Luncheon Speakers
Andreas Andersen, Liseberg
Impact: The Influence of Business Presence on the Global LGBT Community
Thursday, 5 July
Andreas Veilstrup Andersen is currently CEO and President of the Liseberg Group, running Scandinavia's biggest amusement park in Gothenburg, Sweden. Andreas has a legal and financial background, and has been working in the amusement park industry since 2000, first at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark, and later as Executive Director of IAAPA’s (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) European operations in Brussels, Belgium. Andreas lives with his partner in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Impact: The Influence of Business Presence on the Global LGBT Community
Thursday, 5 July
Andreas Veilstrup Andersen is currently CEO and President of the Liseberg Group, running Scandinavia's biggest amusement park in Gothenburg, Sweden. Andreas has a legal and financial background, and has been working in the amusement park industry since 2000, first at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark, and later as Executive Director of IAAPA’s (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) European operations in Brussels, Belgium. Andreas lives with his partner in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Robert A. Annibale, Citi
Keynote Speaker & Panelist
Opportunity: the Impact of Business and Government on the Global LGBT Community
Friday, 6 July
Robert (Bob) Annibale manages Citi’s partnerships with global, national and local organizations to support community development through economic empowerment and financial inclusion, focusing on responsible and accessible finance, education and asset building; neighborhood preservation and revitalization; access to college education; and small business and microenterprise development. Bob also leads Citi’s commercial relationships with microfinance and other financial institutions, networks and investors, working across Citi’s businesses and geographies, to expand access to financial services in underserved communities.
Since joining Citi, Bob has held a number of senior treasury, risk and corporate positions in Athens, Bahrain, Kenya, London and New York. He has served on many external boards and councils, including the Board of Advisors for the United Nations Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor. He currently is a member of the Policy Committee of the Centre for the Study of African Economies at the University of Oxford. He represents Citi on the Boards of the Microfinance Information Exchange, the Center for Financial Services Innovation (CSFI), the Federal Reserve Board’s Committee on Economic Empowerment, the Citi Foundation and the Executive Committee of CGAP (World Bank).
Bob completed his BA degrees in History and Political Science at Vassar College, in New York, and his Masters Degree in African Studies (History) at the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies.
Keynote Speaker & Panelist
Opportunity: the Impact of Business and Government on the Global LGBT Community
Friday, 6 July
Robert (Bob) Annibale manages Citi’s partnerships with global, national and local organizations to support community development through economic empowerment and financial inclusion, focusing on responsible and accessible finance, education and asset building; neighborhood preservation and revitalization; access to college education; and small business and microenterprise development. Bob also leads Citi’s commercial relationships with microfinance and other financial institutions, networks and investors, working across Citi’s businesses and geographies, to expand access to financial services in underserved communities.
Since joining Citi, Bob has held a number of senior treasury, risk and corporate positions in Athens, Bahrain, Kenya, London and New York. He has served on many external boards and councils, including the Board of Advisors for the United Nations Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor. He currently is a member of the Policy Committee of the Centre for the Study of African Economies at the University of Oxford. He represents Citi on the Boards of the Microfinance Information Exchange, the Center for Financial Services Innovation (CSFI), the Federal Reserve Board’s Committee on Economic Empowerment, the Citi Foundation and the Executive Committee of CGAP (World Bank).
Bob completed his BA degrees in History and Political Science at Vassar College, in New York, and his Masters Degree in African Studies (History) at the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies.
David Chalmers, Kaleidoscope Trust
Moderator - Opportunity: the Impact of Business and Government on the Global LGBT Community
Friday, 6 July
David Chalmers was one of the original founders of Kaleidoscope Trust, and sits on the Board of Trustees of the UK based charity which focuses on international LGBT rights. David has spent most of his career in the senior commercial management of the international media industry. For 7 years he was based in Hong Kong with the Economist Group. After leaving the Economist Group, David established his own consultancy business in Hong Kong and Beijing, advising Chinese business media on developing their overseas sales networks and strategy.
David has an Honours degree from Edinburgh University in German with European Institutions, and was one of the very few Westerners to have studied in East Germany at the Karl Marx University in Leipzig before the fall of the Berlin Wall. As a student, David wrote the first gay guide to East Berlin. He speaks several European languages, including German fluently, but is still trying to master Mandarin despite 7 years tuition. Always interested in LGBT issues, David was Director of the London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard in 1990s, and whilst in Hong Kong sat on the Board of the Society of Aids Care. It was during his time in Hong Kong that David recognised the important role corporations have to play in bringing about change in society and supporting the rights of LGBT communities. On his return to the UK last year, David identified the need in the UK for an organisation focused on international LGBT rights, and joined forces with a group of friends to launch Kaleidoscope Trust .
Moderator - Opportunity: the Impact of Business and Government on the Global LGBT Community
Friday, 6 July
David Chalmers was one of the original founders of Kaleidoscope Trust, and sits on the Board of Trustees of the UK based charity which focuses on international LGBT rights. David has spent most of his career in the senior commercial management of the international media industry. For 7 years he was based in Hong Kong with the Economist Group. After leaving the Economist Group, David established his own consultancy business in Hong Kong and Beijing, advising Chinese business media on developing their overseas sales networks and strategy.
David has an Honours degree from Edinburgh University in German with European Institutions, and was one of the very few Westerners to have studied in East Germany at the Karl Marx University in Leipzig before the fall of the Berlin Wall. As a student, David wrote the first gay guide to East Berlin. He speaks several European languages, including German fluently, but is still trying to master Mandarin despite 7 years tuition. Always interested in LGBT issues, David was Director of the London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard in 1990s, and whilst in Hong Kong sat on the Board of the Society of Aids Care. It was during his time in Hong Kong that David recognised the important role corporations have to play in bringing about change in society and supporting the rights of LGBT communities. On his return to the UK last year, David identified the need in the UK for an organisation focused on international LGBT rights, and joined forces with a group of friends to launch Kaleidoscope Trust .
Judy Dlugacz, Olivia Travel
Impact: The Influence of Business Presence on the Global LGBT Community
Thursday, 5 July
Judy Dlugacz is the President and Founder of Olivia, the largest company to serve the lesbian community in the world. Olivia began as a record company in 1973 and morphed into a travel and lifestyle company in 1990. During the past 40 years Olivia has sold millions of records, and has taken over 150,000 women on vacations all over the world. Olivia charters entire cruise ships and resorts to create unique experiences for the lesbian community.
Since the age of 19, Judy Dlugacz has devoted her life to creating community and furthering the LGBT movement; she is not just an entrepreneur, but also a political activist. Her passion and commitment has earned her accolades on both local and national levels, including the prestigious Ernst & Young’s 2006 Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and the Best Places to Work Award from the San Francisco Business Times and Deloitte. As an activist in the lesbian and gay communities, Judy has received awards from NY LGBT Center, The Victory Fund, the Goldwater Award of Phoenix, GGBA of San Francisco, BACW and a wide variety of music industry awards, along with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Women’s Music Festival. Judy also helped found the LGBT Haiti Relief fund of the Red Cross, which allowed the LGBT community to speak with one voice as they donated to help the people of Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake. To date, the fund has raised well over $250,000.
Impact: The Influence of Business Presence on the Global LGBT Community
Thursday, 5 July
Judy Dlugacz is the President and Founder of Olivia, the largest company to serve the lesbian community in the world. Olivia began as a record company in 1973 and morphed into a travel and lifestyle company in 1990. During the past 40 years Olivia has sold millions of records, and has taken over 150,000 women on vacations all over the world. Olivia charters entire cruise ships and resorts to create unique experiences for the lesbian community.
Since the age of 19, Judy Dlugacz has devoted her life to creating community and furthering the LGBT movement; she is not just an entrepreneur, but also a political activist. Her passion and commitment has earned her accolades on both local and national levels, including the prestigious Ernst & Young’s 2006 Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and the Best Places to Work Award from the San Francisco Business Times and Deloitte. As an activist in the lesbian and gay communities, Judy has received awards from NY LGBT Center, The Victory Fund, the Goldwater Award of Phoenix, GGBA of San Francisco, BACW and a wide variety of music industry awards, along with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Women’s Music Festival. Judy also helped found the LGBT Haiti Relief fund of the Red Cross, which allowed the LGBT community to speak with one voice as they donated to help the people of Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake. To date, the fund has raised well over $250,000.
Sharon Fraser, Deloitte
Impact: The Influence of Business Presence on the Global LGBT Community
Thursday, 5 July
Sharon is a member of the Deloitte UK Executive and the Managing Partner Regional Markets, having responsibility for Deloitte’s services in 17 practice offices outside London. Previously, Sharon led the regional audit practice for 3 years and spent the past 4 years on the Global Board of Deloitte with oversight of the firm’s operations in 140 countries. Sharon also spent two years on the UK Executive as Managing Partner, Talent with responsibility for all people-related matters across the firm of 12,000 people. It was in this role that Sharon created the firm’s diversity networks, including GLOBE, the network for LGBT partners and staff at Deloitte. Sharon remains the sponsoring partner for GLOBE, representing the network’s interests at the Executive level. She has over 24 years of experience auditing and advising clients across a broad range of sectors, ranging from media and newspaper publishing, manufacturing, engineering, contracting, retail and consumer related businesses to technology companies. In 2010 Sharon organised and participated in a charity skydive that raised over £100,000 for a local cancer hospital in the North West, and she is currently a trustee of the Prostate Cancer Charity.
Impact: The Influence of Business Presence on the Global LGBT Community
Thursday, 5 July
Sharon is a member of the Deloitte UK Executive and the Managing Partner Regional Markets, having responsibility for Deloitte’s services in 17 practice offices outside London. Previously, Sharon led the regional audit practice for 3 years and spent the past 4 years on the Global Board of Deloitte with oversight of the firm’s operations in 140 countries. Sharon also spent two years on the UK Executive as Managing Partner, Talent with responsibility for all people-related matters across the firm of 12,000 people. It was in this role that Sharon created the firm’s diversity networks, including GLOBE, the network for LGBT partners and staff at Deloitte. Sharon remains the sponsoring partner for GLOBE, representing the network’s interests at the Executive level. She has over 24 years of experience auditing and advising clients across a broad range of sectors, ranging from media and newspaper publishing, manufacturing, engineering, contracting, retail and consumer related businesses to technology companies. In 2010 Sharon organised and participated in a charity skydive that raised over £100,000 for a local cancer hospital in the North West, and she is currently a trustee of the Prostate Cancer Charity.
Harry Gaskell, Ernst & Young
Opportunity: The Impact of Business and Government on the Global LGBT Community
Friday, 6 July
Harry is Managing Partner of Ernst & Young’s Advisory Practice in the UK and Ireland. He is a member of the firm’s European Advisory Leadership team and has 25 years consulting experience with a focus on helping organisations make major changes to their business or organisation. Since 2011 Harry has been the Leader of Diversity and Inclusiveness for the firm in the UK and Ireland and is a straight ally of EYGLES, the LGBT network at Ernst & Young. He is also the Chair of the board of the Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (“enei”), the UK’s leading employer network covering all aspects of equality and inclusion issues in the workplace. Prior to joining EY, Harry was a VP at Capgemini and previously worked at Andersen Consulting. He has an MA in Physics from Corpus Christi College Oxford.
Opportunity: The Impact of Business and Government on the Global LGBT Community
Friday, 6 July
Harry is Managing Partner of Ernst & Young’s Advisory Practice in the UK and Ireland. He is a member of the firm’s European Advisory Leadership team and has 25 years consulting experience with a focus on helping organisations make major changes to their business or organisation. Since 2011 Harry has been the Leader of Diversity and Inclusiveness for the firm in the UK and Ireland and is a straight ally of EYGLES, the LGBT network at Ernst & Young. He is also the Chair of the board of the Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (“enei”), the UK’s leading employer network covering all aspects of equality and inclusion issues in the workplace. Prior to joining EY, Harry was a VP at Capgemini and previously worked at Andersen Consulting. He has an MA in Physics from Corpus Christi College Oxford.
Nicki Gilmour, The Glass Hammer
Impact: The Influence of Business Presence on the Global LGBT Community
Thursday, 5 July
Nicki Gilmour, a Belfast native, is a dedicated workplace game changer with over a decade of experience working with clients on talent and business strategies. Nicki founded Evolved People Media LLC in July 2007 by launching the flagship website, theglasshammer.com, which is now the leading career advice website and networking community for professional women in financial and professional services. Theglasshammer.com holds regular events for women and aims to inform, inspire and empower women. In order to “fix the system, not the people,” she created evolvedemployer.com in 2010 to inform business leaders and human capital managers about progressive ways to improve workplace culture. Nicki consults, coaches and trains leaders of all kinds around how to create high performing teams by creating an organizational culture that supports inclusion. She specializes in LGBT and gender diversity issues, intercultural competencies training and employee motivation and career programs. Nicki has an undergraduate business degree from the Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK and a graduate business degree from the Universidad de Murcia in Spain, undertaken in Spanish. Most recently, she has graduated with a Master’s Degree in Change Leadership and Organizational Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. She enjoys engaging conversation, surfing and snowboarding in her spare time. She resides in Brooklyn, New York with her wife, dog and cat.
Impact: The Influence of Business Presence on the Global LGBT Community
Thursday, 5 July
Nicki Gilmour, a Belfast native, is a dedicated workplace game changer with over a decade of experience working with clients on talent and business strategies. Nicki founded Evolved People Media LLC in July 2007 by launching the flagship website, theglasshammer.com, which is now the leading career advice website and networking community for professional women in financial and professional services. Theglasshammer.com holds regular events for women and aims to inform, inspire and empower women. In order to “fix the system, not the people,” she created evolvedemployer.com in 2010 to inform business leaders and human capital managers about progressive ways to improve workplace culture. Nicki consults, coaches and trains leaders of all kinds around how to create high performing teams by creating an organizational culture that supports inclusion. She specializes in LGBT and gender diversity issues, intercultural competencies training and employee motivation and career programs. Nicki has an undergraduate business degree from the Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK and a graduate business degree from the Universidad de Murcia in Spain, undertaken in Spanish. Most recently, she has graduated with a Master’s Degree in Change Leadership and Organizational Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. She enjoys engaging conversation, surfing and snowboarding in her spare time. She resides in Brooklyn, New York with her wife, dog and cat.
Jane Hill, BBC News
Moderator - Impact: The Influence of Business Presence on the Global LGBT Community
Thursday, 5 July
Jane Hill is a BBC TV news presenter, working across BBC1 and the 24 hour news channel. On Radio 2, she has reported for The Radio 2 Arts Show and spent a week standing in for Jeremy Vine. She has presented The World Tonight and Saturday PM on Radio 4. In 2010 she made a documentary for Radio 4 entitled “Glad to be Grey?” about the issues facing older members of the LGBT community.
Jane has anchored many stories for TV news, including the tour of Canada by the newlywed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; the election of US President Barack Obama; the Cumbria shootings; Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and the September 11 attacks. She fronted many weeks of live coverage from Portugal following the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in 2007, and conducted the first TV interview with Kate and Gerry McCann. She also presents many arts stories for BBC News. Jane has a Politics degree from London University, and worked for the Democrats in the US Senate after graduation in 1991. She is a Fellow of the British American Project, an Archers addict, and a passionate supporter of the arts, particularly theatre. She supports a number of charities, in particular Parkinson’s UK and Stonewall. You can find her on Twitter at @JaneHillNews.
Moderator - Impact: The Influence of Business Presence on the Global LGBT Community
Thursday, 5 July
Jane Hill is a BBC TV news presenter, working across BBC1 and the 24 hour news channel. On Radio 2, she has reported for The Radio 2 Arts Show and spent a week standing in for Jeremy Vine. She has presented The World Tonight and Saturday PM on Radio 4. In 2010 she made a documentary for Radio 4 entitled “Glad to be Grey?” about the issues facing older members of the LGBT community.
Jane has anchored many stories for TV news, including the tour of Canada by the newlywed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; the election of US President Barack Obama; the Cumbria shootings; Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and the September 11 attacks. She fronted many weeks of live coverage from Portugal following the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in 2007, and conducted the first TV interview with Kate and Gerry McCann. She also presents many arts stories for BBC News. Jane has a Politics degree from London University, and worked for the Democrats in the US Senate after graduation in 1991. She is a Fellow of the British American Project, an Archers addict, and a passionate supporter of the arts, particularly theatre. She supports a number of charities, in particular Parkinson’s UK and Stonewall. You can find her on Twitter at @JaneHillNews.
John Licence, Marriott International
Impact: The Influence of Business Presence on the Global LGBT Community
Thursday, 5 July
John has worked for Marriott International since 1984. He has held various hotel leadership roles in Marriott International. He was a General Manager in Minneapolis and London before moving into regional operations in 1991. From 1992 to 1998 he was the Area Director of Sales and Marketing for Renaissance hotels in Europe. From 1998 until 2008 John was Vice President, Global Sales, Europe and South Asia for Marriott International based in London. In 2008 John was relocated to Florida as Regional Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Caribbean and Latin America region. In 2011 John moved back to London to head up the launch of the Autograph Collection, Marriott new Boutique and lifestyle brand that is now being developed globally. John studied hotel operations at Westminster College, London. He calls London his home.
Impact: The Influence of Business Presence on the Global LGBT Community
Thursday, 5 July
John has worked for Marriott International since 1984. He has held various hotel leadership roles in Marriott International. He was a General Manager in Minneapolis and London before moving into regional operations in 1991. From 1992 to 1998 he was the Area Director of Sales and Marketing for Renaissance hotels in Europe. From 1998 until 2008 John was Vice President, Global Sales, Europe and South Asia for Marriott International based in London. In 2008 John was relocated to Florida as Regional Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Caribbean and Latin America region. In 2011 John moved back to London to head up the launch of the Autograph Collection, Marriott new Boutique and lifestyle brand that is now being developed globally. John studied hotel operations at Westminster College, London. He calls London his home.
Claire Lucas, USAID
Opportunity: the Impact of Business and Government on the Global LGBT Community
Friday, 6 July
Dr. Claire Lucas is the Senior Advisor for Public-Private Partnerships at the U.S. Agency for International Development. In her role, Dr. Lucas is leading USAID’s effort to expand the creation and implementation of strategic public-private partnerships and facilitate the Agency’s collaboration with the private sector to achieve its development and U.S. foreign policy objectives. She is leading USAID’s work on its historic LGBT Global Equality Partnership. Dr. Lucas is an international development expert, coalition builder, entrepreneur and philanthropist with more than 20 years of experience working to improve the welfare of individuals around the world through multi-stakeholder project development, systematic research and community investment and outreach. Dr. Lucas has held several leadership positions at the World Bank where she was responsible for managing teams and processes which resulted in the creation of numerous multi-million dollar multiple stakeholder international development projects. She was also responsible for the design and implementation of a variety of in-depth studies on a range of development topics. Prior to her joining the World Bank, Dr. Lucas worked for the Pan American Health Organization, the Harvard Institute for International Development as well as several consulting firms. Dr. Lucas also started her own company which focuses on creating innovative and profitable communities. Dr. Lucas possesses a PhD from Johns Hopkins, a MS from Harvard University and a BA from Pomona College. She studied abroad in Madrid, Spain and is fluent in Spanish.
Opportunity: the Impact of Business and Government on the Global LGBT Community
Friday, 6 July
Dr. Claire Lucas is the Senior Advisor for Public-Private Partnerships at the U.S. Agency for International Development. In her role, Dr. Lucas is leading USAID’s effort to expand the creation and implementation of strategic public-private partnerships and facilitate the Agency’s collaboration with the private sector to achieve its development and U.S. foreign policy objectives. She is leading USAID’s work on its historic LGBT Global Equality Partnership. Dr. Lucas is an international development expert, coalition builder, entrepreneur and philanthropist with more than 20 years of experience working to improve the welfare of individuals around the world through multi-stakeholder project development, systematic research and community investment and outreach. Dr. Lucas has held several leadership positions at the World Bank where she was responsible for managing teams and processes which resulted in the creation of numerous multi-million dollar multiple stakeholder international development projects. She was also responsible for the design and implementation of a variety of in-depth studies on a range of development topics. Prior to her joining the World Bank, Dr. Lucas worked for the Pan American Health Organization, the Harvard Institute for International Development as well as several consulting firms. Dr. Lucas also started her own company which focuses on creating innovative and profitable communities. Dr. Lucas possesses a PhD from Johns Hopkins, a MS from Harvard University and a BA from Pomona College. She studied abroad in Madrid, Spain and is fluent in Spanish.
Mark Palmer-Edgecumbe, Google Inc.
Opportunity: the Impact of Business and Government on the Global LGBT Community
Friday, 6 July
Mark Palmer-Edgecumbe is the Head of Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) at Google for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Previously the Global Head of Diversity at Barclays Group, Mark is an acknowledged expert and writes on D&I, including a blog for The Guardian online. Mark is a Governor of the Museum of London and a Trustee of CareTrade Charitable Trading Company. In 2011 Mark established The Inclusive Foundation, of which he is the Chairman. Mark was ranked as one of the 100 most influential LGBT people in the UK by the 2011 Pride Power List. He has a degree in Business Studies and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Opportunity: the Impact of Business and Government on the Global LGBT Community
Friday, 6 July
Mark Palmer-Edgecumbe is the Head of Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) at Google for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Previously the Global Head of Diversity at Barclays Group, Mark is an acknowledged expert and writes on D&I, including a blog for The Guardian online. Mark is a Governor of the Museum of London and a Trustee of CareTrade Charitable Trading Company. In 2011 Mark established The Inclusive Foundation, of which he is the Chairman. Mark was ranked as one of the 100 most influential LGBT people in the UK by the 2011 Pride Power List. He has a degree in Business Studies and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Paul Thompson, LGBT Capital
Keynote Speaker
Thursday, 5 July
Paul Thompson is the founder of LGBT Capital, the first specialist Investment firm focused on the LGBT sector and Chairman of Fridae, Asia's pre-eminent LGBT community website. Paul has a career spanning more than 25 years in the Investment Management sector and was the first foreign CEO of a domestic fund management company in China. He also had management roles at Fidelity Investments, Prudential Financial and Goldman Sachs. Paul has always been passionate about diversity and this was a big factor in his decision to leave the corporate world to start LGBT Capital early in 2010. LGBT Capital is currently working on the development of a fund focused on LGBT diversity.
Keynote Speaker
Thursday, 5 July
Paul Thompson is the founder of LGBT Capital, the first specialist Investment firm focused on the LGBT sector and Chairman of Fridae, Asia's pre-eminent LGBT community website. Paul has a career spanning more than 25 years in the Investment Management sector and was the first foreign CEO of a domestic fund management company in China. He also had management roles at Fidelity Investments, Prudential Financial and Goldman Sachs. Paul has always been passionate about diversity and this was a big factor in his decision to leave the corporate world to start LGBT Capital early in 2010. LGBT Capital is currently working on the development of a fund focused on LGBT diversity.
