Introducing Our Esteemed Judges for the 2025 UnderOne Diversity & Inclusion Awards

Introducing Our Esteemed Judges for the 2025 UnderOne Diversity & Inclusion Awards

The UnderOne Diversity & Inclusion Awards celebrate global changemakers making a tangible impact in the DEI space. As we prepare for another unforgettable event, we are thrilled to introduce our 2025 panel of judges—visionary leaders and advocates committed to spotlighting transformative contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This year’s judging panel includes professionals from diverse industries and backgrounds, each with expertise and dedication to evaluating the nominations. Explore their full profiles and learn more about the experts reviewing this year’s entries.

DEI Innovation Award

  • Steve Anderson, CEO, The Age Diversity Forum 
  • Deborah Richards, Former EDI Leader, IBM UK and Ireland 
  • Vicky Ilankovan, Executive Director, Equal Measures UK 

DEI Rising Star Award

  • Dr. Mark Esho MBE, Director, Easy Internet Services  
  • Sanchia Alasia, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, Transport for London  
  • Oluwatomi Laguda, Membership DEI Manager, RICS 

DEI Thought Leader & Influencer Award

  • Chris Pinner, Founder & Coach, Innerfit  
  • Sarah Stephenson-Hunter, Founding Co-Director, Simply Equality Ltd  
  • Lawrence Heming, VP of EMEA Diversity & Inclusion, Morgan Stanley 

Diverse & Inclusive Company Culture Award

  • Aneeta Madhavan, Co-Founder, Talking Cranes  
  • Shauna Roper, Head of Inclusion, HSBC  
  • Briony Grogan, Director of People & Culture, Pan Macmillan  

Global Inclusion Excellence Award

  • Cecil Peters, EMEA Head of DEI, J.P. Morgan  
  • Carol Watson, Global DEI Manager, Burson  
  • Neila Butt, Creative Diversity Lead, Channel 4  

Inclusion in Sustainability Award

  • Alan Holmes, Global Head of DEI, Clyde & Co  
  • Cameron McKinnon, Head of Sustainability, Innocent Drinks  
  • Sybil Taunton, Head of DEI, RICS 

Social Impact & Community Engagement Award

  • David Taylor, Senior Advisor EDI, Crowe UK  
  • Lucy Adler, Director of D&I, SHL  
  • Jon Hering, Head of Commercial, Black Bullion 

Trailblazer Employee Resource Group Award

  • Dr. Noémie Hermeking, D&I Officer, FortSchritt Bayern  
  • Kim Sabate, Founder, TRANSetter  
  • Andrew Walker, DEI Manager, Ardonagh 

Creative Diversity Campaign Award

  • Yasmine Alani, Head of Creative Learning & DEI, Media Zoo  
  • Carrie Adams, Global Head of Inclusion, Reckitt  
  • Matt Foster, Director of Strategic Inclusion, Ogilvy 

Wellbeing Champion Award

  • Michael Adu, Founder, London Stress Centre  
  • Andy Hazelwood-Goff, DEI & Wellbeing Manager, Capgemini  
  • Aneeka Neehaul, DEI Manager, Rethink Mental Illness 

DEI Talent Acquisition Award

  • Neil Stanley, Head of Talent, TUI Group  
  • Denise Keating, CEO, HR Umbrella  
  • Stephen Adeoye, Founder & CEO, Beyond Education 

Each of these judges brings a unique perspective and invaluable expertise, ensuring a fair and thorough evaluation of the nominations. Their collective experience spans industries such as finance, technology, healthcare, travel, media and beyond, making this one of our most dynamic judging panels yet. 

Nominate Now! 

If you or your organisation are making a difference in DEI, now is the time to be recognised! Submissions for the 2025 UnderOne Diversity & Inclusion Awards are open—don’t miss the chance to highlight your impact. 

🔗 Submit your nomination today: www.uniteunderone.com 

Join Us for the UnderOne Diversity and Inclusion Awards, A Day of Inspiration and Celebration.

The awards ceremony, proudly powered by Clyde & Co. as the Headline Sponsor, will spotlight the achievements of this year’s DEI champions. Their stories of innovation, perseverance, and impact will inspire attendees from around the globe.

Join us on July 11, 2025, at the Chicago Booth London Conference Centre as we honour those making a real difference in DEI. 

 

Clyde & Co Headline Sponsor for UnderOne Awards, Festival, and Collective

Clyde & Co Headline Sponsor for UnderOne Awards, Festival, and Collective

Unite UnderOne is delighted to announce Clyde & Co as the Headline Sponsor for the UnderOne Festival & Awards 2025 and a Founding Partner of the UnderOne Collective. This partnership reflects Clyde & Co’s ongoing commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) globally and solidifies their leadership in driving systemic change across industries.

Clyde & Co’s sponsorship underscores their dedication to supporting impactful initiatives, including the highly anticipated UnderOne Festival and Awards 2025, taking place 10-11 July at our new venue, the Chicago Booth London Conference Centre. The festival and awards will bring together global leaders, changemakers, and professionals to celebrate excellence in DEI through inspiring speakers, actionable workshops, and a prestigious awards ceremony.

As a Founding Partner of the UnderOne Collective, Clyde & Co will play a pivotal role in fostering collaboration and bold action, authentic belonging, and lasting change among global organisations committed to measurable DEI progress. The collective creates a platform for our changemakers to share best practices, engage in regional webinars, and participate in virtual meetups. Clyde & Co’s support will also power key activities such as showcasing regional DEI leadership in EMEA, APAC, NORAM, and LATAM.

Alan Holmes, Global Head of DEI at Clyde & Co and a member of the UnderOne Advisory Board, shared his thoughts on the partnership:

“We are honoured to serve as the Headline Sponsor for the UnderOne Festival & Awards 2025 and as a Founding Partner of the UnderOne Collective. We share a deep affinity with the purpose and mission of UnderOne as a catalyst for advancing DEI across industries. We look forward to continuing to grow our partnership and welcome others to join us in building a strong community for change.”

Clyde & Co has been a steadfast supporter of Unite UnderOne since its inception, helping shape its vision and programmes. Their leadership will continue to ensure the pledge’s impact resonates across diverse regions, empowering organisations to take actionable steps in their DEI journeys.

This partnership with Clyde & Co marks a significant milestone for Unite UnderOne as it continues to expand its mission to empower DEI excellence worldwide.

Nominations Open for the 2025 UnderOne Diversity and Inclusion Awards

Nominations Open for the 2025 UnderOne Diversity and Inclusion Awards

Unite UnderOne is delighted to announce that nominations for the 2025 UnderOne Diversity and Inclusion Awards will officially open on 21 February 2025. This annual celebration, now in its second year, honours individuals, teams, and organisations that are driving meaningful progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across industries.

12 Categories Recognising Excellence in DEI 

This year, the awards feature twelve categories, reflecting DEI initiatives’ growing depth and diversity across sectors. We are thrilled to introduce three new categories for 2025:

  • Wellbeing Champion: Honouring individuals or organisations that prioritise mental health and wellness in the workplace, creating environments where employees can thrive.
  • DEI Talent Acquisition: Recognising exceptional efforts in attracting, hiring, and retaining diverse talent, setting benchmarks for inclusive recruitment practices.
  • DEI Celebrity Champion: Celebrating public figures who leverage their platforms to advocate for equity, inclusion, and social change, inspiring others to take action.

These new categories join the existing nine, which include:

  • Global Inclusion Excellence Award
  • Trailblazer Employee Resource Group Award
  • DEI Innovation Award
  • DEI Rising Star Award
  • Inclusion in Sustainability Award
  • DEI Thought Leader and Influencer Award
  • Diverse & Inclusive Company Culture Award
  • Creative Diversity Campaign Award
  • Social Impact & Community Engagement Award

Last year, the awards showcased an incredible array of talent and dedication. Winners and shortlisted organisations included names like Petrofac, Ardonagh, Equal Measures UK, Pan Macmillan, and Media Zoo. Their innovative initiatives ranged from empowering women in engineering and creating inclusive cultures to addressing food sustainability and neurodiversity awareness.

Spotlighting Excellence: A Look Back at 2024 

The 2024 winners demonstrated the breadth and impact of DEI efforts across industries. For instance, Petrofac, winner of the Global Inclusion Excellence Award, made significant strides in advancing gender balance in the energy sector through their SHINE network. Ardonagh’s Disability Colleague Community took home the Trailblazer Employee Resource Group Award for their transformative workplace initiatives, while Equal Measures UK earned the DEI Innovation Award for their groundbreaking efforts in diversifying the drinks industry.

Such stories continue to inspire us as we prepare to recognise the 2025 nominees who are breaking barriers and creating lasting impact.

How to Submit Nominations for UnderOne Diversity and Inclusion Awards

Nominations for the UnderOne Diversity and Inclusion Awards are open to individuals, teams, and organisations across all sectors. Nominees may self-nominate or be nominated by colleagues, peers, or partners. Detailed criteria for each category and instructions on submitting nominations will be available on our website from 21 February 2025.

Key dates to remember:

  • Nominations Open: 21st February 2025
  • Nominations Close: 14th April 2025
  • Shortlist Announced: Week commencing May 19th 2025
  • Awards Ceremony: 11th July 2025

Why Nominate?

The UnderOne Diversity and Inclusion Awards provide a platform to showcase the incredible work being done to advance DEI worldwide. Winning or being shortlisted for an award not only recognises your efforts but also inspires others to follow your lead, creating a ripple effect of positive change.

Join Us for the UnderOne Diversity and Inclusion Awards, A Day of Inspiration and Celebration.

The awards ceremony, proudly powered by Clyde & Co as the Headline Sponsor and Founding Partner of the UnderOne Collective, will spotlight the achievements of this year’s DEI champions. Their stories of innovation, perseverance, and impact will serve as a source of inspiration for attendees from around the globe.

Don’t miss this opportunity to recognise and celebrate the individuals and organisations driving real change in DEI. Save the date for 11 July 2025 and join us for a day of connection, learning, and celebration.

For more information about the awards and to submit your nomination, visit www.uniteunderone.com/awards

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