The Judging Panel
As in previous years, our judging panels will convene to review the Top 10 submissions and select the winners for each category.
Our distinguished panel of judges will receive evidence submission packs for each of the Top 10 submissions within specific categories. After reviewing and deliberating independently, judges will submit their decisions. Subsequently, all judges are invited to a meeting to finalize the winners and discuss any categories where consensus has not been reached. Judges with affiliations to any nominated category are excluded from deliberations on that category and must leave the room during those discussions.
The judging panel comprises business leaders and diversity specialists, all of whom are deeply committed to issues of ethnicity and the Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) agenda, both in the workplace and the broader community. The panel is responsible for deciding the winners in corporate categories. Winners in public categories are determined through a general public nomination process.
Talent is everywhere; opportunity is not.
Belton Flournoy
Manging Director – Protiviti
Belton is a Managing Director in Protiviti’s Technology consulting practice and is a prominent advocate for diversity and inclusion. He founded Protiviti UK’s LGBT+ group, which won Best LGBT+ Network in 2019 by the Inclusive Tech Alliance. Recognised for his contributions, Belton was shortlisted as a top 10 Inspiring Hero in 2023 by the Investing in Ethnicity awards, and has appeared on Yahoo Finance’s Top 100 Future LGBT+ and Ethnic Minority Leaders lists. As co-founder of Pride in the City with Pride in London, Belton spearheaded a Mayor-backed initiative to enhance diversity in London businesses. He also serves as an Advisory Board Member for The Inclusion Initiative at the London School of Economics. With over 18 years of experience, Belton is passionate about technology and has led a variety of strategic technology projects across Europe, delivering strategic solutions for some of the world’s leading financial institutions.
Bernadette Thompson OBE FCIPD
Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion – Kings College Hospital Foundation Trust
Bernadette Thompson OBE is a distinguished leader with over two decades of experience in public service. She is the Executive Director for Diversity and Inclusion at King’s College Hospital NHSFoundation Trust, where she leads initiatives to create an equitable workplace. Previously, she served as Deputy Director for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, enhancing community engagement through strategic policies.
Recognised with an OBE for her outstanding contributions to diversity and inclusion, Bernadette is known for her commitment to mentoring future leaders. She is a sought-after speaker on leadership, equality, and career development and actively participates in networks and boards dedicated to social change.
With a deep passion for fostering inclusive environments, Bernadette Thompson continues to inspire transformative change across sectors, making her an influential figure in promoting equality and diversity in the workplace. Her work remains instrumental in shaping policies that support diversity and inclusion both within and beyond the NHS.
Darsheta Maini
Legal & General
With 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, Darsheta (Dee) is currently the Group Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Partner at Legal & General. Her passion lies in driving meaningful change in organisations to recognise the strength that diversity brings, fostering an environment where everyone can realise their ambitions and achieve their career aspirations. With a keen focus on promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, Dee’s collaborative approach engages stakeholders to create strategies that empower individuals and enhance organisational culture. Her commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace extends beyond policy implementation; it’s about transforming mindsets and ensuring that every voice is heard.
Karen Geddes (QPM)
Founder of The Thin Black Line and Co-founder Women in the Shade
Karen Geddes (QPM) joined West Midlands Police in 1992 and served for 30 years. During her service, she was one of only a handful of Black females within the force, overcoming personal barriers to become the first-ever Black female Superintendent in the West Midlands.
Karen developed a reputation as a problem solver who influenced and developed a more inclusive culture, shaped responses to critical incidents in the Black community, and improved policing by advocating for and celebrating Black talent and culture.
She has received multiple awards for her work, including the Queen’s Police Medal and the National Ethnicity Award.
Karen is the founder of The Thin Black Line and co-founder of Women in the Shade, organisations dedicated to building stronger, more inclusive institutions.
She also serves as a Performance and Development Coach with Police Now, an organisation dedicated to transforming the police service.
Having transitioned from policing, she remains passionate about promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion in the police force and beyond.
“If not you, then who?”
Kayode Odetoyinbo
Lead HR Business Partner – Human Resources – Computacenter (UK) Ltd
Kayode is a HR professional working for Computacenter, he has held various senior positions and currently leads teams across a number of countries as well as being part of the global HR Leadership team. As an MBA graduate, Kayode has always had a keen focus on organisational design and performance optimisation with people at the heart of how this is achieved. Kayode also brings a wealth of knowledge by acting as a trusted advisor and coach to Senior Executives, as well as being a mentor outside of his professional capacity. He has driven Graduate and Leadership initiatives aimed at finding and nurturing high potential. Kayode’s passion for access to opportunity and Inclusion has led him to chair the Computacenter Ethnic Diversity EIG, being one of the architects of its inception, design, and implementation. Kayode brings a wealth of knowledge to the panel having worked across different business disciplines.
Mina Prince
EMEA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager – Macquarie
With over 15 years of experience in HR and Business Change, Mina Prince has consistently led the charge in championing equity across various industries, holding key roles in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Human Resources (HR), and employee network leadership. In 2023, her unwavering commitment to inclusivity was recognised as she was recognised as one of the Top 10 Exceptional Inclusions at the Ethnicity Awards, underscoring her profound influence in the field. At Macquarie, she stands as a visible role model, proving through her actions that one can achieve success while being Black, genuine, and true to oneself.
Prior to her role at Macquarie, Mina thrived as a Business Change Manager. In this capacity, she played a crucial role in orchestrating a major Inclusion and Engagement workstream project within the Waste Management and Built Environment sector. Her leadership aimed at enhancing collaboration and inclusion across 11 contractors, partner organisations, and the client. Furthermore, she was instrumental in devising and steering the suppliers’ strategy towards skills development, employment, and education by developing work placement programs and various other initiatives. Her initiatives to bolster psychological safety garnered her a nomination for the Association for Business Psychology Inclusion Award.
Rodney Williams
Senior Manager – National Grid
Rodney Williams is a Senior Manager in the Office of the CEO and the former chair of ‘ONE’, National Grid’s multicultural employee resource group. As Chair, he relaunched the network, boosting membership by 95% and nurturing new programs such as the successful reverse mentoring scheme. Rodney also co-founded the ‘Development Programme for Diverse Leaders,’ a company-first course designed to accelerate and support BAME employees to positions of management.
Rodney was ranked number 2 in the EMpower and Yahoo Finance Top 100 Ethnic Minority Future Leader Role Models list 2020.
Rodney is an experienced speaker on inclusion in the workplace, having spoken at Gastech conferences in Texas and Barcelona, and Business in the Community events. Outside of work, Rodney is a trustee for City Year UK, a youth social action charity.
Shailen Bhat
Senior Performance Manager – HSBC
Shailen is a Senior Performance Manager within HSBC’s Group Communications and Brand Function, with over a decade of experience within large corporate financial services organisations. Shailen is a fully Chartered Accountant and served as an elected member of the North London ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) Panel. In his current role, Shailen helps to drive forward inclusion initiatives such as Inclusive hiring programmes aimed to optimise our recruitment practices to attract skilled and diverse talent with strong future potential and strengthening internal and external Diverse Talent Pipelines through strategic partnership with external organisations.
In 2024, Shailen was appointed as Co-Chair of UK Embrace, HSBC’s ethnicity employee resource group. Embrace comprises c.3000 members across the UK and aims to build a more inclusion organisation where the sharing of cultures and traditions is celebrated across the bank. Embrace works closely with other internal ERGs, and external community/ FS organisations, to curate an engaging and inspirational runway of events that foster awareness, allyship and an open dialogue.
Victoria Chan
Business Analysis & Change Manager – Santander UK
Victoria is a Business Analysis and Change Manager at Santander UK who is currently pursuing a Chartered Manager’s Degree. Committed to breaking glass ceilings, she serves as Co-Chair of the REACH (Race / Religion, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage) Network and was shortlisted as a ‘2023 Inspirational Leader.’ In 2024, she led the Employee Resource Group (ERG) to be shortlisted for the British Diversity Awards ‘Outstanding Ethnicity Network of the Year’. Passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), she encourages, promotes, and leads initiatives that create awareness and drive impactful change within her community and society, such as the annual Celebration of Cultures Day.
Believing in the “place to be yourself,” Victoria advocates for psychological safe spaces and sub-communities that foster a stronger sense of belonging. As a coach, mentor, and #IAmRemarkable facilitator, she connects and empowers individuals to realise their full potential. At Santander, she’s an ally to all people networks and supports initiatives such as being a cyber ambassador. Beyond her professional commitments, she’s played an active role in promoting STEM education as a judge for the MK STEM awards and by volunteering for STEM initiatives like the First Lego League, inspiring the next generation of innovators. Victoria strives to create an environment where everyone can thrive, be their authentic selves, and contribute to a brighter and more inclusive future for all.