Fifty champions of diversity and inclusion have been named in the first-ever Diversity Power List. Paul Sesay, CEO of Inclusive Companies, compiled it to highlight people making a tremendous difference in the lives of others.
The list includes people from all walks of life showing outstanding bravery and dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion in their communities and the wider world.
Among the well-known names are Marcus Rachford, Warwick Davis, Diane Abbot MBE, Katie Piper OBE, Ellie Simmonds OBE, Stormzy and Clare Balding CBE. Then there are the unsung heroes who do amazing – and often selfless – work supporting people from diverse backgrounds.
Paul Sesay revealed the Diversity Power List at the 2022 Inclusive Awards on December 1. He says: “It brings together the most innovative and inspirational ‘diversity conscious’ people in the UK today. 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.”
The people on the list across every sector of society. Here are just a few:
Callum Daniel 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.
And 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’.
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. It gives 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.
The full list is here:
Dame Martina Milburn CBE
Adam Hills MBE
Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin MBE
Marcus Rashford MBE
Professor Amanda Kirby
Daniel York Loh
Paris Lees
Warwick Davis
Lady Phyll Opoku-Gymiah
Dan Brooke
Anna Manwah Lo MBE
Lord Simon Woolley OBE
Katie Piper OBE
Poppy Jaman OBE
Shaun Dellenty
Vanessa Vallely OBE, Callum Daniel
Hannah Graf MBE & Jake Graf
Rodney Hinds
Kate Nash OBE
Alan Mak MP
Dame Brenda King
James Sutliff
Diane Abbott MBE
Dr Paul Martin OBE
Ellie Simmonds OBE
Dr Nasser Siabi OBE
Clare Balding CBE
Paul Deemer
Funke Abimbola MBE
Adrien & Pierre Gaubert
Caroline Casey
Laks Mann FRSA
Lydia Amoah
Mike Adams OBE
Fiona Hathorn
Peter Tatchell
Alison Smith
Stormzy
Charlie Martin
Julian John
Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE
Dr Tony Lloyd
Bobbi Pickard
Nicky Murdoch MBE
Mark Martin MBE
Diane Lightfoot
Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE FIET
Richard Rieser
Professor Sue Black OBE
