respect for others. As the team changes with the assignment plot, new members are inducted into the Regiment and the department as a matter of course. I hold weekly briefs where tasks ahead and the standard expected are outlined and discussed to ensure that best practice is always achieved. I monitor progress with regular updates provided by the relevant team member. This allows for early intervention if a task is going astray as well as developing junior members of the team in their oral and written communication skills.
Vivien Yip | Transport for London
The last few years have been such a whirlwind of activities and emotions. However, I'm proud of what I have achieved to date and I'm flattered to be recognised in my current new role!
I first moved to the UK at the age of 13 where I completed my GCSEs and A levels in Surrey, followed by a BSc Biomedical Science degree at the University of Kent. My initial plan was to proceed with studying medicine however decided against it and went for a Sales Executive role which I fell in love with. This role allowed me to speak to international delegates in industries such as Oil & Gas, Infrastructure and Construction, Mining, Energy Trading etc. which I found fascinating! I was very quickly promoted to a Sales Manager, managing and mentoring a team of people where I have gained a great amount of experience, particularly in how to work with people with different beliefs and backgrounds. I then decided to move to a larger sized company to continue my development however I fell into a deep depression which prevented me from work and even my day-to-day tasks. Mental well-being is crucial and I knew I had to take time off for myself. During that period, I have made a lot of changes in regards to my personal life as well as how I would like to progress in my career, which led me to applying for Project Manager roles and into TfL. I've never looked back since and I believe this is no doubt the best choice I have made to date!