Champions of diversity and inclusion (D&I) have been named in the first-ever Diversity Power List – a definitive, honours-style list of the most innovative and inspirational people in the UK.
Compiled by Paul Sesay, CEO of Inclusive Companies, the list recognises 50 people who are making a tremendous difference to the lives of others. From athletes to actors, business leaders to entrepreneurs, famous faces to unsung community heroes, the list includes people from all walks of life showing outstanding bravery and dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion both within their communities and the wider world. A few well-known names are among the 50 – including Katie Piper OBE, Marcus Rashford, Warwick Davis, Diane Abbott MBE, Ellie Simmonds OBE, Stormzy and Clare Balding CBE. Others are less well-known with inclusion in this list shining a light on their amazing – and often selfless – work supporting people from diverse backgrounds.
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION CHAMPIONS
The Diversity Power List was revealed at the 2022 Inclusive Awards on 1 December 2022, at the Inclusive Awards in Manchester. “The Diversity Power List brings together the most innovative and inspirational ‘diversity conscious’ people in the UK today,” stated Sesay. “They have shown outstanding dedication in their respective fields; many creating a huge impact within their industry sector with others stepping out of the sector for which they are known to make their mark. Whether in the public-eye or less high profile, all are to be recognised for championing diversity, be it race, disability, age, LGBTQ+ or gender.”
Those on the Diversity Power List cross every sector of society. Callum Daniel, for example, became the CEO of the company he founded, iCodeRobots at the age of just seven. He partnered with other tech firms to fuel his desire to provide children from disadvantaged backgrounds with coding training. Bobbi Pickard founded ‘Trans in the City’, a network of businesses working collaboratively to further transgender, non-binary and gender diversity inclusion. Poppy Jarman OBE has become a global voice for mental health in the workplace. A national policymaker, she works tirelessly to create a positive culture by striving to break the stigma attached to mental health.
Professor Amanda Kirby, a qualified GP and Professor at both the University of South Wales and Cardiff University has been passionate about improving the lives of neurodiverse people. She sits as the chair of the ADHD Foundation and in 2021 successfully published a book ‘Neurodiversity at Work, Drive Innovation, Performance and Productivity with a Neurodiverse Workforce’.
INSPIRING INCLUSION
Rodney Hinds is a well-recognised name within diversity work. As a long-standing sports editor on The Voice, one of the UK’s leading black newspapers, and Co-founder of the Football Black List, Rodney has spent a great many years supporting the Black community. Meanwhile, singer, rapper, songwriter and double BRIT winner Stormzy is a passionate campaigner for black students in education with his Stormzy Scholarship giving financial support to black British students at Cambridge University throughout their degrees. Finally, fresh from the dance floor where she wowed the crowds, eight times medal-winning paralympic swimmer, Ellie Simmonds OBE is simply inspirational in showing how a disability does not restrict a person from achieving their goals. Twin entrepreneurs Adrien and Pierre Gaubert are the masterminds of myGwork – a safe and inclusive platform for LGBTQ+ professionals to seek employment without fear of discrimination.
These are just a few of the 50 tremendous people recognised for their outstanding work and achievements in the Diversity Power List. “We cannot be narrow in our view of inclusivity and must recognise the many strands to diversity. The work these people are doing is outstanding and by showcasing their achievements, I hope to open people’s eyes and minds to make the lived experience for everyone from diverse backgrounds to be truly inclusive,” concluded Sesay.
TOP 50 DIVERSITY POWER LIST
The full list of Top 50 Diversity Power List (in alphabetical order) include:
- Diane Abbott MBE, Longest serving Black MP in the House of Commons and Founder of Black Child Initiative
- Funke Abimbola MBE, Nigerian lawyer and businesswoman, diversity campaigner and CEO of the Austen Bronte Consultancy
- Mike Adams OBE, CEO at not-for-profit disability organization Purple and Founder of Purple Tuesday
- Lydia Amoah, Campaigner, speaker and Founder of The Black Pound Report
- Clare Balding CBE, Veteran broadcaster, Olympic Sport Commentator and visible advocate for Gender Diversity in Sport
- Professor Sue Black OBE, Award-winning Computer Scientist, technology evangelist and digital skills expert
- Dan Brooke, D&I champion and Founder of Smart Energy
- Caroline Casey, Award-winning Social Entrepreneur, disability inclusion Campaigner and Founder of The Valuable 500
- Callum Daniel, Entrepreneur, Presenter and Founder of iCodeRobots
- Warwick Davis, Actor, Television Presenter & Co-founder of Little People UK
- Paul Deemer, HR professional, inclusion champion and Head of D&I at NHS Employers
- Shaun Dellenty, Educator, author and LGBTQ+ inclusion in Education Advocate
- Adrien & Pierre Gaubert, Entrepreneurial twin brothers, Social Justice Advocates and Founders of myGwork
- Hannah Graf MBE & Jake Graf, motivational speakers, patrons and the UK’s most influential LGBTQ+ couple
- Fiona Hathorn, Founder of Women on Boards UK (woB), Advisory Board Member and Non-Executive Director of Spktral
- Adam Hills MBE, Comedian, Television Presenter and disability activist
- Rodney Hinds, Sports Editor at the Voice Magazine and Co-founder of the Football Black List
- Reverand Rose Hudson-Wilkin MBE, first female Black Bishop for the Church of England
- Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, Computer Scientist, CEO of Stemettes and Keynote Speaker on Innovation and Diversity in STEM
- Poppy Jaman OBE, Social Entrepreneur, global mental health advocate and national policy maker
- Julian John, Founder of D&I Consultancy Delsion and Ambassador of #PurpleLightUp
- Dame Brenda King, Attorney General for Northern Ireland
- Professor Amanda Kirby, neurodiversity Campaigner, renowned author and Founder of Do-It Solutions
- Paris Lees, Presenter, Journalist Author & Trans Rights Campaigner
- Diane Lightfoot, Disability rights campaigner and CEO of Business Disability Forum
- Dr Tony Lloyd, Neurodiversity campaigner and CEO of the ADHD Foundation
- Anna Manwah Lo MBE, Alliance Party Politician and race equality campaigner
- Nicky Murdoch MBE, CEO of medical welfare charity DMW and LGBT Veterans Independent Review Board Member
- Daniel York Loh, Writer, Actor and Chair of the Actor’s Union Race Equality Committee
- Alan Mak MP, first British-Chinese MP and Founding Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)
- Laks Mann FRSA, EDI champion, Mayor of London EDI Advisor and Founder of Gaysians
- Charlie Martin, racing car driver and transgender rights activist
- Mark Martin MBE, thought leader in #EdTech, technology teacher and Founder of UKBlackTech
- Dr Paul Martin OBE, LGBTQ+ campaigner and CEO of the LGBT Foundation
- Dame Martina Milburn CBE, Charity Trustee & Group Chief Executive of the Princes Trust
- Kate Nash OBE, Creator of PurpleSpace and Ambassador for Disability Rights UK
- Lady Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, political activist and Founder of UK Black Pride
- Bobbi Pickard, Founder of Trans in the City, Stonewall Housing Ambassador and Patron of FFLAG
- Katie Piper OBE, best-selling international author, TV presenter and burns survivor
- Marcus Rashford MBE, Professional Football Player and campaigner for ending child food poverty
- Richard Rieser, global Disability Advocate & Founder of World of Inclusion
- Dr Nasser Siabi OBE, influential disability equality advocate and CEO of Microlink
- Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE FIET, CEO of Royal Academy of Engineering and Women in STEM Advocate
- Ellie Simmonds OBE, five-time paralympic swimming champion and Patron of Dwarf Sports Association
- Alison Smith, Performance Poet, disabled and deaf arts consultant, and Founder of Pesky People
- Stormzy, rapper, double BRIT award winner and campaigner for Black students in education
- James Sutliff, disability specialist Fitness Coach and Dystonia Fighter
- Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner and Founder of Peter Tatchell Foundation
- Vanessa Vallely OBE, author, gender equality advocate and CEO of WeAreTheCity
- Lord Simon Woolley OBE, political activist and Founder of Operation Black Vote
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