2024 Advocates for change in gender equality
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We’re proud to announce our second annual Novi Advocates for Change in Gender Equality list. This prestigious list recognises 30 individuals who have made significant strides in championing inclusion and gender equality across various sectors. These advocates play a crucial role in driving societal progress, as gender equality in business is fundamental to overall economic growth and social development.
This year’s honorees have distinguished themselves through their unwavering commitment to fostering a more inclusive society.
They have:
- Utilised their positions to champion gender equality
- Led impactful campaigns to address key issues faced by women in both society and the workplace
- Built thriving communities where women can succeed
- Generously contributed their time and expertise to charities and social enterprises dedicated to promoting gender equality
The honorees were selected through a rigorous process involving public nominations and evaluation by a diverse panel. This panel included prominent business leaders, renowned experts in gender equality and diversity, and distinguished Novi members. The selection criteria focused on the nominees’ tangible impact, innovative approaches, and sustained commitment to advancing gender equality.
Join us in celebrating these advocates at The Novi Awards on 22nd November 2024, an event recognising women breaking barriers and shaping a more inclusive future of business. https://www.thenoviawards.com
Amanda Brock
CEO, OpenUK
Amanda Brock is CEO of OpenUK, the UK organisation for the business of Open Technology: open-source software, open hardware, open data, open innovation, open standards and open access AI - with a purpose of UK Leadership and Global Collaboration in Open Technology. She is also the Executive Producer of State of Open Con 25 taking place 4 - 5 February 2025 in London and has produced 2023 and 24 events.
Appointed member of the Cabinet Office's Open Standards Board; and both UKRI’s UK Exascale Science and Industry Advisory Board and Digital Research Infrastructure Advisory Board, she is a commercial Advisory Board Member at California Cyber Security company Mimoto and at the Scottish Geo Spatial Data company Space Aye. She is also an Advisory Board Member of KDE and a European Representative of the Open Invention Network.
A lawyer of 25 years’ experience, Amanda previously chaired the Open Source and IP Advisory Group of the United Nations Technology Innovation Labs; sat on the OASIS Open Projects, Initiative; was a Member of the British Computer Society Inaugural Influence Board; and of the UK Government Energy Sector Digitalisation Task Force Advisory Board; as well as being an elected Board Member of the Open Source Initiative. Formerly General Counsel of Canonical a role she held for 5 years from 2008 she set up and ran their legal function and has been part of the open source contributing community since.
Amanda is a judge in the IDG Foundry CIO 100 in 2023 and 2024, having been a Judge in the We are Tech Women Rising Star Awards in 2020-22.
Listed as the 37th Most Influential Woman in UK Tech by Computer Weekly in 2023 and in Computing’s IT Leaders 100 2023 and 2024, and the INvolve HERoes list of 100 global women executives driving change by example in 2022 -23. She was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards UK in 2022.
A regular contributor to the tech press, she is the editor of Open Source Law, Policy and Practice (2nd edition) published by Oxford University Press in October 2022, with open access thanks to the Vietsch Foundation https://amandabrock.com/books
Ann Cairns
Chair, Financial Alliance for Women
Ann has been a passionate supporter of Gender Equality for many years. She was the chair of the 30% club and is currently chair of Financial Alliance for Women- a worldwide network building products and services which meet the financial needs of women. Ann began life as a research scientist and she is a great advocate for women in STEM. She was a sponsor of the Mastercard program Girls4Tech which reached out to millions of girls around the world encouraging them to build careers in the tech industry. Ann is the Chair of four companies, she sits on the board of London Business School and also the board of Lightrock a PE dedicated to impact investment. She believes women will highly be affected by climate change but also, they can be change agents, using their positions in government and the private sector to make sustainable decisions for the future.
Anna Keeling
Executive Officer - Abacus Consortium,
Accenture
Anna has held CEO and global executive leadership roles for over two decades across the Aviation,
Aerospace, Defence, and Automotive sectors. She is a recognised organisational change agent with
extensive international experience gained from working across 30 countries and living in Australia,
Switzerland, Poland, France, and the UK. Highly motivated, curious, and creative, she is passionate
about leading organisations through change while ensuring teams and businesses realise their
potential for growth.
Anna has successfully built and led diverse high-performing global teams within complex technical
and multi-cultural businesses. In her most recent corporate role as Vice President and Managing
Director of Boeing Defence UK, Anna was responsible for the growth, alignment, and business
development of Boeing’s significant defence programmes in country, leading 2,600 people located
across more than 30 sites across the United Kingdom. Presently, she serves as a Non-Executive
Director on the board of Aernnova Aerospace, a Tier 1 global aerospace and defence company, as
well as leading the digital consortium supporting the Global Combat Air Programme at BAE Systems,
for Accenture.
Anna began her career in the Automotive industry working in design and development in Australia
and Asia before moving into senior programme management, commercial and business development
roles with Hexcel Corporation followed by regional sales and commercial positions with Cytec, both
global advanced materials manufacturing companies. Her other roles include Senior Vice President
for Business Transformation at GKN Aerospace where she led the company’s business improvement
plan to drive profit, margin, and cash, and Senior Vice President for Commercial with responsibility
for the company’s global commercial governance and implementing an aligned customer strategy
across the business.
With over ten years international Board-level experience, Anna has built an extensive network within
Aviation, Aerospace, and Defence. She is a Fellow of The Royal Aeronautical Society and holds degrees
in Aerospace Engineering and Business Administration, with an MBA from the University of
Melbourne.
Anna is passionate about the importance of STEM and the development of skills within the industry,
as well as advancing diversity, inclusion, and gender equality. A regular keynote speaker at forums
aimed at promoting female talent development within the global corporate environment, Anna was
named one of the 100 Women to Watch in The Female FTSE Board Report.
Anne Boden
Founder, Starling Bank
Anne is the Founder of Starling Bank, a leading bank which announced record profits in 2023. She stepped aside as CEO in June 2023 but remains highly involved in the business as a leading shareholder. Anne chronicled Starling’s story in "Banking on It", a bestseller and The Times’ Business Book of 2020. She is also the author of "The Money Revolution" & "Female Founders Playbook". Anne was awarded an MBE in 2018 & chaired the UK Government’s Women-led High-Growth Enterprise Taskforce.
Anne Richards
Vice Chair, Fidelity International
Anne joined Fidelity International as CEO in December 2018 and was appointed a Director of FIL Limited in September 2019. Anne has three decades of experience as an analyst, portfolio manager and CIO in the financial sector with global names including JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, Aberdeen Asset Management and M&G Investments. Anne is a Chartered Engineer and began her career as a research fellow at CERN. She is a former chair of the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s Practitioner Panel and was appointed a board member of the Institute of International Finance (IIF) in December 2020. Anne was appointed chair of TheCityUK in June 2022. Anne was appointed a Dame Commander (DBE) in June 2021 for services to Financial Services, Women, Education and Science. Anne holds an MBA from INSEAD and a BSc (Hons) from the University of Edinburgh. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and holds honorary degrees from Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt Universities.
Anne Wafula Strike MBE
Paralympian, Rights and Inclusion Campaigner, Keynote Speaker and Founder of Olympia-Wafula Foundation
Anne Wafula Strike MBE challenges misconceptions about disability. Athlete, author, disability and inclusion champion, and sporting ambassador; Anne inspires achievement and excellence through motivational talks that encourage others to overcome difficulties and maximise their potential.
In 2004, Anne became the first wheelchair racer from Sub-Saharan Africa to compete at the Paralympics. She uses her life meaningfully, with a purpose to inspire people facing challenges to tap into the latent power that lies within them.
Anne is a disability rights and inclusion campaigner and she has lobbied organisations and government to ensure access and inclusion is on the agenda. Anne is a Board member of UK Athletics, British Paralympics Assassination, Active Essex and Sports Chaplaincy UK.
She founded Olympia-Wafula Foundation to promote healthy living solutions for people with disabilities emphasising education, mobility and advocacy to empower and enrich their lives through social inclusion. She also supports various charities in the capacity of ambassador, champion and patron.
She is the author of the award winning autobiography In My Dreams I Dance (published by Harper Colins). The book is set for an update due to public demand for the incredible story.
In 2014, Anne was awarded an MBE by The Queen for her services to Charity and disability sport. In 2018, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate (Doctor of Health Sciences) by York St John University. In 2019, Anne was recognised by the iNews as one of the 100 leading Black women in the world.
Caroline Frankum
Global CEO, Kantar
Caroline is a multi-award-winning Global CEO at Kantar - the world’s leading marketing, data and analytics company, committed to shaping the brands of tomorrow by better understanding people everywhere. One of Caroline’s biggest passions is helping businesses transform and grow in profitable and purposeful ways. This means leading inclusively with impact and purpose to drive transformational change and growth by creating more inclusive, diverse, psychologically safe working environments - where the only barriers to success are personal choice and professional competence. She holds herself accountable to being a ‘see it, be it’ role model for ensuring women are seen, heard and counted in business.
Charles Currier
Senior Partner & Chair of the Board, CMS UK
Charles Currier is Senior Partner and Chair of the Board for law firm CMS UK and its international offices. As Senior Partner, Charles focuses on building strong relationships with clients, intermediaries, professional services firms and local regulators across all the firm’s geographic regions, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
As an ambassador for the firm, its clients and its people, Charles champions the importance of wellbeing and promotes diversity, equity and inclusion, creating opportunities for all to ensure a strong sense of belonging.
Before his role as Senior Partner, Charles was Co-head of the Global Corporate Practice Group for nine years and has been a Board member since 2010.
Christian Edelmann
Managing Partner for Europe, Oliver Wyman
Christian Edelmann is the Managing Partner for Europe. Prior to his current role, Christian co-led EMEA Financial Services, and the global Corporate & Institutional Banking (CIB) practice. He also acted as the Global Head of Oliver Wyman’s Wealth & Asset Management (WAM) practice. Before that Christian was based out of Hong Kong, running Oliver Wyman’s business in Asia-Pacific. He started his career in Switzerland and has worked across Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East, advising a broad range of sell-and buy-side clients in the areas of strategy and risk management.
Christian holds a Master degree in Law (summa cum laude) and a Master degree in Business and Economics (insignia cum laude) from the University of Basel (Switzerland). He has also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and the Financial Risk Manager (FRM) designation. Christian is fluent in English, German and Swiss German. He is the author of many of our landmark reports; he is also regular speaker at industry events and on TV.
Damien Mooney
Asset Management Business Leader
Damien Mooney is a Hong Kong-based commercial leader in asset and wealth management with almost 30 years of experience, Damien has recently completed a highly successful 13-year stint at BlackRock, the world’s leading investment management firm.
Prior to this, Damien held senior commercial leadership positions at Fidelity Investments in both Hong Kong and in London. He started his career in London at Prudential Assurance and thereafter Zurich Insurance before relocating to Hong Kong in mid-2006.
He has a proven track record leading high performing businesses across Asia Pacific to drive commercial outcomes for the firms he has worked for and for the clients he has served.
Idriss Elasri
Chief Core Engineering Officer, Capgemini Engineering
Idriss Elasri is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in industry and services, showcasing a track record of leadership and achievement across diverse sectors.
Currently serving as the Chief Core Engineering Officer at Capgemini Engineering, Idriss's leadership extends beyond the boardroom as he has been a dedicated advocate of gender diversity within his executive roles, achieving 49% women representation in a large engineering entity (4000+ talents), ensuring parity from entry level to executive level and setting a global benchmark for gender equality. As a member of Mentor'elles, he mentors, for more than 10 years, female professionals in Morocco, championing inclusivity and empowerment in the workplace in Morocco and Africa.
Idriss's journey to executive leadership began with a solid academic foundation, earning a Master of Science in Engineering from Supelec, Paris, and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA, in 1999. He further honed his business acumen with a global MBA from HEC Paris, New York Stern, and LSE in 2009. His commitment to inclusivity has earned him recognitions such as the Certificate of Excellence for Women-Men Professional Equality and being named one of the Top 35 HEROES Advocate Executives for Gender Equality by InvolvHer and YouTube in 2023.
Idriss believes that "inclusive leadership, which values every talent regardless of gender, is key to building an equitable and prosperous future for humanity" and continues to inspire change both within and beyond his organization.
Jacqueline de Rojas CBE
Chair, Institute of Coding
Jacqueline is President Emeritus at techUK and the co-chair at the Institute of Coding. She sits as a Non-Executive Director on the board of Rightmove plc; Costain plc and professional services provider FDM Group PLC. Jacqueline is an advisor to fast moving tech businesses and a business mentor at Merryck offering board and executive level coaching. She is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion.
Jhumar Johnson
Chief of Staff to the Vice Chancellor , The Open University
As Chief of Staff, Jhumar is aide, adviser and problem-solver to the Vice-Chancellor, focussed on communications, external relationships, and special projects, assisting with achieving his objectives and responsibilities towards the success of the University. She is also Director of Development ensuring alumni, donors and partners are at the heart of the OU family along with our staff and students.
Jhumar was responsible for delivering the University’s first fundraising campaign, surpassing the target, raising £60m, and running a year-long integrated campaign to celebrate The Open University’s 50th anniversary across the four UK nations and internationally. She has a background in major gifts consulting and practice in the not-for-profit sector and advising individuals and families on shaping their philanthropy. She is an Executive coach, public speaker, mentor and trainer. She sits on the Board of the GSR Foundation and on John Lewis Partnership’s Happier Futures Strategic Advisory Board.
She is an alumna of the University of Oxford - Said Business School, the University of Westminster, The Open University and the University of Mumbai, and a member of the Chief of Staff Association, Chief, CASE and Chartered Institute of Fundraising. She is passionate about equity and inclusion, developing talent and education. She is mum to 11-year-old Ryder.
Jon Dutton OBE
CEO, British Cycling
Jon was appointed Chief Executive of British Cycling in April 2023.
Jon was formerly Chief Executive of the Rugby League World Cup 2021 (postponed until 2022) and was involved in the project since the inception in late 2015 having successfully led the bid for the tournament. The tournament, the biggest in the sports 127-year history, featured the men's, women's and wheelchair tournaments being run simultaneously for the first time and a significant social impact programme which tackled inequalities through providing opportunities in hard-to-reach communities.
Jon is a sports management graduate with over 28 years’ experience in the sports industry. Previous roles have included PGA European Golf Tour, Manchester FA which involved a secondment to UEFA, Managing Director of a sports consultancy company, Chief Operating Officer for the Rugby League World Cup 2013, Director of Readiness for the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2014, Director of Projects & People for the Rugby Football League and International Federation Tournament Commissioner for the Rugby League World Cup 2017, held in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
Jon was awarded an OBE for services to Rugby League in the 2023 Kings Birthday Honours list and was also awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Civil Law from Northumbria University in July 2023.
Julianne Antrobus
Global Head of Nuclear, PA Consulting
Julianne Antrobus is the Global Head of Nuclear for PA Consulting a technology & Innovation consultancy firm. Julianne’s expertise lies in operational excellence and working with clients to drive sustained performance improvement across all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle from new nuclear to decommissioning & waste management.
Prior to joining PA in early 2020, Julianne held the role of Technology Director with SNC-Lavalin/Atkins Global Business leading the commercialisation of the nuclear products & technology portfolio. Julianne joined SNC-Lavalin/ Atkins in 2010 as Global Strategy & Business Development Director after holding the position of Marketing Director on the Statutory Board at Nuvia. Before joining PA Consulting, Julianne led the development and implementation of successive transformational growth strategies for major engineering firms, taking businesses from UK centric consultancy operations to global businesses.
During her career, Julianne has been directly involved in acquisitions and secured a portfolio of long term delivery contracts with strategic clients in excess of £100M’s. This has required Julianne to manage a complex portfolio of long term relationships with senior clients & government stakeholders, establishingstrategic Joint Ventures between UK, European, Middle East & Asia Pacific partnering organisations andwinning major delivery contracts in support of the global nuclear market.
Lee Chambers
Founder, Essentialise
Lee Chambers is the chief psychologist and founder of Essentialise and Male Allies UK. After a diverse career, from corporate finance to building and exiting tech company, he is now focused on supporting organisations to engage men in inclusion and promote effective allyship. He has been featured on the Startups 100 Index, has received a Great British Entrepreneur Award, and sits on the board of CMI Women, Regenerage and the Manchester Metropolitan University Business School. In 2024, he received the Freedom of the City of London for services to equality in business.
He is a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences in the USA, the first Black British scientist to be awarded in it's 33-year history, received for his work on health inequalities. He is the 2023 UN Women Changemaker of the Year, and is an ambassador for the UK Governments Lilac Review for Disabled Entrepreneurship. He speaks globally on allyship and intersectionality, having taken the stage at One Young World, ChangeNOW and the Bloomberg Global Equality Summit, and is the author of the upcoming book, Momentum: Reboot Your Career, Unlock Your Potential.
Personally, he shares his experiences as a Black autistic man, a stay-at-home dad, and his journey to learn to walk again after acquiring a chronic illness.
Leigh Walters-James
Managing Director, Accenture
Leigh, has been with Accenture for 19 years, evolving from a lawyer and negotiation expert to a market maker, structuring and closing the most complicated client arrangements. In addition to these roles, He spearheaded the groundbreaking Accent on Gender initiative, championing gender parity and challenging biases within the workplace and society at large.
As a vocal advocate, Leigh has spoken at internal and external events (Women in the Work Summit, London Business School, Middling Along Podcast), emphasising the need for equality as well as the pivotal role of male allies in propelling the inclusion and diversity agenda. Notably, he ran Accenture's International Women's Day events and, more recently in 2023, introduced Davina McCall as a keynote speaker, amplifying the dialogue on gender equality.
Leigh was invited to join the Prince of Wales’ Business in the Community Gender Equality Leadership Team in 2021. He was one of the first male members, actively promoting male engagement to bolster BITC's efforts towards gender parity.
Leigh's mentorship within the Shine program for advancing Accenture's female professionals, epitomizes his commitment to the development and promotion of women within Accenture. His guidance has been instrumental in propelling numerous women to senior roles, thereby enhancing gender balance within the organization.
In 2019, Leigh and a colleague founded the Menowarriors menopause support group at Accenture in the UK, shattering societal taboos and promoting understanding of menopause's impact on both women and men in the workplace and beyond. The initiative gained traction, influencing and improved dedicated healthcare provisions within Accenture, and has now grown beyond the UK, spreading globally
As a father to a teenage daughter, Leigh is resolute in his dedication to achieving equal representation, fostering equal opportunities, and eradicating gender bias. His belief in the necessity of robust male advocacy remains steadfast, as he continues to amplify his voice publicly, in the media, at work and the wider community, advocating for diversity and gender inclusivity in all spheres.
Lisa Kelly
Head BTC UK & IRELAND, BTC Chemical Distribution
Lisa assumed the role of Head of BTC UK & Ireland in January 2016. She is also a member of the BASF Plc Leadership team. Her working career started as a Laboratory Technician at Magnesium Elektron (part of British Alcan) and then as a Sales Correspondent at Degussa Ltd.
Having joined BASF plc Fine Chemical Sales in 1989, Lisa was delegated to Switzerland between 2001-2004 where she was North Europe Aroma Chemicals Manager. On her return to the UK she became Head of Sales Detergents & Formulators for BTC UK, BASF’s in-house chemical distribution company.
Having a strong passion for diversity & inclusion, Lisa represents BASF with WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) and leads their Gender Action Group. She is also a member of the Executive Committee for BCA (British Chemicals Association) and current chair of the Diversity Committee at BCF (British Coatings Federation)
Lisa is married with two children. Born in Bolton, Lisa attended the Farnworth Grammar School and studied Chemistry at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Liz Benison
Head of People & Culture, ISS GROUP
Liz assumed the role of Head of People & Culture Officer and established the Transformation Office for the ISS Group starting October 1st, 2023, after joining as CEO for the UK&I business on May 1st, 2021. With extensive leadership experience in Business Services and Outsourcing, including roles at Arriva PLC, Serco, CSC (now part of DXC), Capgemini, and Xansa (now part of Sopra Steria), Liz is deeply committed to gender diversity, inclusion, and corporate responsibility, particularly regarding climate change. She holds a BEng. in Production Engineering and Management from Nottingham University and is a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute.
Malcolm Gomersall
CEO, Grant Thornton
Malcolm Gomersall has been an integral part of the Strategic Leadership Team at Grant Thornton UK for the last six years, both as CEO and COO. He has overseen substantial investments in people, processes and technologies to create an inclusive environment where our people, clients and firm can grow. Malcolm established a Convener model to ensure Partner sponsorship for all areas of I&D, has been board sponsor for the firm’s LGBTQIA+ strand and is a champion for gender equity, engaging with a reverse mentor to educate himself about difference. Malcolm has strongly advocated an intersectional approach to I&D, using data to establish partner ownership of progression and removing barriers that women can face in the workplace.
Marian Salzman
Senior Vice President Global Communications, Philip Morris International (PMI),
Marian Salzman is a global thought leader, trendspotter, and communications professional who has built her career on helping companies and brands anticipate the future ahead of the competition and find their ‘sweet spot’.
Over three decades, she has been at the cusp of emerging cultural shifts, including introducing the world to “metrosexuality” in 2003 and serving as a driving force behind #GivingTuesday, an annual event that has spread to 60 countries, raising tens of billions of dollars for community programmes.
Among the most-awarded communications executives, Marian spent nearly a decade as CEO of Havas PR North America and chair of the PR Collective. In 2018, she pivoted to the client side, moving to Switzerland to head global communications at Philip Morris International (PMI), where she is helping the company move away from cigarettes and build a smoke-free future.
In January 2024, Marian became senior vice president of the company’s U.S. operation, focused on corporate citizenship.
Nadjia Yousif
Managing Director & Partner, Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Nadjia Yousif is a Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in London, with over 15 years of expertise in digital and data transformation in financial and public sectors. As BCG’s Global Chief Diversity Officer, she drives the firm’s diversity and inclusion agenda and collaborates with external partners on global DEI initiatives. Nadjia is a strong advocate for workplace diversity and women in STEM. She has been recognized on INvolve’s OUTstanding Ally Executives and HERoes 100 Women Executives lists. Nadjia holds dual Bachelor’s degrees from MIT and an MBA with Distinction from INSEAD.
Thomas Birk
Vice President UK & Ireland, Managing Director at BASF plc
Thomas Birk was born in Loerrach, Germany, in 1980. He studied Business
Administration at the Cooperative State University (BA) in Loerrach and
Economics at the University of Heidelberg.
Career profile 2007 – 2008 Consultant, Simon Kucher & Partners, Germany 2008
– 2010 Senior Referent Global Strategy, BASF SE, Germany 2010 – 2012 Product
Manager, BASF SE, Germany 2013 – 2014 Project Manager, BASF SE, Germany
2014 – 2016 Head of Value Chain and Product Management, BASF SE, Germany
2017 – 2020 Head of Product Management Natural Food Ingredients, BASF
Corporation, USA Since 2021 Vice President UK & Ireland / Managing Director,
BASF plc, United Kingdom
Nicola Hodson
Chief Executive, IBM UK and Ireland,
Dr Nicola Hodson was appointed Chief Executive, IBM UK and Ireland, in January 2023, where she is responsible for the company’s business operations.
Nicola is an accomplished technology industry leader with extensive experience in business and digital transformation. She held senior positions at Microsoft for 14 years, including as a global Vice President of Transformation for the commercial business, UK Chief Operating Officer and as head of its UK Public Sector business.
Nicola is Deputy President of techUK, the trade association and serves on the boards of Beazley plc and Drax Group plc, and is a governor of Bradfield College.
Prerana Issar
Chief People Officer and Head of Corporate Affairs, Sainsbury's
Prerana is inspired by her mother’s work and values, and driven by her daughter’s clarity and impatience, to do something every single day to create a positive change for women and girls. Her contribution includes mentoring and coaching women ranging from 18 to 60 years of age; increasing the number of women humanitarian leaders; driving changes for the one million women working in healthcare in England’s national health service as well as focusing on addressing the specific challenges facing women of colour. Although at heart an activist, Prerana channels that energy to enable teams, organisations and institutions across sectors to make things more equitable for women and girls.
Professor Sue Black OBE
Professor of Computer Science, Durham University
A multi award winning Computer Scientist, Technology Evangelist and Digital Skills Expert, Professor Sue Black was awarded an OBE for “services to technology” in the 2016 Queen’s New Year’s Honours list. She is Professor of Computer Science and Technology Evangelist in the Department of Computer Science at Durham University, a UK government advisor, thought leader, Trustee at Comic Relief, social entrepreneur, writer and public speaker.
Sue set up the UK’s first online network for women in tech BCSWomen in 1998 and led the campaign to save Bletchley Park, home of the WW2 codebreakers. Sue’s first book Saving Bletchley Park details the social media campaign she led to save Bletchley Park from 2008-2011. Sue has championed women in tech for over two decades, founding the #techmums social enterprise in 2013 and the pioneering TechUPWomen retraining underserved women into tech careers in 2019.
Passionate about technology as an enabler Sue didn’t have a traditional start to her career. She left home and school at 16, married at 20 and had 3 children by the age of 23. A single parent at 25 she went to university, gained a degree in computing then a PhD in software engineering. Sue now has 4 children and 6 grandchildren.
Sanjeev Chatrath
Partner Financial Services, EY
Sanjeev is a distinguished leader who has successfully worked across traditional industry boundaries to deliver lasting impact. He has lead multi-billion-dollar businesses as well as grown early-stage businesses to scale while working at global financial services, data, technology, and professional services firms in Asia-Pacific, and Middle-East. Sanjeev is reputed to build high-performing teams by inspiring people, and lifting organizational cultures with his inclusive approach that is grounded in client-centricity, execution focus, and strong moral values. Sanjeev has been a long-standing advocate for equality, and has passionately supported a number of non-profit, and charitable initiatives like NINEby9, habitat for humanity, male allies network, community business, Web3Women, and 30% club.
Serpil Timuray
CEO Vodafone Investments, Vodafone
Serpil Timuray is CEO Vodafone Investments and a member of Vodafone Group Executive Committee since January 2014. She is also a Non-Executive Director at BAT Plc and TPG Telecom Plc, the Chairperson of VodafoneZiggo in the Netherlands and Vodafone Turkey, and the Founding Chair of the #ChangeTheFace Alliance. Her previous roles at Vodafone Group Executive Committee were CEO Europe Cluster, Group Chief Commercial Operations and Strategy Officer, and Regional CEO for Africa, Middle East, Asia, Pacific. Serpil joined Vodafone as CEO Turkey in 2009. Prior, she spent 10 years at Danone, latterly as CEO Dairy Turkey and at Procter&Gamble for 8 years.
Tunji Akintokun MBE
Senior Director, Linkedin UK & Ireland
Tunji Akintokun is a passionate advocate for gender equality, supporting women through mentorship, philanthropy, and diversity initiatives. He mentors women in leadership and early in career roles providing guidance and opportunities for growth. Through the Ilesha Charitable Trust, which he founded focused on education, sport and the arts initiatives over 80% of grants, bursaries and scholarship have been awarded to women. His work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) includes advocating for greater female representation in tech and leadership, fostering inclusive workplace cultures, and driving initiatives that address gender disparities in various sectors. His efforts have positively impacted female empowerment and diversity in the workplace.
Wayne Levings
CEO of Insights Americas and the Chief Global Client officer, Kantar
Wayne Levings is the CEO of Insights Americas and the Chief Global Client officer of Kantar. He has held senior roles in the organisation for over twenty years. He is also the executive sponsor of Women in Kantar, where he works with ERG to promote and support women in Kantar across the globe in areas of equality, representation and key issues impacting women. This ERG continues to grow and plays an important role in promoting better diversity and inclusiveness across the organisation. As CEO of the company’s Americas business, he has built a diverse and inclusive environment, including having established a gender balanced executive team across the North America business
“I am honoured to be included in Novi’s Advocates for Change in Gender Equality List. It has never been more important to be at the forefront of the fight for genuine inclusion and gender equity within our organisations.
To me, being an advocate is all about supporting my colleagues and being an active listener, ally, and challenger. I see it as my personal responsibility to create a supportive environment where voices are heard, and actions make a difference; embracing this responsibility to provide platforms to voice concerns and contribute to meaningful change will be the driver of a more equitable future.”
“It is an honour to be recognised as a Novi Advocate for Change. The tech industry plays a pivotal role in shaping our connected world and ensuring no one is left behind. At Vodafone, and through our cross-industry initiative of #ChangeTheFace, we are dedicated to advancing inclusion and equality in the workplace and within our communities.”
"The Novi Advocates for Change in Gender Equality list shines a spotlight on the extraordinary efforts of individuals who are not only talking about gender equality but are actively working towards it. Their dedication and achievements are inspiring and critical to the progress we are making as a society. These advocates serve as role models, demonstrating that real change is possible through persistent and impactful actions. By celebrating their contributions, we hope to encourage others to join the movement and continue pushing for a more equitable world"
“Collective allyship and action is essential for creating a more inclusive workplace, which is why I am delighted to join Novi’s Advocates for Change in Gender Equality. Although significant progress has been made, there is more to be done to ensure all women thrive and can bring their best self to work”.
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Check out our 2023 Advocates For Change In Gender Equality
Our first annual list of advocates for change in gender equality in 2023, a total of 21 individuals were recognised for their advocacy work in championing inclusion and gender equality from a diverse cross-section of industry. Many led campaigns to drive gender equality or raise awareness of key issues that women face in society and the workplace, or played an integral role in building communities where women can thrive. Others have been recognised for their ongoing commitment to donating their time and expertise to charities and social enterprises that themselves support gender equality.