2012 Global LGBT Workplace Summit
Workshop Presenter Bios
J. Bob Alotta, Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice
LGBT Workplace Equality in Emerging Markets: How to Get There?
A lifelong activist and accomplished filmmaker, Bob Alotta has a long track record of skillful management and fundraising. Prior to joining Astraea, Bob was Director of Digital Media and Content at Zeitbyte Digital Media and the Director of Digital Technology for Film at Columbia University's School of the Arts. Bob's documentary and narrative films have aired on Democracy Now, GRITtv and PBS, and have screened at festivals in the United States, Canada, Europe and the Middle East.
Rob Anderson, Eli Lilly and Company
Leverage your ERG, Partner with Your Company, Influence Equality Legislation
Robert L. Anderson, a 1993 graduate of Ball State University, joined Eli Lilly and Company in 2003. He is the current Chair of the Lilly PRIDE ERG. He has been active in the ERG leadership for the past 6 years. Rob is active in the Indianapolis LGBT Community. He spends much of his free time raising his three beautiful daughters.
Henry Armas
LGBT Workplace Equality in Emerging Markets: How to Get There?
Henry is a Peruvian lawyer, researcher and development specialist currently based in Panama. For the past 20 years, Henry has worked in international development specializing in health, gender and sexuality, youth, human rights and citizen participation, and has worked with various networks and civil society organizations on LGBTI rights, HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health and youth. Henry is an active researcher and writer on issues of LGBT rights, and poverty, gender and sexuality in development. He has made research for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sweden and different universities in the UK and the Netherlands. He is the founder and pastpresident of NGO GRUPAL, working on democracy and citizen participation for young people in Peru. He has also worked for different universities in Peru and for the United Nations. Henry is a lawyer and holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies with a specialization in Development Research from the Institute of Social Studies, The Netherlands. He is fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese.
Pat Baillie, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates
Building Bridges to LGBT Cultural Compentency - What in the World Does that Mean?
Finding Intersections on the Edges
Pat Baillie joined Out & Equal in January 2008 after retiring the second time in her career from Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Prior to that, she served in the US Air Force, retiring in 1993 as a Major. Pat graduated from California State University, Northridge with a master’s degree in physical education, biology and psychology and has a master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. She was a combat rated officer in the military and a government contractor for the Department of Energy. She has been active in LGBT causes during her entire career, from “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” to community organizing as Albuquerque Pride co-president, and now as associate director of training. Pat teaches best practices for LGBT Equality in the workplace both online and in the classroom for Out & Equal. She lives with her partner, Sharrin Spector, in Oakland and they take every chance to travel the world!
Jean Balfour, Bailey Balfour Consulting
Being a Senior Woman Executive
Jean has over 20 years experience as an organisation consultant, specializing in executive coaching, facilitation and leadership development. Her clients range from global corporates to small not for profits. Jean is passionate about women's development and has undertaken research into the experiences of lesbians in the workplace. Jean is currently writing a book celebrating senior lesbians in business. She is also on the board of Diversity Role Models--a charity tackling homophobic bullying in schools.
Nicholas Barnett, Accenture
Telling it Straight: Talking about Straight Allies
Nick Barnett is Accenture UK/I's current LGBT Network Co-Lead, having previously been Events lead and involved in education and awareness strands. Nick's position has specific responsibility for the delivery of the Straight Allies Programme alongside Sarah Odell. Nick works day-to-day on all of Accenture UK/I&'s various LGBT activities, from events to policy, and is uniquely positioned to give an overview of the difference the programme has made across the business.Before joining Accenture, Nick was the LGBT lead for Bristol University Student's Union and a member of the National Union of Students Executive Committee for LGBT. Nick has a background in customer relationship management and public speaking, and used to debate regularly at the Oxford and Cambridge Unions.
Ken Batty, Lenovo Group
The Business Case for Diversity
Ken Batty is the Executive Director for Human Resouces at Lenovo Group. He has held this role since Lenovo acquired IBM's PC. He previously worked for 18 years at IBM.
Liz Bingham, Ernst & Young
Being a Senior Woman Executive
Opportunity: The Impact of Business and Government on the Global LGBT Community
Liz Bingham joined Ernst & Young in the Restructuring business in 1986, having started in the profession in 1981. Liz has enjoyed a varied career, serving clients in many parts of the world, and including a variety of leadership roles. In May 2011, Liz accepted her current role as Managing Partner for People and was appointed to the UK's Leadership Team. Liz is passionately committed to creating an environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
Connie Bonello, Pride at Work Canada
From Legislative Equality to Workplace Inclusion: the Canadian Journey
Connie Bonello is a seasoned management consultant with several years of C-level experience and has provided consulting services across Europe, Asia and the Americas. She leads IBM's Diversity/LGBT Business Development program in Canada and Latin America which focuses on leveraging diversity to improve workforce effectiveness, stimulate innovation and generate business opportunities. Connie is a LGBT community leader and is a Director with Pride at Work Canada and the University of Toronto’s Sexual Diversity Studies program.
Jo Bostock, Stonewall
The Value of LGB Role Models in the Workplace
Jo Bostock established her own coaching and consultancy business in 2004, and is an Associate Director at Stonewall, with responsiblity for their leadership development activity. Her work focuses on encouraging inclusive workplaces where diverse talent can thrive. She creates space for senior people to identify what being authentic and inclusive means for them in practice. Jo has worked with organisations that include J.P. Morgan, Accenture, Unicef, Enrst & Young, and Cambridge University.
Claudia Brind-Woody, IBM
Being a Senior Woman Executive
The Business Case for Diversity
Claudia Brind-Woody is the VP of Intellectual Property & Advanced Technology Licensing at IBM. She has worked for IBM in the USA, Finland, and now the UK, where she lives with her wife. Claudia serves on the Board of Directors at Out & Equal Workplace Advocates.
Carlos Campoy, Eli Lilly and Company
Building Bridges to LGBT Cultural Competency - What in the World Does that Mean?
Leverage your ERG, Partner with Your Company, Influence Equality Legislation
Carlos Campoy joined Eli Lilly in 1996 and has been very active in the Lilly LGBT community, serving as the Director of the Global Diversity office for 2 years. He is currently a Senior Director of Finance in Europe.
Brent Chamberlain, Pride at Work Canada
From Legislative Equality to Workplace Inclusion: the Canadian Journey
How to Become a Bisexual Ally
Brent Chamberlain is the Executive Director of Pride at Work Canada, the leading organization supporting the LGBT community in Canadian workplaces. Founded in 2008, Pride at Work Canada aims to educate and provide networking opportunities for diversity professionals, LGBT ERGs and allies across Canada. Brent was previously a manager with Stonewall UK, where he was the author of several workplace publications including the Workplace Equality Index and Bisexual People in the Workplace. Brent holds an MSc in Economic Geography from the London School of Economics and currently lives in Toronto.
Toni Charles, Accenture
Accommodating Transgender Employees in the Global Workplace
Toni Charles is a Business Process Architect working with the Accenture Duck Creek software platform as a Lead Business Analyst, and has worked in the IT Insurance industry since 1988. Toni joined Accenture in the acquisition of Duck Creek Technologies in 2011. She created and now runs Accenture's UK Transgender network, and advises Accenture on the analysis of global transgender metrics. Toni is currently working on extending Accenture's transgender healthcare scheme to establish healthcare parity worldwide.
Robert Conti, Littler Mendelson
Creating a LGBT-Diverse Global Workforce
Robert Conti represents both private and public-sector employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including litigation in both federal and California state courts and various administrative agencies. He also provides, on a daily basis, advice to clients on areas such as wages and hourly rates; reasonable accommodation concerns; and documenting, disciplining and discharging employees. His interest in labor and employment law began when he was working at the newsroom at the CBS-owned television station in Los Angeles and organized a unit and bargained on its behalf.
Chris Crespo, Ernst & Young, LLP
Connecting our Networks for Success
Chris Crespo is an Inclusiveness Director at Ernst & Young, with 23 years of combined experience in tax and human resources. Chris is part of the Americas Inclusiveness Center of Excellence, integrating inclusiveness into business processes in the Americas, with a focus on professional networks. She also leads Ernst & Young's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender inclusiveness strategy with the Beyond Network. Chris and her family reside in western Pennsylvania. She can be contacted at chris.crespo@ey.com.
Daniel Danso, Stonewall Equality Ltd.
Stonewall International Workplace Guidance for International Businesses
How to Become a Bisexual Ally
LGBT Impact Survey & Indices for the Global Business Community
Daniel Danso joined Stonewall in 2008, and is Client Group Manager for the Workplace Programmes. His background in equalities consultancy and mediated representations of difference, helps him advise a broad range of businesses; including media, sport, transportation, and professional services. Daniel produced Starting Out, Stonewall's annual LGB Careers Guide; co-wrote and produced the Workplace Equality Index 2011; led facilitation groups for the Stonewall Leadership programme; and has spoken at various conferences and events in the UK and internationally.
Lee Davis, NESst
LGBT Workplace Equality in Emerging Markets: How to Get There?
Lee Davis is the Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) and is responsible for advancing NESsT’s work as a pioneer in social enterprise development by leading several initiatives: the Wardrop Fellowship to help prepare the next generation of social enterprise leaders; the Social Enterprise World Forum launching in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in October 2012; Galeforce Capital and the first global LGBT social enterprise competition; a social design initiative focused on leveraging the creative resources of the design industry to support social enterprise and NESsT’s portfolio. Lee holds a Master’s degree in Policy Studies from the Johns Hopkins University, Institute for Policy Studies, and a Bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Connecticut College. He is currently a Social Enterprise Fellow at the Yale School of Management Program on Social Enterprise. Lee was born in New York and currently lives in the San Joaquin Valley of California.
Julie Dorf, Council for Global Equality
GLBT Employees on Foreign Assignments: Theory & Chevron Case Study
Julie Dorf has been a leader in the LGBT rights movement for twenty years. Julie founded and directed the International Gay Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) from 1990 to 2000, creating an organization that protects and advances the human rights of all people and communities subjected to discrimination or abuse on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status. In the past decade, she has served as the director of philanthropic services for Horizons Foundation, a foundation serving the San Francisco Bay LGBT community, and vice president of the Vanguard Public Foundation. As an independent consultant, she has worked for Open Society Institute, Global Fund for Women, Arcus Foundation, and Fenton Communications/J-Street Project. She currently serves on the board of directors or advisory boards of Human Rights Watch’s LGBT Rights Program, Gender PAC, IGLHRC, and PowerPAC. Julie holds a BA from Wesleyan University in Russian and Soviet Studies. She lives in San Francisco with her partner Jenni Olson, and their two girls Hazel and Sylvie.
Deena Fidas
LGBT Impact Surveys & Indices for the Business Community
Deena Fidas consults directly with employers on the implementation of inclusive policies and benefits for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. Deena manages the Corporate Equality Index survey administration to more than 1,200 major U.S. employers and authors the Corporate Equality Index report. She led the Degrees of Equality report on how to evaluate and improve the workplace climate for LGBT employees in large businesses. Deena has become a sought-after presenter of the Degrees of Equality work with numerous corporate site visits and professional conference presentations across the country. She also develops teaching toolkits on LGBT workforce diversity for employers. Prior to joining the Workplace Project staff in 2007, she worked in fundraising for the American Civil Liberties Union and Hillary Clinton for President, among other clients. Deena holds a master’s degree in sociology from American University in Washington, D.C., where she also worked as a researcher for the university’s Women & Politics Institute.
Anthony Gaugler, Accenture
Telling it Straight: Talking about Straight Allies
Mike Horridge, Morgan Stanley
Interbank LGBT Forum: Beat the Competition! Working Together for the Good of the Group
Mike Horridge has been Co-Chair of the Interbank LGBT Forum since 2010 and is also the Co-Chair of Morgan Stanley's EMEA-based LGBT Employee Network, GLEAMS, a position he has held since 2008. Mike is a Vice President within Morgan Stanley's Foreign Exchange and Emerging Markets division based in London and has been actively involved in the Firm's LGBT Agenda since joining Morgan Stanley.
Ian Johnson, Out Now
The Diversity Gap - Where Policy Meets Workplace Reality
Ian Johnson, founder of Out Now has for two decades been recognized as one of the world's foremost authorities on marketing to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) customers. Out Now Global has been relied upon by many of the world's leading brands including Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays, Citibank, Hilton Hotels, IBM, Toyota, TUI, German National Tourist Office, Lufthansa, Merck; and delivers a comprehensive range of tailored solutions focused on research, strategy, communications and training.
Jerry A. Johnson, Essar Group
Being OUTstanding Employees
Jerry A. Johnson is a marketing manager at a global conglomerate, an expert in communication, a published writer, a public speaker on forums such as TEDx, and an avid autodidact with interests in philosophy, economics, and politics. He is an atheist and openly gay man, living in Mumbai with his partner. He has appeared on various national TV shows and debates in India as well as in all major English newspapers, discussing LGBT issues and rights.
Sara Johnston, Ernst & Young
Connecting our Networks for Success
Sara Johnston is an auditor in the Seattle assurance practice of Ernst & Young. Sara spent seven years in the nonprofit sector doing fundraising and financial management before her transition to the corporate world. She has served on boards and led fundraising efforts for local nonprofits for more than ten years, with a focus on supporting anti-violence and justice work in the LGBT and people of color communities. Sara holds a bachelor's degree in women's studies and a certificate in accounting from the University of Washington.
Danny Katende, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates
Building Bridges to LGBT Cultural Competency - What in the World Does that Mean?
Danny Katende joined the Out and Equal staff in June 2011. He was born and raised in Uganda, East Africa, and in March 2011 he relocated and settled in California from Nairobi, Kenya. Danny began singing at a young age. He recorded eight albums and also released his first solo album in 2008. Danny co-founded the Spectrum Uganda Initiatives, a gay organization advocating for gay rights, HIV prevention and providing counseling for the LGBTI community in Uganda in 2005. His hobbies include going to the movies, traveling, hiking, performing, recording and composing songs that achieve his dream and vision
Claire Lucas, USAID
LGBT Workplace Equality in Emerging Markets: How to Get There?
Dr. Claire Lucas works to expand the use of strategic public-private partnerships at USAID. She is an international development expert, coalition builder,entrepreneur and philanthropist. Prior to USAID, Dr. Lucas worked at the World Bank, Pan American Health Organization, and Harvard Institute for International Development. Dr. Lucas has a Ph.D. in International Health from The Johns Hopkins University, a M.S. in Health Policy and Management from Harvard, and a B.A. in International Relations from Pomona College.
Tushar M, Equal India Alliance
Adopting an Asian Lens to LGBT policies
LGBT Impact Surveys & Indices for the Global Business Community
Tushar M is a graduate in BE (Mechatronics) from Manipal University (2011). He is the founder, counselor and core member of QueerCampus (collective for LGBTQ youth) since 2010. He has been working with the Equal India Alliance since 2011, and is heading all corporate and university affairs, leading a team of volunteers across India. He also is a reputed theatre instructor, is an editor for Pink Pages magazine, and is training to be a drama therapist.
Markus Mueller, IBM
Diverse & Collaborative: Sharing Insight from Successful Diversity Leadership
Markus Mueller has been with IBM for 10 years, and has worked in software development, consulting and education. Currently, Markus manages the IBM Software Services for Collaboration business across Europe, Middle East and Africa. In addition, he is active in the German and WW LGBT Diversity community and leads the Reverse Mentoring program. He lives in Cologne, Germany with his partner Tam.
Eleanor Mulligan, Google Inc.
Connecting our Networks for Success
Eleanor Mulligan manages Google's diversity and inclusion initiatives across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. She is responsible for the LGBT agenda. From London, she creates and delivers tailored programmes for a wide range of countries, languages, cultures and laws. Eleanor has been at Google for over 5 years and her experience includes gender, disability and ethnicity strategies. Prior to Google, Eleanor was a consultant at a multinational HR firm serving a wide variety of technology clients and public sector organisations with a strong equality agenda.
Stefano Nappo, UBS
Interbank LGBT Forum: Beat the Competition! Working Together for the Good of the Group
Stefano Nappo is a current Co-Chair of the Interbank LGBT Forum, a post he was elected to twice before. Stefano's day job is Global Head of Intellectual Property Legal at UBS, and is coming up to his tenth anniversary with the firm. He is also Co-Chair of Pride EMEA, UBS's employee resource group in EMEA based in London, a Stonewall Ambassador and a passionate advocate for LGBT equality and representation both at UBS and in his personal life.
Victor Nieves, Ernst & Young
Diverse & Collaborative: Sharing Insight from Successful Diversity Leadership
Victor Nieves is a senior manager working in the London office of Ernst & Young as part of the EMEIA Capital Markets team. His primary focus is on US GAAP technical accounting matters for SEC registrants or other companies throughout EMEIA who engage in cross-border transactions into the US or UK. Having worked for 10 years at EY, he has also worked in the firm's Philadelphia and New York offices. He has been actively involved in Ernst & Young's diversity and inclusiveness efforts, and is currently the co-chair of EYGLES, the firm's LGBT network for the United Kingdom and Ireland. He also held leadership roles in the firm's employee resource groups for LGBT employees and Latino employees in the US.
Denise A. Norris, Accenture
Accommodating Transgender Employees in the Global Workplace
Denise Norris is one of the first few out transgender employees at Accenture, and has been leading the effort to increase global workplace inclusion and diversity for transgender employees under the sponsorship of Accenture's Global LGBT Network. During FY11, she was instrumental in a team-effort to deliver WPATH-compliant transgender-related health-care benefits to employees based in the US. In FY12, she is responsible for developing global best practices for transgender inclusion and promoting organization-wide transgender engagement.
Sarah Odell, Accenture
Telling it Straight: Talking about Straight Allies
Sarah Odell has been Accenture UK/I's LGBT Network Lead, and also sits on the Gay Women's Network in London. Sarah has long been an LGBT activist within Accenture. Her position as Straight Allies Programme Lead this year has given her an opportunity to engage in a topic she is exceptionally passionate about. Sarah has driven the strategy and delivery of the programme from the creative content of videos, to communications, and the academic debate behind the message. Sarah has spent extensive time exploring the concept of alliance with Stonewall and the UK/I LGBT Network within Accenture. Sarah is currently a Senior Manager within Accenture, working within the learning community and regularly presents at a client level and internally. Sarah presented at Accenture's conference in Rome for EuroPride in 2011, and facilitated Accenture's recent LGBT Leadership training in the UK.
Mark Palmer-Edgecumbe, Google Inc.
Putting Employee Networks at the Heart of LGBT Strategy
Opportunity: The Impact of Business and Government on the Global LGBT Community
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.
Jackie Perri, Pride at Work Canada
From Legislative Equality to Workplace Inclusion: the Canadian Journey
Jackie brings 20 years of experience in financial services. With deep expertise managing and delivering transformational projects, including change management, process improvement, and opportunity identification. Prior to Deloitte, Jackie was a Senior Director at CIBC where she was responsible for the effectiveness CIBC’s retail distribution channels and Chair of CIBC’s Pride Network. Jackie is a Senior Manager in Deloitte’s Corporate Strategy Consulting practice and Chair of the National LEAD Network.
Matt Petersen, CIBC
From Legislative Equality to Workplace Inclusion: the Canadian Journey
Matt Petersen currently serves as the Director of Diversity Strategies for CIBC where he is responsible for leading the Employment Equity and Diversity team. This team has global accountability for developing strategies and programs that support the attraction, retention and development of diverse talent for CIBC. Since taking over this area in 2010, CIBC has been recognized as a leader in the area of workplace diversity & inclusion, which includes Canada's Best Diversity Employers in 2011 and 2012.
Roman Podolczuk, IBM
Diverse & Collaborative: Sharing Insight from Successful Diversity Leadership
Roman Podolczuk is the Workforce Analytics Lead in IBM UK Global Business Services. Roman has spent the last year in a development role, shadowing a senior IBM executive, though his experience is primarily in business consulting and functional HR. Roman has chaired the IBM UK LGBT Steering Committee for the last 18 months and has been involved in a countless LGBT diversity projects in IBM over the last 7 years. Roman lives in Central London.
David Pollard, Workplace Pride Foundation
LGBT Impact Surveys & Indices for the Global Business Community
David Pollard is co-founder and Executive Director of the Workplace Pride Foundation which represents the LGBT networks of 24 prominent companies and organizations. David has worked for over 20 years in the international corporate world, among which 7 were dealing with LGBT issues on an international level. He is founder and former Global Chairman of ING’s LGBT employee network “Gala,”which grew from just a few people in 2003 to over 1200 members in 27 countries in 2009. His 15 year career at ING spanned a number of responsibilities including the creation and management of ING ‘s European Affairs Department which dealt with EU financial legislation. In addition to his normal responsibilities, he was instrumental in positioning ING as a leader in the LGBT field in Europe, and has been a visible proponent of increasing awareness about LGBT workplace issues in the Netherlands and abroad. In his most recent venture David has founded and is Managing Director of Community to Community Advising (C-2-C). The company helps diverse communities work together to understand each other’s goals and aspirations thereby achieving mutually beneficial results. C-2-C’s clients include major corporations, governments, NGO’s and special interest groups and focuses on the international LGBT business community. David holds degrees in International Relations (BA, Political Science and Business, University of Oklahoma, USA) and in European Affairs (Masters: Diplome d’Etudes Europeén, Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium). He lives in Amsterdam with his husband Michael.
Allyson Robinson, Human Rights Campaign
Building Bridges to LGBT Cultural Competency - What in the World Does that Mean?
Building Transgender Cultural Competence in the Culturally Diverse Organization
Prior to her gender transition, Allyson Robinson graduated from West Point, served as a U.S. Army officer, received a Master's degree in Social Justice from Baylor University and pastored Baptist congregations on two continents. She's proudest, though, of her "thrilling" 18-year marriage and her four "incredibly well adjusted" children. She joined the Human Rights Campaign in 2008, where she currently serves as Deputy Director of the Workplace Project and leads the organization's training and development work.
Cécile Rochet, Accenture
Accommodating Transgender Employees in the Global Workplace
Cécile Rochet joined the Global Inclusion and Diversity team more than 4 years ago. Cécile's role is to provide direction and support to the different Accenture geographies in the design and implementation of Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) programs (gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, enablement, cross-cultural, etc.). Cécile is also the global LGBT program manager. Prior to this role, Cécile was a consultant in the private banking domain for 8 years, supporting merger projects.
Martine Roy, Pride at Work Canada
From Legislative Equality to Workplace Inclusion: the Canadian Journey
Martine Roy joined IBM in 1999 where she became involved in their LGBT employee group, the Blue Q Network, eventually setting-up a local chapter in Eastern Canada. Later, when she returned to Quebec, she formed yet another local chapter of the group, this time called Nuance. As someone who is passionate about LGBT inclusion, she has been a director with Pride at Work Canada since 2008 and currently servers as a governor with Fondation Émergence.
Ivan Scalfarotto
LGBT Impact Surveys & Indices for the Global Business Community
With twenty years of experience in Human Resources, Ivan is currently a Strategic HR Consultant for Multinational Companies. He has previously worked for Italian and International Companies between Milan, London and Moscow. In 2004 and 2005 he was co-Chair of CitiPride, Citigroup’s GLBT network in London.
Nejc Jaka Sekula, IBM Slovenia
Diverse & Collaborative: Sharing Insight from Successful Diversity Leadership
Nejc Jaka Sekula is an IT specialist at IBM Corporation. He is responsible for Wide Area Wireless technologies and Remote Access Services for IBMers across Europe, Middle East and Africa. He's been with IBM for 10 years and has held different IT job roles. Aside from his primary job role, he is a GLBT council ambassador for CEE & MEA and diversity group leader in Slovenia. He works and lives in Ljubljana, Slovenia with his partner Zmago.
Becky Steckhahn-Strohmer
LGBT Impact Surveys & Indices for the Global Business Community
Becky Steckhahn-Strohmer has been on the Q-Factor board of directors since creation of the organization. Becky graduated from Bennington College, USA in 2003 with a B.A. focused on Physics and Mathematics. She has since held positions in Chicago, USA and Vejle, Denmark as a Supply Chain Manager and Systems Analyst. Her strong background in the "corporate" world led to an interest in promoting equality through business and the eventual collaboration with Pernille Steckhahn to create Q-Factor. Becky is responsible for developing and maintaining the international relationships for the organization. She also manages the international projects.
Nick Thomas, Chevron
GLBT Employees on Foreign Assignments: Theory & Chevron Case Study
Nick Thomas, Project Manager for Chevron, is a board member and officer of Chevron PRIDE. Nick is a 30-year employee of Chevron--starting in the USA, followed by 24 years on rotational and resident assignments in Angola, Papua New Guinea, and currently, Kazakhstan.
Juan Carlos Varela, JD, Littler Mendelson
Creating a LGBT-Diverse Global Workforce
Juan Carlos is the office-managing shareholder of Littler Mendelson's Caracas office in Venezuela; he also spends time in the Miami office. He supports the interests of clients in the entire Latin America region and is actively involved in the firm's International Employment and Labor Law Practice Group. Juan Carlos is a labor law professor at the Universidad Catolica Andres Bello. He also has written numerous articles on labor-related issues and is regarded as one of the best labor lawyers in Venezuela.
Peter Varga, Galeforce Capital
LGBT Workplace Equality in Emerging Markets: How to Get There?
Peter Varga is responsible for overseeing the development and management of Galeforce Capital, the first global LGBT venture philanthropy fund. Prior to this, he was a senior manager for NESsT’s Central and Eastern European portfolio, where he developed an enterprise development toolkit and provided one-on-one coaching to high impact social enterprises. Peter holds a master's degree in International Relations and European Studies from the Central European University and a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Yale University.
Kate Vernon, Community Business
LGBT Impact Surveys & Indices for the Global Business Community
Exploring LGBT Issues in Asia
Kate Vernon is Managing Director of the Asia-based non-profit organisation Community Business, a leading CSR organisation whose mission is to lead, inspire and support businesses to improve their positive impact on people and communities. She also leads the organisation’s diversity and inclusion practice. She has more than 17 years experience in business development, marketing and CSR. She has held senior international marketing positions for global companies such as Reed Elsevier, Cable & Wireless and PeopleSoft. Kate joined Community Business in 2005 when she was responsible for the launch of the first Diversity & Inclusion in Asia conference. She also launched ENGAGE in Hong Kong - an international programme that brings companies together to take action in the community. Kate has conducted extensive research and written numerous publications on topics related to CSR and diversity in Asia and is a frequent speaker at CSR and diversity related events and workshops. Diversity related publications that Kate has authored include: Work-Life Balance in Hong Kong Case Studies, The Power of Employee Networks – Experiences in Asia, Mentoring Programmes in Asia, Work-Life Balance: The Guide, Women on Boards: Hang Seng Index 2009, Ageing: Impact on Companies in Asia, Creating Inclusive Workplaces for LGBT Employees – A Resource Guide for Employers in Hong Kong, Bringing Out the Best in Asian Talent, Towards Disability Confidence - A Resource Guide for Employers in Hong Kong and Singapore, Adopting an Asian Lens to Talent Development and Hong Kong LGBT Climate Study 2011-12. After spending 8 years in Hong Kong, Kate now lives with her family in England.
Nadine Vogel, Springboard Consulting, LLC
Finding Intersections on the Edges
Nadine O. Vogel is Founder/President of Springboard Consulting LLC. Springboard collaborates with multinational corporations, Federal governments and national agencies on initiatives to successfully mainstream disability in the global workforce, workplace and marketplace. Springboard also produces the Disability Matters Awards Banquet and Conference which honors those firms that are making great strides in supporting this segment of the population--now the largest minority segment in the world--through diversity, work-life, human resource and marketing/branding initiatives.
Kelly Widelski, Ernst & Young
Diverse & Collaborative: Sharing Insight from Successful Diversity Leadership
Kelly Widelski is the Global Transaction Advisory Services Knowledge Leader at Ernst & Young. She has worked within the knowledge function with the firm for 12 years across multiple geographies and roles. Kelly is co-chair of the Ernst & Young LGBT network for the UK & Ireland, EYGLES, and also represents Ernst & Young on the committee of the London based professional networking and development group, the Gay Women's Network.
Joy William, Eli Lilly and Company
Leverage your ERG, Partner with Your Company, Influence Equality Legislation
Joy William has been employed by Eli Lilly and Company in Information Technology for eleven years. She is an active member of the Lilly PRIDE ERG and currently serves as co-chair.
Workshop Presenter Bios
J. Bob Alotta, Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice
LGBT Workplace Equality in Emerging Markets: How to Get There?
A lifelong activist and accomplished filmmaker, Bob Alotta has a long track record of skillful management and fundraising. Prior to joining Astraea, Bob was Director of Digital Media and Content at Zeitbyte Digital Media and the Director of Digital Technology for Film at Columbia University's School of the Arts. Bob's documentary and narrative films have aired on Democracy Now, GRITtv and PBS, and have screened at festivals in the United States, Canada, Europe and the Middle East.
Rob Anderson, Eli Lilly and Company
Leverage your ERG, Partner with Your Company, Influence Equality Legislation
Robert L. Anderson, a 1993 graduate of Ball State University, joined Eli Lilly and Company in 2003. He is the current Chair of the Lilly PRIDE ERG. He has been active in the ERG leadership for the past 6 years. Rob is active in the Indianapolis LGBT Community. He spends much of his free time raising his three beautiful daughters.
Henry Armas
LGBT Workplace Equality in Emerging Markets: How to Get There?
Henry is a Peruvian lawyer, researcher and development specialist currently based in Panama. For the past 20 years, Henry has worked in international development specializing in health, gender and sexuality, youth, human rights and citizen participation, and has worked with various networks and civil society organizations on LGBTI rights, HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health and youth. Henry is an active researcher and writer on issues of LGBT rights, and poverty, gender and sexuality in development. He has made research for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sweden and different universities in the UK and the Netherlands. He is the founder and pastpresident of NGO GRUPAL, working on democracy and citizen participation for young people in Peru. He has also worked for different universities in Peru and for the United Nations. Henry is a lawyer and holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies with a specialization in Development Research from the Institute of Social Studies, The Netherlands. He is fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese.
Pat Baillie, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates
Building Bridges to LGBT Cultural Compentency - What in the World Does that Mean?
Finding Intersections on the Edges
Pat Baillie joined Out & Equal in January 2008 after retiring the second time in her career from Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Prior to that, she served in the US Air Force, retiring in 1993 as a Major. Pat graduated from California State University, Northridge with a master’s degree in physical education, biology and psychology and has a master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. She was a combat rated officer in the military and a government contractor for the Department of Energy. She has been active in LGBT causes during her entire career, from “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” to community organizing as Albuquerque Pride co-president, and now as associate director of training. Pat teaches best practices for LGBT Equality in the workplace both online and in the classroom for Out & Equal. She lives with her partner, Sharrin Spector, in Oakland and they take every chance to travel the world!
Jean Balfour, Bailey Balfour Consulting
Being a Senior Woman Executive
Jean has over 20 years experience as an organisation consultant, specializing in executive coaching, facilitation and leadership development. Her clients range from global corporates to small not for profits. Jean is passionate about women's development and has undertaken research into the experiences of lesbians in the workplace. Jean is currently writing a book celebrating senior lesbians in business. She is also on the board of Diversity Role Models--a charity tackling homophobic bullying in schools.
Nicholas Barnett, Accenture
Telling it Straight: Talking about Straight Allies
Nick Barnett is Accenture UK/I's current LGBT Network Co-Lead, having previously been Events lead and involved in education and awareness strands. Nick's position has specific responsibility for the delivery of the Straight Allies Programme alongside Sarah Odell. Nick works day-to-day on all of Accenture UK/I&'s various LGBT activities, from events to policy, and is uniquely positioned to give an overview of the difference the programme has made across the business.Before joining Accenture, Nick was the LGBT lead for Bristol University Student's Union and a member of the National Union of Students Executive Committee for LGBT. Nick has a background in customer relationship management and public speaking, and used to debate regularly at the Oxford and Cambridge Unions.
Ken Batty, Lenovo Group
The Business Case for Diversity
Ken Batty is the Executive Director for Human Resouces at Lenovo Group. He has held this role since Lenovo acquired IBM's PC. He previously worked for 18 years at IBM.
Liz Bingham, Ernst & Young
Being a Senior Woman Executive
Opportunity: The Impact of Business and Government on the Global LGBT Community
Liz Bingham joined Ernst & Young in the Restructuring business in 1986, having started in the profession in 1981. Liz has enjoyed a varied career, serving clients in many parts of the world, and including a variety of leadership roles. In May 2011, Liz accepted her current role as Managing Partner for People and was appointed to the UK's Leadership Team. Liz is passionately committed to creating an environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
Connie Bonello, Pride at Work Canada
From Legislative Equality to Workplace Inclusion: the Canadian Journey
Connie Bonello is a seasoned management consultant with several years of C-level experience and has provided consulting services across Europe, Asia and the Americas. She leads IBM's Diversity/LGBT Business Development program in Canada and Latin America which focuses on leveraging diversity to improve workforce effectiveness, stimulate innovation and generate business opportunities. Connie is a LGBT community leader and is a Director with Pride at Work Canada and the University of Toronto’s Sexual Diversity Studies program.
Jo Bostock, Stonewall
The Value of LGB Role Models in the Workplace
Jo Bostock established her own coaching and consultancy business in 2004, and is an Associate Director at Stonewall, with responsiblity for their leadership development activity. Her work focuses on encouraging inclusive workplaces where diverse talent can thrive. She creates space for senior people to identify what being authentic and inclusive means for them in practice. Jo has worked with organisations that include J.P. Morgan, Accenture, Unicef, Enrst & Young, and Cambridge University.
Claudia Brind-Woody, IBM
Being a Senior Woman Executive
The Business Case for Diversity
Claudia Brind-Woody is the VP of Intellectual Property & Advanced Technology Licensing at IBM. She has worked for IBM in the USA, Finland, and now the UK, where she lives with her wife. Claudia serves on the Board of Directors at Out & Equal Workplace Advocates.
Carlos Campoy, Eli Lilly and Company
Building Bridges to LGBT Cultural Competency - What in the World Does that Mean?
Leverage your ERG, Partner with Your Company, Influence Equality Legislation
Carlos Campoy joined Eli Lilly in 1996 and has been very active in the Lilly LGBT community, serving as the Director of the Global Diversity office for 2 years. He is currently a Senior Director of Finance in Europe.
Brent Chamberlain, Pride at Work Canada
From Legislative Equality to Workplace Inclusion: the Canadian Journey
How to Become a Bisexual Ally
Brent Chamberlain is the Executive Director of Pride at Work Canada, the leading organization supporting the LGBT community in Canadian workplaces. Founded in 2008, Pride at Work Canada aims to educate and provide networking opportunities for diversity professionals, LGBT ERGs and allies across Canada. Brent was previously a manager with Stonewall UK, where he was the author of several workplace publications including the Workplace Equality Index and Bisexual People in the Workplace. Brent holds an MSc in Economic Geography from the London School of Economics and currently lives in Toronto.
Toni Charles, Accenture
Accommodating Transgender Employees in the Global Workplace
Toni Charles is a Business Process Architect working with the Accenture Duck Creek software platform as a Lead Business Analyst, and has worked in the IT Insurance industry since 1988. Toni joined Accenture in the acquisition of Duck Creek Technologies in 2011. She created and now runs Accenture's UK Transgender network, and advises Accenture on the analysis of global transgender metrics. Toni is currently working on extending Accenture's transgender healthcare scheme to establish healthcare parity worldwide.
Robert Conti, Littler Mendelson
Creating a LGBT-Diverse Global Workforce
Robert Conti represents both private and public-sector employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including litigation in both federal and California state courts and various administrative agencies. He also provides, on a daily basis, advice to clients on areas such as wages and hourly rates; reasonable accommodation concerns; and documenting, disciplining and discharging employees. His interest in labor and employment law began when he was working at the newsroom at the CBS-owned television station in Los Angeles and organized a unit and bargained on its behalf.
Chris Crespo, Ernst & Young, LLP
Connecting our Networks for Success
Chris Crespo is an Inclusiveness Director at Ernst & Young, with 23 years of combined experience in tax and human resources. Chris is part of the Americas Inclusiveness Center of Excellence, integrating inclusiveness into business processes in the Americas, with a focus on professional networks. She also leads Ernst & Young's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender inclusiveness strategy with the Beyond Network. Chris and her family reside in western Pennsylvania. She can be contacted at chris.crespo@ey.com.
Daniel Danso, Stonewall Equality Ltd.
Stonewall International Workplace Guidance for International Businesses
How to Become a Bisexual Ally
LGBT Impact Survey & Indices for the Global Business Community
Daniel Danso joined Stonewall in 2008, and is Client Group Manager for the Workplace Programmes. His background in equalities consultancy and mediated representations of difference, helps him advise a broad range of businesses; including media, sport, transportation, and professional services. Daniel produced Starting Out, Stonewall's annual LGB Careers Guide; co-wrote and produced the Workplace Equality Index 2011; led facilitation groups for the Stonewall Leadership programme; and has spoken at various conferences and events in the UK and internationally.
Lee Davis, NESst
LGBT Workplace Equality in Emerging Markets: How to Get There?
Lee Davis is the Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) and is responsible for advancing NESsT’s work as a pioneer in social enterprise development by leading several initiatives: the Wardrop Fellowship to help prepare the next generation of social enterprise leaders; the Social Enterprise World Forum launching in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in October 2012; Galeforce Capital and the first global LGBT social enterprise competition; a social design initiative focused on leveraging the creative resources of the design industry to support social enterprise and NESsT’s portfolio. Lee holds a Master’s degree in Policy Studies from the Johns Hopkins University, Institute for Policy Studies, and a Bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Connecticut College. He is currently a Social Enterprise Fellow at the Yale School of Management Program on Social Enterprise. Lee was born in New York and currently lives in the San Joaquin Valley of California.
Julie Dorf, Council for Global Equality
GLBT Employees on Foreign Assignments: Theory & Chevron Case Study
Julie Dorf has been a leader in the LGBT rights movement for twenty years. Julie founded and directed the International Gay Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) from 1990 to 2000, creating an organization that protects and advances the human rights of all people and communities subjected to discrimination or abuse on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status. In the past decade, she has served as the director of philanthropic services for Horizons Foundation, a foundation serving the San Francisco Bay LGBT community, and vice president of the Vanguard Public Foundation. As an independent consultant, she has worked for Open Society Institute, Global Fund for Women, Arcus Foundation, and Fenton Communications/J-Street Project. She currently serves on the board of directors or advisory boards of Human Rights Watch’s LGBT Rights Program, Gender PAC, IGLHRC, and PowerPAC. Julie holds a BA from Wesleyan University in Russian and Soviet Studies. She lives in San Francisco with her partner Jenni Olson, and their two girls Hazel and Sylvie.
Deena Fidas
LGBT Impact Surveys & Indices for the Business Community
Deena Fidas consults directly with employers on the implementation of inclusive policies and benefits for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. Deena manages the Corporate Equality Index survey administration to more than 1,200 major U.S. employers and authors the Corporate Equality Index report. She led the Degrees of Equality report on how to evaluate and improve the workplace climate for LGBT employees in large businesses. Deena has become a sought-after presenter of the Degrees of Equality work with numerous corporate site visits and professional conference presentations across the country. She also develops teaching toolkits on LGBT workforce diversity for employers. Prior to joining the Workplace Project staff in 2007, she worked in fundraising for the American Civil Liberties Union and Hillary Clinton for President, among other clients. Deena holds a master’s degree in sociology from American University in Washington, D.C., where she also worked as a researcher for the university’s Women & Politics Institute.
Anthony Gaugler, Accenture
Telling it Straight: Talking about Straight Allies
Mike Horridge, Morgan Stanley
Interbank LGBT Forum: Beat the Competition! Working Together for the Good of the Group
Mike Horridge has been Co-Chair of the Interbank LGBT Forum since 2010 and is also the Co-Chair of Morgan Stanley's EMEA-based LGBT Employee Network, GLEAMS, a position he has held since 2008. Mike is a Vice President within Morgan Stanley's Foreign Exchange and Emerging Markets division based in London and has been actively involved in the Firm's LGBT Agenda since joining Morgan Stanley.
Ian Johnson, Out Now
The Diversity Gap - Where Policy Meets Workplace Reality
Ian Johnson, founder of Out Now has for two decades been recognized as one of the world's foremost authorities on marketing to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) customers. Out Now Global has been relied upon by many of the world's leading brands including Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays, Citibank, Hilton Hotels, IBM, Toyota, TUI, German National Tourist Office, Lufthansa, Merck; and delivers a comprehensive range of tailored solutions focused on research, strategy, communications and training.
Jerry A. Johnson, Essar Group
Being OUTstanding Employees
Jerry A. Johnson is a marketing manager at a global conglomerate, an expert in communication, a published writer, a public speaker on forums such as TEDx, and an avid autodidact with interests in philosophy, economics, and politics. He is an atheist and openly gay man, living in Mumbai with his partner. He has appeared on various national TV shows and debates in India as well as in all major English newspapers, discussing LGBT issues and rights.
Sara Johnston, Ernst & Young
Connecting our Networks for Success
Sara Johnston is an auditor in the Seattle assurance practice of Ernst & Young. Sara spent seven years in the nonprofit sector doing fundraising and financial management before her transition to the corporate world. She has served on boards and led fundraising efforts for local nonprofits for more than ten years, with a focus on supporting anti-violence and justice work in the LGBT and people of color communities. Sara holds a bachelor's degree in women's studies and a certificate in accounting from the University of Washington.
Danny Katende, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates
Building Bridges to LGBT Cultural Competency - What in the World Does that Mean?
Danny Katende joined the Out and Equal staff in June 2011. He was born and raised in Uganda, East Africa, and in March 2011 he relocated and settled in California from Nairobi, Kenya. Danny began singing at a young age. He recorded eight albums and also released his first solo album in 2008. Danny co-founded the Spectrum Uganda Initiatives, a gay organization advocating for gay rights, HIV prevention and providing counseling for the LGBTI community in Uganda in 2005. His hobbies include going to the movies, traveling, hiking, performing, recording and composing songs that achieve his dream and vision
Claire Lucas, USAID
LGBT Workplace Equality in Emerging Markets: How to Get There?
Dr. Claire Lucas works to expand the use of strategic public-private partnerships at USAID. She is an international development expert, coalition builder,entrepreneur and philanthropist. Prior to USAID, Dr. Lucas worked at the World Bank, Pan American Health Organization, and Harvard Institute for International Development. Dr. Lucas has a Ph.D. in International Health from The Johns Hopkins University, a M.S. in Health Policy and Management from Harvard, and a B.A. in International Relations from Pomona College.
Tushar M, Equal India Alliance
Adopting an Asian Lens to LGBT policies
LGBT Impact Surveys & Indices for the Global Business Community
Tushar M is a graduate in BE (Mechatronics) from Manipal University (2011). He is the founder, counselor and core member of QueerCampus (collective for LGBTQ youth) since 2010. He has been working with the Equal India Alliance since 2011, and is heading all corporate and university affairs, leading a team of volunteers across India. He also is a reputed theatre instructor, is an editor for Pink Pages magazine, and is training to be a drama therapist.
Markus Mueller, IBM
Diverse & Collaborative: Sharing Insight from Successful Diversity Leadership
Markus Mueller has been with IBM for 10 years, and has worked in software development, consulting and education. Currently, Markus manages the IBM Software Services for Collaboration business across Europe, Middle East and Africa. In addition, he is active in the German and WW LGBT Diversity community and leads the Reverse Mentoring program. He lives in Cologne, Germany with his partner Tam.
Eleanor Mulligan, Google Inc.
Connecting our Networks for Success
Eleanor Mulligan manages Google's diversity and inclusion initiatives across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. She is responsible for the LGBT agenda. From London, she creates and delivers tailored programmes for a wide range of countries, languages, cultures and laws. Eleanor has been at Google for over 5 years and her experience includes gender, disability and ethnicity strategies. Prior to Google, Eleanor was a consultant at a multinational HR firm serving a wide variety of technology clients and public sector organisations with a strong equality agenda.
Stefano Nappo, UBS
Interbank LGBT Forum: Beat the Competition! Working Together for the Good of the Group
Stefano Nappo is a current Co-Chair of the Interbank LGBT Forum, a post he was elected to twice before. Stefano's day job is Global Head of Intellectual Property Legal at UBS, and is coming up to his tenth anniversary with the firm. He is also Co-Chair of Pride EMEA, UBS's employee resource group in EMEA based in London, a Stonewall Ambassador and a passionate advocate for LGBT equality and representation both at UBS and in his personal life.
Victor Nieves, Ernst & Young
Diverse & Collaborative: Sharing Insight from Successful Diversity Leadership
Victor Nieves is a senior manager working in the London office of Ernst & Young as part of the EMEIA Capital Markets team. His primary focus is on US GAAP technical accounting matters for SEC registrants or other companies throughout EMEIA who engage in cross-border transactions into the US or UK. Having worked for 10 years at EY, he has also worked in the firm's Philadelphia and New York offices. He has been actively involved in Ernst & Young's diversity and inclusiveness efforts, and is currently the co-chair of EYGLES, the firm's LGBT network for the United Kingdom and Ireland. He also held leadership roles in the firm's employee resource groups for LGBT employees and Latino employees in the US.
Denise A. Norris, Accenture
Accommodating Transgender Employees in the Global Workplace
Denise Norris is one of the first few out transgender employees at Accenture, and has been leading the effort to increase global workplace inclusion and diversity for transgender employees under the sponsorship of Accenture's Global LGBT Network. During FY11, she was instrumental in a team-effort to deliver WPATH-compliant transgender-related health-care benefits to employees based in the US. In FY12, she is responsible for developing global best practices for transgender inclusion and promoting organization-wide transgender engagement.
Sarah Odell, Accenture
Telling it Straight: Talking about Straight Allies
Sarah Odell has been Accenture UK/I's LGBT Network Lead, and also sits on the Gay Women's Network in London. Sarah has long been an LGBT activist within Accenture. Her position as Straight Allies Programme Lead this year has given her an opportunity to engage in a topic she is exceptionally passionate about. Sarah has driven the strategy and delivery of the programme from the creative content of videos, to communications, and the academic debate behind the message. Sarah has spent extensive time exploring the concept of alliance with Stonewall and the UK/I LGBT Network within Accenture. Sarah is currently a Senior Manager within Accenture, working within the learning community and regularly presents at a client level and internally. Sarah presented at Accenture's conference in Rome for EuroPride in 2011, and facilitated Accenture's recent LGBT Leadership training in the UK.
Mark Palmer-Edgecumbe, Google Inc.
Putting Employee Networks at the Heart of LGBT Strategy
Opportunity: The Impact of Business and Government on the Global LGBT Community
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.
Jackie Perri, Pride at Work Canada
From Legislative Equality to Workplace Inclusion: the Canadian Journey
Jackie brings 20 years of experience in financial services. With deep expertise managing and delivering transformational projects, including change management, process improvement, and opportunity identification. Prior to Deloitte, Jackie was a Senior Director at CIBC where she was responsible for the effectiveness CIBC’s retail distribution channels and Chair of CIBC’s Pride Network. Jackie is a Senior Manager in Deloitte’s Corporate Strategy Consulting practice and Chair of the National LEAD Network.
Matt Petersen, CIBC
From Legislative Equality to Workplace Inclusion: the Canadian Journey
Matt Petersen currently serves as the Director of Diversity Strategies for CIBC where he is responsible for leading the Employment Equity and Diversity team. This team has global accountability for developing strategies and programs that support the attraction, retention and development of diverse talent for CIBC. Since taking over this area in 2010, CIBC has been recognized as a leader in the area of workplace diversity & inclusion, which includes Canada's Best Diversity Employers in 2011 and 2012.
Roman Podolczuk, IBM
Diverse & Collaborative: Sharing Insight from Successful Diversity Leadership
Roman Podolczuk is the Workforce Analytics Lead in IBM UK Global Business Services. Roman has spent the last year in a development role, shadowing a senior IBM executive, though his experience is primarily in business consulting and functional HR. Roman has chaired the IBM UK LGBT Steering Committee for the last 18 months and has been involved in a countless LGBT diversity projects in IBM over the last 7 years. Roman lives in Central London.
David Pollard, Workplace Pride Foundation
LGBT Impact Surveys & Indices for the Global Business Community
David Pollard is co-founder and Executive Director of the Workplace Pride Foundation which represents the LGBT networks of 24 prominent companies and organizations. David has worked for over 20 years in the international corporate world, among which 7 were dealing with LGBT issues on an international level. He is founder and former Global Chairman of ING’s LGBT employee network “Gala,”which grew from just a few people in 2003 to over 1200 members in 27 countries in 2009. His 15 year career at ING spanned a number of responsibilities including the creation and management of ING ‘s European Affairs Department which dealt with EU financial legislation. In addition to his normal responsibilities, he was instrumental in positioning ING as a leader in the LGBT field in Europe, and has been a visible proponent of increasing awareness about LGBT workplace issues in the Netherlands and abroad. In his most recent venture David has founded and is Managing Director of Community to Community Advising (C-2-C). The company helps diverse communities work together to understand each other’s goals and aspirations thereby achieving mutually beneficial results. C-2-C’s clients include major corporations, governments, NGO’s and special interest groups and focuses on the international LGBT business community. David holds degrees in International Relations (BA, Political Science and Business, University of Oklahoma, USA) and in European Affairs (Masters: Diplome d’Etudes Europeén, Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium). He lives in Amsterdam with his husband Michael.
Allyson Robinson, Human Rights Campaign
Building Bridges to LGBT Cultural Competency - What in the World Does that Mean?
Building Transgender Cultural Competence in the Culturally Diverse Organization
Prior to her gender transition, Allyson Robinson graduated from West Point, served as a U.S. Army officer, received a Master's degree in Social Justice from Baylor University and pastored Baptist congregations on two continents. She's proudest, though, of her "thrilling" 18-year marriage and her four "incredibly well adjusted" children. She joined the Human Rights Campaign in 2008, where she currently serves as Deputy Director of the Workplace Project and leads the organization's training and development work.
Cécile Rochet, Accenture
Accommodating Transgender Employees in the Global Workplace
Cécile Rochet joined the Global Inclusion and Diversity team more than 4 years ago. Cécile's role is to provide direction and support to the different Accenture geographies in the design and implementation of Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) programs (gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, enablement, cross-cultural, etc.). Cécile is also the global LGBT program manager. Prior to this role, Cécile was a consultant in the private banking domain for 8 years, supporting merger projects.
Martine Roy, Pride at Work Canada
From Legislative Equality to Workplace Inclusion: the Canadian Journey
Martine Roy joined IBM in 1999 where she became involved in their LGBT employee group, the Blue Q Network, eventually setting-up a local chapter in Eastern Canada. Later, when she returned to Quebec, she formed yet another local chapter of the group, this time called Nuance. As someone who is passionate about LGBT inclusion, she has been a director with Pride at Work Canada since 2008 and currently servers as a governor with Fondation Émergence.
Ivan Scalfarotto
LGBT Impact Surveys & Indices for the Global Business Community
With twenty years of experience in Human Resources, Ivan is currently a Strategic HR Consultant for Multinational Companies. He has previously worked for Italian and International Companies between Milan, London and Moscow. In 2004 and 2005 he was co-Chair of CitiPride, Citigroup’s GLBT network in London.
Nejc Jaka Sekula, IBM Slovenia
Diverse & Collaborative: Sharing Insight from Successful Diversity Leadership
Nejc Jaka Sekula is an IT specialist at IBM Corporation. He is responsible for Wide Area Wireless technologies and Remote Access Services for IBMers across Europe, Middle East and Africa. He's been with IBM for 10 years and has held different IT job roles. Aside from his primary job role, he is a GLBT council ambassador for CEE & MEA and diversity group leader in Slovenia. He works and lives in Ljubljana, Slovenia with his partner Zmago.
Becky Steckhahn-Strohmer
LGBT Impact Surveys & Indices for the Global Business Community
Becky Steckhahn-Strohmer has been on the Q-Factor board of directors since creation of the organization. Becky graduated from Bennington College, USA in 2003 with a B.A. focused on Physics and Mathematics. She has since held positions in Chicago, USA and Vejle, Denmark as a Supply Chain Manager and Systems Analyst. Her strong background in the "corporate" world led to an interest in promoting equality through business and the eventual collaboration with Pernille Steckhahn to create Q-Factor. Becky is responsible for developing and maintaining the international relationships for the organization. She also manages the international projects.
Nick Thomas, Chevron
GLBT Employees on Foreign Assignments: Theory & Chevron Case Study
Nick Thomas, Project Manager for Chevron, is a board member and officer of Chevron PRIDE. Nick is a 30-year employee of Chevron--starting in the USA, followed by 24 years on rotational and resident assignments in Angola, Papua New Guinea, and currently, Kazakhstan.
Juan Carlos Varela, JD, Littler Mendelson
Creating a LGBT-Diverse Global Workforce
Juan Carlos is the office-managing shareholder of Littler Mendelson's Caracas office in Venezuela; he also spends time in the Miami office. He supports the interests of clients in the entire Latin America region and is actively involved in the firm's International Employment and Labor Law Practice Group. Juan Carlos is a labor law professor at the Universidad Catolica Andres Bello. He also has written numerous articles on labor-related issues and is regarded as one of the best labor lawyers in Venezuela.
Peter Varga, Galeforce Capital
LGBT Workplace Equality in Emerging Markets: How to Get There?
Peter Varga is responsible for overseeing the development and management of Galeforce Capital, the first global LGBT venture philanthropy fund. Prior to this, he was a senior manager for NESsT’s Central and Eastern European portfolio, where he developed an enterprise development toolkit and provided one-on-one coaching to high impact social enterprises. Peter holds a master's degree in International Relations and European Studies from the Central European University and a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Yale University.
Kate Vernon, Community Business
LGBT Impact Surveys & Indices for the Global Business Community
Exploring LGBT Issues in Asia
Kate Vernon is Managing Director of the Asia-based non-profit organisation Community Business, a leading CSR organisation whose mission is to lead, inspire and support businesses to improve their positive impact on people and communities. She also leads the organisation’s diversity and inclusion practice. She has more than 17 years experience in business development, marketing and CSR. She has held senior international marketing positions for global companies such as Reed Elsevier, Cable & Wireless and PeopleSoft. Kate joined Community Business in 2005 when she was responsible for the launch of the first Diversity & Inclusion in Asia conference. She also launched ENGAGE in Hong Kong - an international programme that brings companies together to take action in the community. Kate has conducted extensive research and written numerous publications on topics related to CSR and diversity in Asia and is a frequent speaker at CSR and diversity related events and workshops. Diversity related publications that Kate has authored include: Work-Life Balance in Hong Kong Case Studies, The Power of Employee Networks – Experiences in Asia, Mentoring Programmes in Asia, Work-Life Balance: The Guide, Women on Boards: Hang Seng Index 2009, Ageing: Impact on Companies in Asia, Creating Inclusive Workplaces for LGBT Employees – A Resource Guide for Employers in Hong Kong, Bringing Out the Best in Asian Talent, Towards Disability Confidence - A Resource Guide for Employers in Hong Kong and Singapore, Adopting an Asian Lens to Talent Development and Hong Kong LGBT Climate Study 2011-12. After spending 8 years in Hong Kong, Kate now lives with her family in England.
Nadine Vogel, Springboard Consulting, LLC
Finding Intersections on the Edges
Nadine O. Vogel is Founder/President of Springboard Consulting LLC. Springboard collaborates with multinational corporations, Federal governments and national agencies on initiatives to successfully mainstream disability in the global workforce, workplace and marketplace. Springboard also produces the Disability Matters Awards Banquet and Conference which honors those firms that are making great strides in supporting this segment of the population--now the largest minority segment in the world--through diversity, work-life, human resource and marketing/branding initiatives.
Kelly Widelski, Ernst & Young
Diverse & Collaborative: Sharing Insight from Successful Diversity Leadership
Kelly Widelski is the Global Transaction Advisory Services Knowledge Leader at Ernst & Young. She has worked within the knowledge function with the firm for 12 years across multiple geographies and roles. Kelly is co-chair of the Ernst & Young LGBT network for the UK & Ireland, EYGLES, and also represents Ernst & Young on the committee of the London based professional networking and development group, the Gay Women's Network.
Joy William, Eli Lilly and Company
Leverage your ERG, Partner with Your Company, Influence Equality Legislation
Joy William has been employed by Eli Lilly and Company in Information Technology for eleven years. She is an active member of the Lilly PRIDE ERG and currently serves as co-chair.
