2023 WINNERS
PUBLIC CATEGORY WINNERS
SERVICES TO JOURNALISM / POSTHUMOUS AWARD
George Alagiah
CHARITY OR COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
category sponsor
EVR
MEDIA PROGRESS MOMENT
Netflix’s ``Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story``
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is a period drama series created by Shonda Rhimes for Netflix that reimagines the life of Queen Charlotte, who historians believe was of mixed race, as the first black British Queen. Through this portrayal, the series challenges conventional historical narratives and highlights the significant contributions of mixed race and black individuals to British history. By depicting a diverse royal lineage, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story fosters inclusivity and encourages a more comprehensive understanding of the UK’s multicultural heritage.
MEDIA PROGRESS MOMENT
BBC’s ``Dreaming Whilst Black``
Dreaming Whilst Black is a thought-provoking British comedy-drama series written by and starring black writer, actor and filmmaker Adjani Salmon. Adjani plays the lead role of Kwabena, an aspiring filmmaker trapped in a recruitment job. By addressing issues of race, creativity and identity, the show provides a unique perspective on the challenges faced by individuals pursuing their dreams. Through its exploration of the BAME experience, Dreaming Whilst Black adds depth and authenticity to television narratives.
ROLE MODEL
Gok Wan MBE
Gok Wan MBE is a British fashion consultant, television presenter, DJ and author. He gained popularity for his television series How to Look Good Naked, where he empowered individuals to embrace their bodies and feel confident in their own skin. Gok’s expertise in fashion and his relatable approach to self-image have resonated with viewers. He has also been involved in various other TV projects, including fashion makeovers and the cooking shows Gok Cooks Chinese and Gok’s Chinese Takeaway. His charismatic personality and positive influence on body positivity have made him a beloved figure in the UK entertainment and fashion scene. He was awarded an MBE in 2020 for services to fashion and social awareness.
ONLINE INFLUENCER
MIAH CARTER
Miah Carter, the self-styled “Body Positivity Big Sis”, has amassed more than three million followers on TikTok for her make-up application and body positivity videos. At the age of 18, Miah built her influence by being open and vulnerable about body image, living with autism and her journey to self-love. She is outspoken on body positivity and women’s rights and has collaborated with brands including Rimmel, PLT, Warner Brothers and Kylie Cosmetics. Before her rise to fame, Miah was in Stage School and starred in Matilda and Legally Blonde on the West End from the age of 10.
INSPIRATIONAL PUBLIC FIGURE
category sponsor
STEVEN BARTLETT
Steven Bartlett, co-founder and former CEO of Social Chain, has revolutionised social media marketing by pioneering innovative strategies that resonate with global brands. His entrepreneurial journey gained widespread recognition when he became the youngest investor on the BBC’s hit show Dragons’ Den at the age of 28. His sharp business acumen and insightful investment decisions showcased prowess beyond his years. Steven is celebrated for his influential podcast, The Diary of a CEO, which offers valuable insights on leadership, success, and self-discovery. The podcast’s popularity reflects his ability to connect with audiences on a profound level. He is the founder of marketing company Flight Story and web3 platform thirdweb. His recent book ‘The Diary Of A CEO: The 33 Laws Of Business And Life’ is a Sunday Times Number 1 best Seller.
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITIES
category sponsor
Heela Yoon
PRESENTER, JOURNALIST OR HOST
Onatejiro ``AJ`` Odudu
AJ Odudu is a British television presenter, model, and fitness enthusiast. Rising to fame as a contestant on reality TV shows, she has since become a prominent host and personality. AJ’s engaging presence has led to hosting roles on various programmes, and she is also passionate about health and fitness, sharing her wellness journey and encouraging others to lead active lifestyles. Through her vibrant on-screen persona and dedication to wellbeing, AJ has captured the attention of audiences and established herself as a multifaceted media personality.
PUBLIC SERVICE OR CAMPAIGNER
Harnaam Kaur
Harnaam Kaur is a British model, body positivity advocate, and motivational speaker. She gained widespread attention for her decision to embrace her facial hair, a result of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Harnaam’s journey towards self-acceptance and her advocacy for challenging conventional beauty standards have inspired many. Through her work, she aims to empower individuals to embrace their uniqueness and challenge societal norms around appearance. Harnaam’s resilience and message of self-love has resonated globally, making her a symbol of body positivity and self-confidence.
MUSIC ARTIST
RITA ORA
Rita Ora is a British singer, songwriter and actress with international recognition. She rose to prominence with hits like Hot Right Now and I Will Never Let You Down. Rita’s powerful vocals and energetic performances have made her a popular figure in the pop music landscape. Apart from her musical career, she has ventured into acting and fashion, further expanding her influence. Rita’s chart-topping singles and dynamic stage presence have solidified her status as a global pop sensation.
SPORTS PERSONALITY
Eniola Aluko
Eni Aluko MBE is a retired British-Nigerian footballer and sports broadcaster. Eni enjoyed a successful career, winning multiple FA Cup and Women’s Super League titles with Chelsea, before turning out in the United States of America and Italy while winning over 100 caps for England, scoring 33 goals. She has gone on to forge a career in sports broadcasting, working with the BBC, BT Sport and Sky. She hosted the inaugural Women’s Football Awards alongside Jamie Carragher in 2023. The former Lioness was awarded an MBE in King Charles’ first Birthday Honours list for her services to football and charity.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
category sponsor
OZWALD BOATENG
Ozwald Boateng is a British fashion designer of Ghanaian descent, renowned for his innovative and vibrant menswear designs. He is credited with bringing a modern and artistic flair to traditional tailoring, earning him a reputation as a trailblazer in the fashion industry. His work has been showcased on international runways, and he has dressed high-profile clients, including celebrities and public figures. Ozwald’s contributions to fashion have been recognized with numerous awards and accolades, including being awarded an OBE in 2006 for services to the clothing industry.
BUSINESS CATEGORY WINNERS
FUTURE LEADER
category sponsor
Cecilia Adjei-Sarpong, Essence Mediacom
INSPIRATIONAL LEADER
category sponsor
Oli O'Donoghue, HSBC
Oli O’Donoghue joined HSBC in 2017 having spent the previous 22 years in the Financial Services Industry. She is currently Managing Director for the UK Branch Network, as well as overseeing, in the interim, HSBC’s Direct Mortgages and Wealth/Premier teams. Oli is extremely passionate about facilitating growth in her colleagues, improving customer engagement and driving a wider societal impact in HSBC’s local communities and beyond. Diversity, equity and inclusion are really important to Oli and she was recently awarded an MBE for Services to Diversity in the Financial Services sector. Oli is also a big sponsor for Employee Resource Groups, allowing her to push forward an area that she is so passionate about and which forms part of the legacy she is building.
EXCEPTIONAL INCLUSION
category sponsor
Nicole Williams, Ashurst
Nicole Williams is Global Co-Head of Inclusion, Diversity and Belonging at law firm Ashurst. She provides strategic advice to the executive team and the board, spearheading the company’s inclusion, diversity and belonging strategy that is aimed at attracting, recruiting and retaining ethnically diverse and black staff, alongside advising clients in her counsel role in the investment funds team. Nicole’s notable work includes developing the firm’s ethnically diverse and black talent strategy and introducing new performance management review processes to better support ethnically diverse talent and increase profiles of minority talent. In addition, she is senior sponsor of the Ashurst Black Network and Race Ethnicity Equality Group, and founder and Chair of the Social Mobility Network.
CHAMPION (ALLY)
category sponsor
Honey Kirtley, BNY Mellon
Honey Kirtley is co-Chair of IMPACT London, BNY Mellon’s multicultural and ethnic diversity employee business resource group. Honey is a champion ally, who advocates for DE&I and identifies opportunities to elevate the discussion to drive action in the workplace and in the communities in which BNYM operates and serves. She has championed DE&I initiatives, delivered blogs to amplify racial awareness, workshops on anti-racism and mentoring programmes, and engaged in drop-in “safe space cafes” to share perspectives. Honey obtained the approval of the CEO to partner with The World Reimagined, a charity that aims to make racial justice a reality. She helped her children’s school create a diversity, equity and inclusion action plan, which saw them shortlisted for a DEI Innovation award.
NETWORK GROUP (ERG)
category sponsor
BT Ethnic Diversity Network, BT BROUP
BT Group aims to be somewhere where every colleague feels valued, empowered and inspired to contribute to the organisation’s success and that of the communities it serves. As a business, BT Group believes firmly in the power of connection, the importance of everyone’s contribution, and the transformative potential of working together towards a common good. At the forefront of this commitment is the BT Ethnic Diversity Network. Its Executive Sponsor, BT Consumer Business CEO Marc Allera, champions putting diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything the company does. BT Group is building teams that reflect and celebrate differences and help staff to support each other and the communities that they are proud to be part of. This commitment is integral to BT Group’s purpose: to connect for good.
WORKPLACE HERO
category sponsor
Seleeta Watson, Computacenter
Having started her professional journey in the travel industry, Seleeta Watson quickly developed a deep appreciation for cultural diversity. In 2010, she transitioned into IT and steadily progressed into a senior manager role, leveraging her technical expertise and leadership skills to drive successful outcomes. In 2020, Seleeta embarked on a personal mission to champion equality within her own organisation, and through her commitment and inspiring leadership she has made a significant impact on the lives and careers of her colleagues. Seleeta has taken the lead in creating safe spaces for open dialogue and spearheading landmark campaigns for Race Equality Week and Black History Month three years in a row.
SOCIAL IMPACT
Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers
The Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE-UK) was founded in 2007 in London by siblings Dr Nike Folayan MBE and Dr Ollie Folayan MBE. AFBE-UK is a not-for-profit organisation that supports people of all backgrounds into, and within the engineering sector. The organisation, which is a network of more than 2,500 engineers, runs programmes to attract young people into engineering, retain talent and raise leaders. AFBE-UK also works with more than 80 corporate partners, including Mercedes F1, bp, BBC Scotland, Leonardo and many others, through its diversity and inclusion programme. AFBE-UK’s programmes have benefited more than 20,000 people since 2007.
OUTSTANDING EMPLOYER
category sponsor
KPMG
KPMG UK is committed to creating an inclusive environment where its 17,000 partners and employees can thrive and reach their full potential, whatever their identity or background. KMPG UK knows that diversity of experience, background and perspective is fundamental to the success of the business. To help it achieve this aim, the company has set bold and ambitious targets through to 2030 as part of its inclusion, diversity, and equity plan – Our KPMG: A fairer future for all. This includes a target for 20% of its partners to be from an ethnic minority and 5% of its partners to be of black heritage, which it continues to report against annually. The company’s senior leaders are accountable for driving change; encouraging open, safe, and inclusive conversations; and challenging themselves to confront biases and listen and learn from each other.
SPECIAL MENTIONS
FUTURE LEADER
Junaed Khan, UK GOVERNMENT
Junaed Khan is a Senior Advisor for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, covering the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) – a $11.5bn multilateral fund that has mobilised billions for climate solutions in 72 countries. He is co-Chair of the Civil Service Race Forum (CSRF), a collaborative group of staff race networks working to advance diversity and inclusion. Previously, Junaed has worked in a ministerial private office and in the UK’s UN climate negotiations team. Prior to joining the Civil Service, he has worked for Three Faiths Forum to build university student leaders who work across faith backgrounds, and for MyLifeMySay, an organisation empowering young people to engage in politics.
SOCIAL IMPACT
UPSKILL DIGITAL
UpSkill Digital is a training and digital empowerment agency creating a fresh approach to learning through virtual and in-person training, empowering businesses and individuals to boost productivity and succeed in the digital age. Its CEO and founder is Gori Yahaya, an inspirational thought leader closing the digital skills gap and transforming businesses worldwide. Over the past decade, he has engineered programmes that have upskilled more than 250,000 people across Europe, Africa, and Asia. Gori is an evangelical advocate for diversity and inclusion, with a mission to support people of BAME backgrounds to boost their career progression and develop relevant skills for the future workplace.
INSPIRATIONAL LEADER
Belton Flournoy, Protiviti
Belton Flournoy leads the Digital Identity practice at Protiviti UK and is a longstanding advocate for ethnic inclusion and diversity, frequently speaking on the need for organisations to maintain a diverse workforce. He helped launch the firm’s proCulture network and is part of the Leadership Team for the Technology Community for Racial Equality (TC4RE), a group looking to increase racial diversity in technology. Belton was a host for myGwork’s 2022 WorkPride conference; executive speaker at events through TLC Lions; and is on the advisory board for The Inclusion Initiative at The London School of Economics (LSE). He has featured in the top 20 of both the OUTstanding LGBT+ Future Leader list and the EMpower Top 100 Ethnic Minority Future Leader list, was shortlisted in Inspirational Leader and Diversity Heroes categories at the British LGBT+ Awards and placed in the EMpower Top 10 UK Black Business Role Models presented by Google.
CHAMPION (ALLY)
Louise Bucknole, Paramount
Louise Bucknole is General Manager and Vice President of Kids & Family for Paramount UK & Ireland. As part of her role, Louise is responsible for all content, strategy, editorial, financial and operational aspects for Nickelodeon UK and Channel 5’s Milkshake! pre-school strand. Through her work, Louise ensures that ethnically diverse talent is recognised, heard and valued, on-screen and off-screen, positively impacting kids’ experience of content in the UK. From the recently launched Reu & Harper’s Wonderworld to established award-winning series such as The World According To Grandpa, Louise is dedicated to commissioning stories that celebrate kids for who they are and reflect the world around them.
WORKPLACE HERO
Jamie Barkley, Rolls Royce
As the most senior black operational leader in Rolls-Royce, Jamie Barkley uses his position to improve the career prospects and self-confidence of diverse employees. As an adviser to the African Caribbean Pioneers Network employee resource group (ERG), he provides support and coaching to improve the lives of African and Caribbean colleagues. As a member of the company’s Inclusion Forum, he shapes the diversity and inclusion agenda and policies in the business. Championing many other ERGs in the business, he mentors many diverse leaders including the Chair of the LGBTQ+ Network. His upbringing in the foster care network also inspires him to champion social mobility by sponsoring young adults into employment, education and training.
NETWORK GROUP (ERG)
The Black Employee Network (BEN), AMAZON
OUTSTANDING EMPLOYER
HSBC UK
HSBC UK serves more than 14 million customers across the UK, supported by over 20,000 colleagues. The company offers a complete range of retail banking and wealth management to personal and private banking customers, as well as commercial banking for small to medium businesses and large corporates. Its intention is to open up a world of opportunity for its customers, colleagues, communities and the planet that everyone shares. HSBC UK values difference, with diverse ideas and perspectives helping it to innovate, manage risk, and grow the business in a sustainable way.
OUTSTANDING EMPLOYER
LLOYDS BANKING GROUP
Lloyds Banking Group is committed to ensuring that our workforce reflects the diversity of our customer base and we were proud to be the first FTSE 100 company in 2018 to set a public goal to increase Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic representation at senior levels as part of our Helping Britain Prosper Plan.
Our ethnicity strategy is led from the top and supported by comprehensive plans to ensure we make sustainable progress, including targeted career development interventions, a robust focus on increasing visibility of role models and a range of activities to build cultural awareness understanding and advocacy across our workforce.
In 2020 we launched our Race Action Plan to drive cultural change, recruitment and progression across the Group, for which the Maturity Matrix has been a great support. The plan includes a goal to increase Black representation in senior roles to at least 3% by 2025.