Advisory Board

Ginger Chien

Ginger Chien

AT&T

Ginger Chien is a storyteller, 80s cover band keyboard player, transgender DEI&B speaker, and wireless engineer. She is equally comfortable delivering technology conference lectures or conducting intimate emotional intelligence workshops.

Her fusion of emotional intelligence, storytelling, and universal shared values of belonging propels disciplines as diverse as human resources management and engineering toward purposeful and ethical practice.

She finds much of her joy expanding perspectives through her experience as a transgender woman of colour, creating connections through storytelling. She hopes to see her favourite rural town light up again when her transgender band returns to play.

Ginger Chien

Ginger Chien

Mobile Device Architect at AT&T

Ginger Chien is a storyteller, 80s cover band keyboard player, transgender DEI&B speaker, and wireless engineer. She is equally comfortable delivering technology conference lectures or conducting intimate emotional intelligence workshops.

Her fusion of emotional intelligence, storytelling, and universal shared values of belonging propels disciplines as diverse as human resources management and engineering toward purposeful and ethical practice.

She finds much of her joy expanding perspectives through her experience as a transgender woman of colour, creating connections through storytelling. She hopes to see her favourite rural town light up again when her transgender band returns to play.

Upasna Bhadhal

Upasna Bhadhal

Career Collective

Upasna Bhadhal has over 15 years of experience advising organisations on diversifying talent pools and creating more inclusive workplaces.

She is the founder of people and culture consultancy Career Collective, which has led Diversity, Inclusion and Talent initiatives sponsored by Google, the Government Equalities Office, Facebook, and global organisations such as Comic Relief, Diageo, and Barclays.

She helps organisations in the Investment Industry engage with overlooked and underrepresented talent, build cultures of collaboration, and work with businesses around the globe on their Talent and DEI agendas to positively impact workplace dynamics. She is a keynote speaker, Forbes contributor, event host, and non-executive director and ambassador for the Diversity Project.

 

Upasna Bhadhal

Upasna Bhadhal

Founder at Career Collective

Upasna Bhadhal has over 15 years of experience advising organisations on diversifying talent pools and creating more inclusive workplaces.

She is the founder of people and culture consultancy Career Collective, which has led Diversity, Inclusion and Talent initiatives sponsored by Google, the Government Equalities Office, Facebook, and global organisations such as Comic Relief, Diageo, and Barclays.

She helps organisations in the Investment Industry engage with overlooked and underrepresented talent, build cultures of collaboration, and work with businesses around the globe on their Talent and DEI agendas to positively impact workplace dynamics. She is a keynote speaker, Forbes contributor, event host, and non-executive director and ambassador for the Diversity Project.

 

Lizzy Hayashida

Lizzy Hayashida

Change Donations

Lizzy runs Change Donations, named Top 100 startups in Europe by Wired. Prior to founding Change Donations, Lizzy spent 8 years working in innovation and new product development tech companies in the retail and fin-tech space, in both San Francisco and New York.

She was named Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur, Dublin in 2019, and was named Ireland’s Top 30 Women in Tech 2021. Lizzy earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and an MBA from Trinity College Dublin. 

 

Lizzy Hayashida

Lizzy Hayashida

Co-founder and CEO at Change Donations

Lizzy runs Change Donations, named Top 100 startups in Europe by Wired. Prior to founding Change Donations, Lizzy spent 8 years working in innovation and new product development tech companies in the retail and fin-tech space, in both San Francisco and New York.

She was named Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur, Dublin in 2019, and was named Ireland’s Top 30 Women in Tech 2021. Lizzy earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and an MBA from Trinity College Dublin. 

 

Bhavini ‘Bev’ Shah

Bhavini ‘Bev’ Shah

City Hive

Bhavini ‘Bev’ Shah is the founder and Chief Executive of City Hive.  Frustrated by the lack of diversity within financial services, Shah founded the industry body City Hive in 2016 to challenge the investment management industry and be a force of positive change.

Having been diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia at an early age, Shah has been relentless in ensuring that the industry understands that diversity does not just start and end with gender.

Before founding City Hive, Shah held roles at Aviva Investors, Aviva, HSBC Investments, Merchant Securities (acquired by Sanlam) and Bear Stearns.  She holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics and Accountancy from City University (CASS).  Shah is on the Court of the Guild of Investment Managers and has been awarded Freedom to the City of London.

Bhavini ‘Bev’ Shah

Bhavini ‘Bev’ Shah

Founder and CEO at City Hive

Bhavini ‘Bev’ Shah is the founder and Chief Executive of City Hive.  Frustrated by the lack of diversity within financial services, Shah founded the industry body City Hive in 2016 to challenge the investment management industry and be a force of positive change.

Having been diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia at an early age, Shah has been relentless in ensuring that the industry understands that diversity does not just start and end with gender.

Before founding City Hive, Shah held roles at Aviva Investors, Aviva, HSBC Investments, Merchant Securities (acquired by Sanlam) and Bear Stearns.  She holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics and Accountancy from City University (CASS).  Shah is on the Court of the Guild of Investment Managers and has been awarded Freedom to the City of London.

Kamran Mallick

Kamran Mallick

Disability Rights UK

Kamran has worked in the voluntary sector for over 20 years and has run user-led organisations for the last 15 years. He worked for Aspire and as the CEO of Action on Disability. Since 2017 he has been CEO of Disability Rights UK. He has served on various boards of Third sector organisations and was also a member of Transport for London’s Independent Disability Advisory Group for three years. 

Kamran contracted polio as a child and is a wheelchair user. His experiences at both special and mainstream schools showed him that inclusive education for all children is essential.

He works tirelessly to ensure younger disabled people have better opportunities. At Action on Disability, he transformed its youth service, built a programme of supported internships for young people with learning difficulties, and negotiated a purpose-built office funded by social housing. 

Kamran is one of Britain’s most influential disabled people.

 

Kamran Mallick

Kamran Mallick

Chief Executive Officer at Disability Rights UK

Kamran has worked in the voluntary sector for over 20 years and has run user-led organisations for the last 15 years. He worked for Aspire and as the CEO of Action on Disability. Since 2017 he has been CEO of Disability Rights UK. He has served on various boards of Third sector organisations and was also a member of Transport for London’s Independent Disability Advisory Group for three years. 

Kamran contracted polio as a child and is a wheelchair user. His experiences at both special and mainstream schools showed him that inclusive education for all children is essential.

He works tirelessly to ensure younger disabled people have better opportunities. At Action on Disability, he transformed its youth service, built a programme of supported internships for young people with learning difficulties, and negotiated a purpose-built office funded by social housing. 

Kamran is one of Britain’s most influential disabled people.

 

Tiffany Yu

Tiffany Yu

Diversability

Tiffany Yu is the CEO & Founder of Diversability, an award-winning social enterprise to elevate disability pride; the Founder of the Awesome Foundation Disability Chapter, a monthly micro-grant that has awarded $59.5k to 60 disability projects in 10 countries; and a content creator with almost 160k+ followers across platforms.

She serves on the San Francisco Mayor’s Disability Council and was a 2020 Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum Sustainable Development Impact Summit. At the age of 9, Tiffany became disabled due to a car accident that also took the life of her father.

She started her career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and has also worked at Bloomberg and Sean Diddy Combs’ REVOLT Media & TV. She is a 3x TEDx speaker and spoke on five sessions at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos. She has been featured in Marie Claire, the Guardian, and Forbes.

Tiffany Yu

Tiffany Yu

CEO & Founder at Diversability

Tiffany Yu is the CEO & Founder of Diversability, an award-winning social enterprise to elevate disability pride; the Founder of the Awesome Foundation Disability Chapter, a monthly micro-grant that has awarded $59.5k to 60 disability projects in 10 countries; and a content creator with almost 160k+ followers across platforms.

She serves on the San Francisco Mayor’s Disability Council and was a 2020 Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum Sustainable Development Impact Summit. At the age of 9, Tiffany became disabled due to a car accident that also took the life of her father.

She started her career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and has also worked at Bloomberg and Sean Diddy Combs’ REVOLT Media & TV. She is a 3x TEDx speaker and spoke on five sessions at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos. She has been featured in Marie Claire, the Guardian, and Forbes.

Fiona Daniel

Fiona Daniel

FD2i

Fiona Daniel is the CEO and Founder of FD2i Inclusion Business Partners working with companies across the private, public, and voluntary sector to implement a culture of inclusion across all aspects of their business.

Prior to running her own business, she had spent many years shaping, growing, and leading the national and global diversity and inclusion agenda for one of the largest banking and financial organisations in the world.

She is a Non-Executive Director sitting on two boards, a Women on Boards UK consultant, ambassador and presenter, career coach and mentor, awards judge, diversity and inclusion thought leader and highly sought speaker and panellist.

She has been named as one of the most influential D&I Leaders of 2020 in the Hive Learning List, one of the Top 50 Must-Follow Black Female Entrepreneurs, Influencers and Speakers in 2020 and named as one of the Most Influential Black Women in Business to Follow in 2021 by CIO Views Magazine.

Fiona Daniel

Fiona Daniel

Founder and CEO at FD2i

Fiona Daniel is the CEO and Founder of FD2i Inclusion Business Partners working with companies across the private, public, and voluntary sector to implement a culture of inclusion across all aspects of their business.

Prior to running her own business, she had spent many years shaping, growing, and leading the national and global diversity and inclusion agenda for one of the largest banking and financial organisations in the world.

She is a Non-Executive Director sitting on two boards, a Women on Boards UK consultant, ambassador and presenter, career coach and mentor, awards judge, diversity and inclusion thought leader and highly sought speaker and panellist.

She has been named as one of the most influential D&I Leaders of 2020 in the Hive Learning List, one of the Top 50 Must-Follow Black Female Entrepreneurs, Influencers and Speakers in 2020 and named as one of the Most Influential Black Women in Business to Follow in 2021 by CIO Views Magazine.

Sandra Healy

Sandra Healy

inclusio

Sandra Healy is CEO and Founder of inclusio – a science-based, data-led, AI-driven, diversity and inclusion platform.

Prior to inclusio, Sandra’s career spanned 20 years in the global telecoms industry and five years at Dublin City University, where she established the Centre of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion. In 2020 after four years in R&D, inclusio spun out of DCU.

Sandra is an Organisational Psychologist and an NLP Master Practitioner who, over 15 years, has championed and driven D&I practice across industry and is considered one of the country’s leading experts.

Sandra Healy

Sandra Healy

CEO and Founder at inclusio

Sandra Healy is CEO and Founder of inclusio – a science-based, data-led, AI-driven, diversity and inclusion platform.

Prior to inclusio, Sandra’s career spanned 20 years in the global telecoms industry and five years at Dublin City University, where she established the Centre of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion. In 2020 after four years in R&D, inclusio spun out of DCU.

Sandra is an Organisational Psychologist and an NLP Master Practitioner who, over 15 years, has championed and driven D&I practice across industry and is considered one of the country’s leading experts.

Lavinia Thanapathy

Lavinia Thanapathy

Lavinia Club

Lavinia Thanapathy is a Top 200 Global Voice on Leadership. She is a motivational speaker on the people aspects of change. 

Lavinia co-wrote the bestselling book “Unleash Your Voice – Powerful Public Speaking for Every Woman”. She is a Linkedin Top Voice and the founder of Lavinia Club, an online communications training platform. 

Lavinia is also the Founding Chair of Inspiring Girls Singapore and she is a two-time TEDx Speaker who regularly speaks at international conferences. She is from Singapore and lives in Berlin, Germany. 

Lavinia Thanapathy

Lavinia Thanapathy

Founder at Lavinia Club

Lavinia Thanapathy is a Top 200 Global Voice on Leadership. She is a motivational speaker on the people aspects of change. 

Lavinia co-wrote the bestselling book “Unleash Your Voice – Powerful Public Speaking for Every Woman”. She is a Linkedin Top Voice and the founder of Lavinia Club, an online communications training platform. 

Lavinia is also the Founding Chair of Inspiring Girls Singapore and she is a two-time TEDx Speaker who regularly speaks at international conferences. She is from Singapore and lives in Berlin, Germany. 

Dex Hunter- Torricke

Dex Hunter- Torricke

Head Of Communications, Oversight Board at Meta

Dex Hunter-Torricke is Vice President of Global Communications & Public Engagement for the Oversight Board, the independent body established in 2020 to make decisions on Meta’s most significant content moderation challenges. He previously served as head of communications for SpaceX, and in roles for Google, Facebook and the United Nations.

Heidi Ridley

Heidi Ridley

RadiantESG Global Investors

Heidi is the co-founder of RadiantESG Global Investors, a consulting firm that advises on approaches to ESG investing and programs that promote diversity and inclusion with an emphasis on culture.

She was the CEO of Rosenberg Equities, a $20bn pioneer in systematic investing.  Under her leadership, Rosenberg became the first fully ESG integrated quantitative manager.

Heidi earned her bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, completed the Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive Education Program, and is a CFA charter holder.  She is a two-time finalist for the Woman of the Year Award—in 2017 from Investment Week Women in Investments and in 2019 from Women in Asset Management. 

Heidi is a member of the Advisory Council for the Center for Equity Gender and Leadership at the HAAS School of Business, a champion of ESG investing and an advocate for diversity and inclusion, forwarding the dialogue through speaking engagements worldwide. 

Heidi Ridley

Heidi Ridley

Co-founder and CEO at RadiantESG Global Investors

Heidi is the co-founder of RadiantESG Global Investors, a consulting firm that advises on approaches to ESG investing and programs that promote diversity and inclusion with an emphasis on culture.

She was the CEO of Rosenberg Equities, a $20bn pioneer in systematic investing.  Under her leadership, Rosenberg became the first fully ESG integrated quantitative manager.

Heidi earned her bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, completed the Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive Education Program, and is a CFA charter holder.  She is a two-time finalist for the Woman of the Year Award—in 2017 from Investment Week Women in Investments and in 2019 from Women in Asset Management. 

Heidi is a member of the Advisory Council for the Center for Equity Gender and Leadership at the HAAS School of Business, a champion of ESG investing and an advocate for diversity and inclusion, forwarding the dialogue through speaking engagements worldwide. 

Natalja Rodionova

Natalja Rodionova

STEP IT Academy/Sisters of Code

Natalja is Managing Director of STEP IT Academy in Cambodia and Vietnam and Founder of Sisters of Code, a non-profit educational program for girls.

Natalja is passionate about innovation in education and empowering female students in learning digital skills.

Originally from Latvia, Natalja has accepted a challenge and moved to Cambodia in 2015 to head a training centre, IT Academy STEP, specializing in tech education. Observing a dramatic underrepresentation of girls in technology, in 2019, Natalja has founded a non-profit educational programme: the first female coding club in Cambodia – Sisters of Code and currently is launching a virtual IT Academy STEP in Vietnam.

 

Natalja Rodionova

Natalja Rodionova

Managing Director/Founder at STEP IT Academy/Sisters of Code

Natalja is Managing Director of STEP IT Academy in Cambodia and Vietnam and Founder of Sisters of Code, a non-profit educational program for girls.

Natalja is passionate about innovation in education and empowering female students in learning digital skills.

Originally from Latvia, Natalja has accepted a challenge and moved to Cambodia in 2015 to head a training centre, IT Academy STEP, specializing in tech education. Observing a dramatic underrepresentation of girls in technology, in 2019, Natalja has founded a non-profit educational programme: the first female coding club in Cambodia – Sisters of Code and currently is launching a virtual IT Academy STEP in Vietnam.

 

Nasheen Liu

Nasheen Liu

The IT Media Group

A sought-after technology media executive, Nasheen drives a mandate that creates a profound impact of technology on business, one C-suite conversation at a time. As a founding partner of The IT Media Group,

Nasheen oversees the company’s strategic initiatives that empower the Canadian IT executive community. She chairs a cross-industry CIO Advisory Board providing guidance on compelling issues and topics for CIOs and the IT vendors that serve them.

Nasheen and her team celebrated their 10th anniversary in 2021 by opening the market at the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Before The IT Media Group, Nasheen held key marketing and management positions at leading tech firms Oracle (Sun Microsystems), Infor (Workbrain) and IBM (Platform Computing).

Nasheen gives back by providing pro-bono coaching, mentoring and sponsorship to her network and referrals, from new grads to senior execs.

Nasheen Liu

Nasheen Liu

Partner & SVP, CIO Program Strategy at The IT Media Group

A sought-after technology media executive, Nasheen drives a mandate that creates a profound impact of technology on business, one C-suite conversation at a time. As a founding partner of The IT Media Group,

Nasheen oversees the company’s strategic initiatives that empower the Canadian IT executive community. She chairs a cross-industry CIO Advisory Board providing guidance on compelling issues and topics for CIOs and the IT vendors that serve them.

Nasheen and her team celebrated their 10th anniversary in 2021 by opening the market at the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Before The IT Media Group, Nasheen held key marketing and management positions at leading tech firms Oracle (Sun Microsystems), Infor (Workbrain) and IBM (Platform Computing).

Nasheen gives back by providing pro-bono coaching, mentoring and sponsorship to her network and referrals, from new grads to senior execs.

Pearle Nwaezeigwe

Pearle Nwaezeigwe

TikTok

Pearle is a Nigerian lawyer. She obtained her LL.B from the prestigious University of Lagos and received her Master’s in International Human Rights Law from the University of California, Berkeley.  

Her interests are in Human rights and Technology, which led her to her current role as a Policy Manager in Africa at TikTok. Her role entails creating inclusive policies that foster free expression amongst users in 47 countries.  

Her areas of expertise include policy development, responsible innovation, policy enforcement and trust and safety. 

 

Pearle Nwaezeigwe

Pearle Nwaezeigwe

Product Policy Manager SSA at TikTok

Pearle is a Nigerian lawyer. She obtained her LL.B from the prestigious University of Lagos and received her Master’s in International Human Rights Law from the University of California, Berkeley.  

Her interests are in Human rights and Technology, which led her to her current role as a Policy Manager in Africa at TikTok. Her role entails creating inclusive policies that foster free expression amongst users in 47 countries.  

Her areas of expertise include policy development, responsible innovation, policy enforcement and trust and safety. 

 

Ben Thomas

Ben Thomas

TiPJAR®

Ben is co-founder and CEO of TiPJAR, an award-winning fintech bringing cashless tipping to workers in hospitality, hotels, beauty and tourism globally.

Before this, he co-founded executive coaching consultancy Coachmatch (now Wondrous People), led a major film extras agency, was a digital consultant, a bartender and nearly an actor.

Ben also advises the London Interdisciplinary School on their professional development programmes and hosts the #founderhacks podcast, an honest, irreverent and sometimes entertaining exploration of the real experience of being a founder and entrepreneur. He occasionally speaks on entrepreneurship and facilitates retreats for people and teams who lead businesses.

Ben Thomas

Ben Thomas

CEO at TiPJAR®

Ben is co-founder and CEO of TiPJAR, an award-winning fintech bringing cashless tipping to workers in hospitality, hotels, beauty and tourism globally.

Before this, he co-founded executive coaching consultancy Coachmatch (now Wondrous People), led a major film extras agency, was a digital consultant, a bartender and nearly an actor.

Ben also advises the London Interdisciplinary School on their professional development programmes and hosts the #founderhacks podcast, an honest, irreverent and sometimes entertaining exploration of the real experience of being a founder and entrepreneur. He occasionally speaks on entrepreneurship and facilitates retreats for people and teams who lead businesses.

Eric J Freedman

Eric J Freedman

U.S Bank

 

Eric is Chief Investment Officer for U.S. Bank’s Institutional and Wealth Management Businesses, responsible for a team of investment professionals responsible for an investment management business that has grown to more than $200 billion in assets under management (AUM). He also directs investment strategy and policies on behalf of the bank. Eric is a frequent speaker and contributor to global financial media.

Before joining U.S. Bank, Eric was a Vice President within Goldman Sachs’ equity derivatives business and, before that, an analyst within global equities.

Eric holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Colgate University, where is was captain of the lacrosse team, and a master’s in Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he double majored in finance and management.

Eric is the Chairman of the Diocese of Raleigh Investment Committee, a member of the American Banker’s Association Investment Advisory Committee and a Board Member of PLAYERSNEXT, an organisation focused on transforming the youth sports experience in America.

Eric J Freedman

Eric J Freedman

Chief Investment Officer at U.S Bank

 

Eric is Chief Investment Officer for U.S. Bank’s Institutional and Wealth Management Businesses, responsible for a team of investment professionals responsible for an investment management business that has grown to more than $200 billion in assets under management (AUM). He also directs investment strategy and policies on behalf of the bank. Eric is a frequent speaker and contributor to global financial media.

Before joining U.S. Bank, Eric was a Vice President within Goldman Sachs’ equity derivatives business and, before that, an analyst within global equities.

Eric holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Colgate University, where is was captain of the lacrosse team, and a master’s in Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he double majored in finance and management.

Eric is the Chairman of the Diocese of Raleigh Investment Committee, a member of the American Banker’s Association Investment Advisory Committee and a Board Member of PLAYERSNEXT, an organisation focused on transforming the youth sports experience in America.