Speakers for Pride Month

Mhairi Black

At the time of her election, Mhairi was the youngest MP elected to the Commons in almost 200 years. She quickly proved herself with a series of speeches, proving herself as a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, mental health, and women's rights.

Lee Chambers

A business psychologist and leading male allyship specialist, Lee helps organisations create inclusive cultures that also focus on high-performance and wellbeing. He equips leaders with practical tools to engage in inclusion, prioritise health and navigate change and uncertainty. Drawing on personal experience and psychological research, Lee creates evidence-based strategies to build equity, resilience and sustainable performance.

Charlie Martin

Charlie is blazing a trail in motorsport and aiming to make LGBTQ+ history as the first trans driver in the 24 hours of Le Mans. She captured the imagination of people around the world, and her story has been shared on television in the national news and in some prestigious international publications. Her fearlessness both in and out of the car makes Charlie one of the most eye catching and engaging drivers competing in motor racing today.

Munroe Bergdorf

A model and an activist, Munroe is a passionate voice for inclusivity and diversity. Appointed by the UN as a Changemaker, she consults with companies, writes for global publications and uses her online presence to educate and empower others to create positive change. She believes in the power of education and the importance of shame-free accountability.

Ben Hunte

Ben’s journalism exposes important issues around sexuality, gender, race and inequality. Now an anchor and correspondent for CNN, he was previously a senior reporter for VICE, and before that, was the first LGBTQ Correspondent at the BBC, where he shined a light on key issues affecting the LGBTQ community.

Eddie Izzard

From running 43 marathons in 51 days with only six weeks training to learning to perform her standup shows in French and German to combining comedy, drama and political activism, Eddie Izzard’s career defies simple definition, and sometimes belief. She speaks about how she’s achieved all that she has and what lessons can be learned.

Dame Kelly Holmes

With accolates and medals at every level of athletics, Kelly made history as the first British woman to win two Gold medals at the same games at the Athens Olympics. This incredible achievement was revealed to be even greater when Kelly later discussed the personal and psychological pressures she experienced. Now a broadcaster and author, she remains one of the country's most popular sporting figures, a mental and physical health advocate who explores what achievement, teamwork, preparation and values really look like.

Alan Carr

Standup superstar and king of chat, Alan’s sharp wit skewers and endears celebrities and audiences alike. Alan gleefully revives game shows of yesteryear alongside his judging role on RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Reverend Richard Coles

In a previous incarnation the priest, presenter, writer and I'm A Celebrity... scored chart success with Don’t Leave Me This Way. Since the heady days of 1980s pop stardom he’s been an agony uncle, a best-selling memoirist, a regular on Have I Got News For You, and a contestant on Strictly, Masterchef, as well as in the jungle. After dinner he admits to lurid excesses as a Communard, reveals how he got through the interview to train as a vicar, and how they avoid poisoning on Bake Off.

Tom Daley

Tom Daley is an Olympic diver who won gold for Team GB alongside Matty Lee at the 2021 Tokyo Games, marking his fourth and highest-achieving Olympic medal to date. As well as a champion in his sport, Tom is a proud spokesperson for the LGBTQ+ community.

Maggie Alphonsi

As England rugby vice-captain Maggie won a record-breaking seven consecutive Six Nations titles, and got to the final of the World Cup twice, winning once. In speeches she covers leadership and performing under pressure.

Mark Foster

Mark won fifty one international freestyle and butterfly titles including six world titles and eleven European. He also set eight world records and competed at five Olympics before honing his punditry skills for the BBC, taking to the Strictly dancefloor and becoming the force behind FitSteps. As well as lessons in preparation and focus, he has more recently opened up about his sexuality and how his reluctance to be open about being gay with colleagues and coaches may have impacted on his professional performance and general wellbeing.

Nigel Owens

The World Cup Final referee is widely considered to be the best official in rugby union. He implements rules fairly but allows the game to flow; he imposes his authority – but he isn’t afraid to show a sense of humour on the pitch. He’s also the only openly gay official in what’s seen as an especially macho sport. In speeches Nigel talks about the hurdles he had to overcome, and the skills you require to make tough decisions with tough characters.

Kate Richardson-Walsh

The most capped woman player in British hockey and the international captain for over a decade, Kate guided the team through tough times, a revolution of personnel and culture, and on to Olympic glory. With lessons in leadership, teambuilding and vision, Kate reveals how a group of competitive individuals can come together to defy expectations.

Matt Lindley

After a decade with the RAF Matt moved to commercial aviation as a 747 pilot. He looks at the ‘black box’ culture of airlines that seek to understand mistakes rather than apportion blame, and the leadership culture that engenders. He also speaks about his time with the Air Force, being one of the first openly gay pilots in the military, and what the experience taught him about leaders and how the personal can affect professional performance.

Dame Inga Beale

After working in senior global leadership roles in some of the world’s largest insurance companies, Inga took over the helm of the 330-year-old City financial institution. Taking on many of the traditions that had held the organisation back, Inga expanded their global markets, and introduced strategies including the Lloyd’s Innovation Lab, and the Dive In Festival, an industry-wide, international diversity and inclusion event. She considers the balance struck between history and modernisation when implementing change, the vital importance of inclusion in the workplace, and concepts of trust and ethics in business.

Zing Tsjeng

Zing is the former editor in chief of VICE, and an author, journalist, documentary host and podcaster. She specialises in women's and LGBTQ rights, politics, culture, and lifestyle. Her critically acclaimed nonfiction book series Forgotten Women dives into the lost histories of accomplished women.

Matt Ellison

Matt uses his own experiences to inspire others. From insights into diversity and inclusion to thought-provoking ideas around resilience and how to make changes towards leading a happier and more fulfilling life.

Rosie Jones

Rosie's comedy incorporates her experience as a gay woman with a disability. As well as writing on sitcoms and taking on acting roles, she is known for appearing on TV's 8 Out Of 10 Cats, The Last Leg and Comedy Central’s Roast Battle. 

Baroness (Ruth) Hunt

Since leaving her role as the CEO of Stonewall, Ruth has worked with a number of companies to build diverse and inclusive workplaces through her organisation Deeds and Words.