Having rounded the corner into autumn, Global Diversity Awareness Month is here, bringing with it a period to reflect on the enduring value of fostering diverse cultures, experiences and perspectives in both the workplace and society as a whole.
DE&I events play a critical role in re-emphasising diversity’s significance within corporate contexts. However, it can often be difficult for businesses to identify an entry-point for addressing a brief so inherently broad, a concept itself associated with variety and multiplicity.
Booking a conference speaker offers a unique opportunity to bring shape and specificity to what ‘diversity’ truly encompasses. Worth noting, the word ‘diversity’ stems from divertere, meaning ‘to turn aside’, divert, or consider other perspectives. In fact, a ‘turn’ in its own right constitutes a now less-frequented synonym for ‘a stage act or performance’. As such, public speaking as a practice is in many ways rooted in the promotion of diversity, offering a medium through which individual experiences can be shared, listened to and understood.
To amplify thousands of brilliant voices, spanning all walks of life, and to supply audiences with an insight into new modes of thinking, is precisely what solidifies the importance of what we do at JLA.
As we move through October, here are five speakers you can ‘turn’ to for your DE&I events, demonstrating how diversity can be introduced, cultivated and strengthened in the workplace, all speaking through the lens of rich and varied experiences.
Brilliant Diversity & Inclusion Speakers
Charlie Martin
Racing Driver, Le Mans
Charlie Martin made racing history as the first trans racing driver to compete in the 24 hours at Le Mans, returning to the podium once more at this summer’s races, where she secured second place in the LC Cup category during Pride month.
Moving between the roles of sportsperson and LGBTQ+ activist, her perseverance and continuous self-belief in the face of adversity have brought her achievements to the forefront of global recognition, earning her the title of first Stonewall Sports Champion by Europe’s leading LGBTQ+ charity. She continues to push for increased LGBTQ+ visibility, using her strong media presence to spread awareness and advocate for inclusion within the sporting industry.
View Charlie Martin’s full speaker profile.
Anne-Marie Imafidon
Mathematician & STEM Advocate
Anne-Marie Imafidon, passing her first two GCSE’s at thirteen and becoming one of Oxford’s youngest ever master’s graduates, has built a wealth of experience during her career in the tech industry, her portfolio ranging from Goldamn Sachs and HP to Deutsche Bank.
She went on to become the founder of Stemettes, a social enterprise that has helped expand access to science, technology, engineering and maths for thousands of young women. Advocating tirelessly for increased diversity within the STEM community, from school to the workplace, she has been featured as one of the top ten BAME leaders in tech by the Financial times, and named the most influential woman in UK tech by Computer Weekly.
View Anne-Marie Imafidon’s full speaker profile.
Nicolas Hamilton
Racing Driver
Nicolas Hamilton, born with cerebral palsy and told from an early age that he would never walk, is best known as the first disabled driver to compete in the British Touring Car Championship.
Taking on and enduring an exhausting training regime to walk unaided, he managed the feat at just seventeen years old, before setting his sights on breaking into one of the world’s most competitive sports. His journey took him from winning a seat in the renowned entry-level Renault Clio Cup to making racing history, bouncing back relentlessly in spite of setbacks. Nic uses his inspirational story to motivate others to broaden their ambitions and resist self-limitation.
View Nicolas Hamilton’s full speaker profile.
Sir Lenny Henry CBE
Actor & Comedian
Sir Lenny Henry forged his expansive career on television screens, on stages and in recording studios, growing quickly into one of Britain’s most beloved performers and a firm household name.
Over his half-century long career, he moved from winning the New Faces talent show at just sixteen years old and starring in the sketch show Three of a Kind, to manning his own comedy series (Chef) and breaking into Hollywood.
Alongside his work in the spotlight, Lenny has made his mark as a co-founder of the charity Comic Relief and campaigning for BAME representation in the media, securing a PhD on the subject from Royal Holloway and publishing several works of literature exploring the urgent need to fight discrimination.
View Sir Lenny Henry’s full speaker profile.
Eddie Izzard
Campaigner, Comedian & Actor
Eddie Izzard, also known as Suzy Izzard, is known and loved worldwide for not only her standup comedy, onstage and on-screen acting, but also her deep-rooted activism, standing up for equality, diversity, sustainability and human rights.
She has gained an international cult following over the course of an incredibly extensive career, her portfolio stretching from Renaissance drama to modern box-office hits, covering genres from comedy, sci-fi and fantasy to war-time drama, psychological thriller, children’s entertainment, and beyond.
A prolific campaigner, she ran 43 marathons in 51 days with near to no experience for Sports Relief, ran 27 marathons in 27 days to reflect Nelson Mandela’s 27 years in prison, and is continuously outspoken in her advocacy for human rights. She continues to inspire audiences today, speaking on her life experiences and how to maintain mental resilience, even when the going gets tough.
View Eddie Izzard’s full speaker profile.