To mark Workplace Belonging Week 2026, individuals and organisations are recognised for their contributions to creating workplaces where people feel valued, supported and able to thrive,
Twenty workplace inclusion changemakers and 10 organisations are recognised in the inaugural Workplace Belonging List 2026, celebrating those helping to build more inclusive cultures through leadership, advocacy, employee engagement and practical action.
Published to coincide with Workplace Belonging Week, taking place across London from 9–13 November, the list highlights individuals making a difference in areas including LGBTQ+ equality, disability inclusion, gender equity, neurodiversity, social mobility, psychological safety and workplace wellbeing. The organisations recognised span banking, financial services, media, energy, technology, retail and professional services, demonstrating different approaches to embedding belonging into everyday working life.
The list from Diversity Umbrella, which organises Workplace Belonging Week, features individuals from organisations including Deutsche Bank, BDO, GSK, Tesco, Paramount, Legal & General, TP ICAP, giffgaff and Pan Macmillan, alongside independent advocates, entrepreneurs and campaigners challenging barriers to inclusion.
CELEBRATING THE PEOPLE MAKING BELONGING POSSIBLE
Introducing the list, Kat Parsons, CEO of Diversity Umbrella, emphasised that workplace belonging requires people to take responsibility for meaningful change. “Belonging doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because people make it happen,” she said.
The publication highlights individuals who are challenging outdated practices, opening opportunities for underrepresented talent, influencing leadership decisions and creating environments where employees feel more comfortable being themselves.
Some are senior executives shaping organisational strategy, while others are driving change through employee networks, campaigning, education and lived experience. The recognition follows Parsons’ recent guest column, Beyond Inclusion: Why Workplace Belonging Must Become Everyone’s Responsibility, which argued that belonging must extend beyond HR policies and become a shared organisational responsibility.
WORKPLACE BELONGING LIST 2026
The 20 individuals featured in this year’s list (in alphabetical order by first name) include:
- Andrea Knowles – Founder, Equality Wound Care Training Ltd (Staff Equality Networks). Recognised for her advocacy of LGBTQIA+ inclusion, healthcare equality and patient rights, alongside initiatives helping people navigate healthcare services.
- Bobbi Pickard – CEO and Founder, Trans in the City. A leading advocate for trans and non-binary inclusion, recognised for helping organisations turn awareness and commitments into practical workplace change.
- Chris Dunn – Global Inclusion Director, GSK. Recognised for embedding inclusion into leadership, workplace culture and everyday employee experiences.
- Claire Harvey MBE – Global Head of Inclusion, Wellbeing and Engagement, TP ICAP. A Paralympian and experienced inclusion leader championing organisational accountability and workplaces where people feel valued and supported.
- Dan Porter – Head of Employer Brand and Recruitment Marketing, Tesco. Also Chair of Tesco’s LGBTQ+ Network, recognised for strengthening visibility, representation and belonging through employee engagement and leadership.
- Dr Carol Massay – CEO and Founder, Unity in Construction. A construction industry leader championing gender equality, leadership opportunities and the advancement of underrepresented talent in the built environment.
- Dr Shani Dhanda – Accessibility Specialist and Broadcaster. Recognised for her work challenging barriers facing disabled people and promoting accessibility, representation and inclusive design across business and society.
- Dr Zaheer Ahmad MBE – Head of Unifying Culture, BDO LLP. Recognised for bringing together inclusion, belonging, social mobility and responsible leadership to widen opportunities across workplaces and communities.
- Hermann Trepesch – Vice President Human Resources, Harbour Energy. Recognised for advancing accountability, inclusive recruitment, women’s leadership and practical workplace support through employee networks and organisational change.
- Ian Tomney-Bell – Head of Inclusion and Talent Acquisition, giffgaff. Recognised for embedding belonging into the employee experience and championing inclusive workplace cultures and employee engagement.
- Jacquline Alcindor – Global Diversity and Inclusion Programme Partner, Legal & General. Recognised for her work on global inclusion strategies, social mobility, leadership engagement and organisational change.
- Joanna Prior OBE – CEO, Pan Macmillan. Recognised for advancing inclusive leadership, accessible career opportunities, employee networks, equitable parenting policies and social mobility.
- Jon Tilli – Director, Deutsche Bank. Global Chair of dbPride, recognised for advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion, employee advocacy and partnerships across the financial services sector.
- Lee Chambers – CEO, Male Allies UK. A business psychologist and advocate encouraging men to play a more active role in gender equality, inclusive leadership and changing workplace behaviours.
- Martyn Sibley – Co-Founder and CEO, Purple Goat Agency. A disability inclusion campaigner and entrepreneur recognised for promoting authentic representation of disabled people in marketing, business and wider society.
- Nadia Nagamootoo – Founder and CEO, Avenir. A chartered psychologist and leadership expert recognised for her work on organisational culture, psychological safety, power dynamics and lasting behavioural change.
- Oscar Davies – Barrister, Garden Court Chambers. A human rights barrister and advocate for trans and non-binary inclusion, recognised for challenging discrimination and improving equality within the legal profession.
- Vince Pizzoni – Professor in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham. Recognised for championing women in engineering, energy and technology through mentoring, sponsorship and practical male allyship.
- Wincie Knight – SVP, International Culture and Stakeholder Strategies, Paramount. Recognised for strengthening employee engagement, international inclusion networks and workplace cultures that value different perspectives.
- Zoe Shackleton – Head of Human Resources and EDI, Huddersfield Town Football Club. Recognised for advancing inclusion within professional football, including work on gender equality, workplace culture, menopause and menstruation-friendly employment practices.
The individuals represent different approaches to workplace change, from improving leadership accountability and employee representation to addressing barriers experienced by historically underrepresented groups.
TEN COMPANIES RECOGNISED FOR WORKPLACE BELONGING
Alongside the individual changemakers, the Workplace Belonging List recognises 10 organisations for their approaches to creating more inclusive working environments. They include:
- BDO LLP for its people strategy, including 12 employee-led networks, mentoring for underrepresented talent and enhanced family and inclusion policies. The firm reports that women represented 26.3% of its partners in 2026, with a target of reaching 30% by the end of 2030. BDO was also named Company of the Year at the 2026 British Diversity Awards.
- Deutsche Bank for integrating inclusion into leadership, everyday behaviours and people practices, supported by employee resource groups that provide opportunities for connection, representation and organisational change.
- HSBC Innovation Banking for its focus on building an inclusive environment for employees while extending its impact through relationships with businesses and the wider innovation ecosystem.
- Lockton for its colleague networks covering cultural diversity, LGBTQ+ inclusion, wellbeing, women and parenting. Its Ignite network supports early-career professionals through mentoring, education and professional development.
- LSEG for its approach to building an inclusive culture across its global workforce. This includes nine Inclusion Networks, employee adjustments and the use of data to inform inclusion priorities.
- Moody’s for connecting inclusion with employee wellbeing, decision-making and organisational performance, supported by business resource groups that bring colleagues together.
Ocado Group for its employee communities, gender and ethnic diversity targets, menopause and fertility support, and Mental Wellbeing Champions programme. The company has also achieved the UK National Equality Standard. - ScottishPower for its employee-led networks covering disability, neurodiversity, LGBTQ+ inclusion, parenting, caring responsibilities, ethnicity and professional development. Its Connected Women network was also named Outstanding Women’s Network at the 2026 Employee Network Awards.
- Serco for its employee networks, leadership development and initiatives designed to improve opportunities for women and Black colleagues. Its Empower women’s leadership programme has supported career progression, with the organisation reporting that 36 participants from its first two cohorts moved into more senior roles or positions with greater responsibility.
- Sky for its Our Shared Future inclusion and engagement strategy. This is focused on fairness, accessibility, social mobility and creating meaningful employee experiences. Sky’s employee networks have also received recognition in previous awards, including its LGBTQ+ network at the British Diversity Awards 2026.
MAKING BELONGING EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY
The Workplace Belonging List forms part of the inaugural Workplace Belonging Week 2026, founded by Linda Riley, also founder of Diversity Umbrella, to encourage organisations to treat belonging as a responsibility shared across leadership teams, managers, employees and workplace networks.
The week includes events hosted by Deutsche Bank, LSEG and giffgaff, alongside a House of Commons reception and the Workplace Belonging Week Summit at BDO. Sessions explore the business case for belonging, the hidden personal challenges employees bring to work, inclusive leadership, generational differences and the contribution of employee networks.
The programme culminates on Friday 13 November with a summit featuring former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, alongside business leaders and workplace inclusion specialists. The week also coincides with the European Diversity Awards 2026, celebrating individuals and organisations advancing equality and inclusion across Europe. Check out the full Workplace Belonging Week 2026 events here.
FROM RECOGNITION TO EVERYDAY ACTION
This year’s ist highlights the different ways individuals and organisations are working to strengthen workplace culture and remove barriers to participation. The recognition also reinforces the importance of visible leadership, employee voice and accountability in turning inclusion commitments into everyday experiences.
Ultimately, workplace belonging is not simply about being included in an organisation. It is about feeling respected, supported and able to contribute without having to hide who you are. The individuals and organisations recognised in the inaugural Workplace Belonging List demonstrate different ways of putting that principle into practice.
Check out the full Workplace Belonging List 2026 here.
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