TOP 10 - WORKPLACE HEROES
Aisha Addison
Since launching her media career in 2015, Aisha has committed to crafting marketing strategies that reflect Britain’s diversity. As a member of Essencemediacom’s Inclusive Planning Network, she champions inclusivity, leading training to better engage diverse audiences and identify media opportunities.
Her dedication to driving positive change is showcased in her consultancy for the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation’s #ExtraordinaryOrdinary campaign. She strives to dismantle planning teams’ entry barriers and works with clients to increase investment in diverse media owners. Through mentoring and thought leadership, Aisha consistently ensures that under-represented voices are centred.
Annmarie Holligan
Annmarie Holligan is a Planning and Campaigns Project Manager at BT Group and consistently pushes the boundaries to advance ethnic minority inclusion within the business and beyond. She goes over and above her hectic day job to ensure ethnic minority inclusion is at the core of everything she does.
For the past 4 years, Annmarie has been the powerhouse ensuring that BT Group’s Ethnic Diversity Network delivers successful, strategic initiatives / events.
In the recent year, Annmarie has worked with a strategic partner, McKinsey & Co, to create the ‘One Community’ pilot. This initiative has successfully provided Black colleagues with valuable networking and learning opportunities alongside other industry professionals and leaders.
In addition, Annmarie mentors young women and has been described by leaders as “a catalyst for a more positive and inclusive culture at BT Group”.
Ibrahim Mohammed
Building on his unprecedented impact at Oxford and Cambridge University and The Aziz Foundation, Ibrahim, a first-generation Trainee Solicitor, has been driving change at Farrer & Co since 2021. Described as a ‘gift to the firm’ and a ‘catalyst for positive development’ by Partners, Ibrahim is on a mission to make the 300+-year-old law firm more inclusive by collaborating with senior leaders, juniors, and his own network. He believes the next generation of legal professionals, along with allyship from White leaders, can transfer EDI discourse into the legal corporate sphere, engage in educational debate, and both amplify and empower the voices of all minoritized staff, including non-lawyers. He also mentors talent from diverse backgrounds and has inspired other EDI initiatives across the firm. Beyond his professional role, Ibrahim is a Trustee, charity ambassador, and international public speaker, all of which emphasise the importance of EDI
Marilina Bachmann
Marilina is an Argentinian lawyer who works as a Proposal Manager at Jacobs and is the Global Co-Chair of Enlace, one of Jacobs’ ERGs, which focuses on developing Latino talent. Her work has shone light on the unique barriers that Latino professionals face, such as feeling unable to be authentic in the workplace due to cultural differences and struggling with language barriers. By addressing these challenges, she has played an important role in pushing for more inclusive practices that not only acknowledge but actively celebrate diversity and the rich heritage and contributions of the Latino ethnicity, emphasising the importance of allowing individuals to bring their whole selves to work.
Mehareen Latif
So early on in her career, Mehareen is one of the few to have accomplished significant achievements in a short space of time. She mastered the art of undergoing multiple roles: a private banker, co-chair of the Multicultural Network and leading the Multicultural Mentoring Programme. Tackling the systemic barriers ethnic minorities face within the corporate setting is the heart of her mission. She has formed pathways to honour and celebrate deserving individuals from diverse backgrounds and provides them the opportunity to network with senior leaders. She has taught the company how inclusion is not an obstacle to be solved but a conversation to be had.
Rong Su
Rong has been working for JLR (formerly Rover) since 1996. she was its first ever employee from another country and the first female engineering graduate at Rover Body and Pressings. In additions to her current Scrum Master’s role, Rong is a business manager on the Reach (Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage) Network Committee.
She has made a positive contribution to JLR’s cultural transformation through leading the network’s giving back initiative, helping drive the development and progression of Asia Pacific communities, empowering Reach Women to thrive professionally and emotionally, and reverse mentoring senior leaders to encourage the application of DE&I for racially diverse employees.
Shane Newton
Shane is always a font of positive energy and this manifests in his excellent ability to create communities around him. He collaborates between all BAE Employee Resource Groups, helping them to develop and articulate clear strategies as the DE&I function is developed. He is a trusted point of contact to turn to and this is exemplified through his position as the ERG representative on numerous DE&I boards. The events that he’s organised have been thoughtful, impactful and above and beyond what can be expected. One only needs to attend any events during Black History Month to see the fruits of his endeavours. He has supported colleagues, peers and leaders by providing advice and guidance on DE&I.
Victoria Einarsen
Victoria exemplifies a deep commitment to inclusivity through her passionate leadership of the Ethnic and Cultural Empowerment ERG at Kenvue.
Since joining the group, Victoria’s involvement has included organising key cultural events, consulting with brand teams on market research surveys and representation in packaging, as well as driving cultural comms. Her most notable achievement was executing last year’s impactful Black History Month and Allyship celebrations alongside the wider ERG, which saw strong engagement from all levels of the business.
Her unwavering dedication to fostering an inclusive workplace is rooted in her multi-cultural background and inspires those around her.
Ugo Eboh
Ugo has worked across financial services for 20 years, covering risk and technology functions.
His interest in inclusion came through a cross-cultural childhood experience. Brought up by white foster parents, while spending time in his home of African heritage, he found the cultural interplays (African-English/Black-white) fascinating, yet difficult to manoeuvre around sometimes.
He has used that interest to create meaningful output, leading and co-chairing Virgin Money’s Ethnicity Network for the last seven years. He oversaw the rise of BLM UK and helped to implement long-lasting cultural awareness and celebrations, alongside helping business functions to embed ethnicity into their fabric.
Zee Botchway
As lead for the RAACE Network, Zee has influenced changes in recruitment policies to enhance ethnic diversity, resulting in increased racial diversity in Wickes’ workforce and leadership. Zee initiated annual events like the International Film Festival, South Asian Heritage Month and Black History Month. She also boosted external community support with sponsorship of Black Inclusion Week, the MBCC Awards and the Building the Future Summit, where Wickes hosted two workshops for 120 young people. In 2023, Zee launched the RAACE Ally Programme, training more than 300 managers and leaders. She manages the Wickes Flair Impact Partnership, HR, legal and L&D to drive racial equality.
As lead for the RAACE Network, Zee has influenced changes in recruitment policies to enhance ethnic diversity, resulting in increased racial diversity in Wickes’ workforce and leadership. Zee initiated annual events like the International Film Festival, South Asian Heritage Month and Black History Month. She also boosted external community support with sponsorship of Black Inclusion Week, the MBCC Awards and the Building the Future Summit, where Wickes hosted two workshops for 120 young people. In 2023, Zee launched the RAACE Ally Programme, training more than 300 managers and leaders. She manages the Wickes Flair Impact Partnership, HR, legal and L&D to drive racial equality.