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Guest Writer Zee Monteiro lets us in on how Queer iconography has shaped their journey of self-understanding and acceptance. by Zee Monteiro As I worked to unlearn and relearn my identity in light of the cis-gender heteronormative expectations placed upon me, I found that iconography was instrumental in helping me understand my fluidity. Iconography refers to the use of symbols, images, and themes in art to depict movements, beliefs, or ideas. I remember being 23 years old and coming across the term and various symbols for ‘Two-spirited,’ which really resonated with me. The symbol was a visual representation of the Two-spirit Indigenous identities across Native America. It was a term used to explain how one person could have two spirits, one male and one female. The term as I have understood has now been recognized as an umbrella term to describe the fluidity of an individual, depending on the tribe and personal/spiritual relationship to themselves that sits outside of the understanding of the western and colonial understanding of the gender binary. There were different types of symbols I came across; one was shown in the form of two arrows pointing in opposite directions, the other the symbol of a double headed figure, with one head representing the female and the other the male spirit. I remember this clearly as it was not only a term that related to how I felt, but it showed that my feelings, my energies existed. I remember continuing my research to find specific West African symbols that represented the similar but no luck. I do not identify with the term ‘two-spirited’ as a way to define myself as it is not my heritage or history, but it became a way for me to unravel more about my gender and opened a door to further curiosity and understanding. In the following years I became focused on finding more about the history of queer culture and it led me to America. I learned about the internationally famous rainbow flag designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978. It served as a symbol of resistance against discrimination and a demand for change, as well as the pink triangle, used originally by the Nazi Regime to identify homosexual men but reclaimed by the LGBTQ+ community and transformed into a symbol of resistance and pride. Although these symbols impacted me in understanding the strength that ran within the LGBTQ+ community. The identity that I was sitting in, which during 2016, was still that of a Black Masculine presenting woman, I could not find the symbols that represented my intersections of race and gender. In 2018 I set out to create a Black Queer Library, Qingsland became a website focused on Black and Brown LGBTQ+ people and their experiences, with a focus on Masculine presented identities. I came across an amazing archive called Lesbian Herstory, Black Lesbians in the 70’s and before ’. It showed the diversity of gender nonconformity within the lesbian community. It became clear that, even though scattered on the internet, the archives still existed and they became a place where I was able to find myself. Within the recent years I have seen the changes of what I found in these archives becoming mainstream. The international sensation of RuPaul's drag show, and the creativity around Lil Nas X music videos allowed for conversations around self-expression through the context of entertainment. Drag shows on-and-off television showed a form of political activism and resistance surrounding the gender binary. Shortly after, the rise of the Black Lives Matter Movement, created space for change where conversations and actions about the treatment of not only Black people, but Black and Brown LGBTQ+ and specifically Trans people became mainstream. The marches in the UK, EU and US were filled with the original pride flag made by Baker, but joined with two adapted flags, one being the flag introducing the Black and Brown stripes, created by Amber Hikes and the other the progressive Pride flag made by Daniel Quasar. It sparked the global LGBTQ+ community to stand up, with unfortunately losses of people within the global LGBTQ+ community. Sarah Hegasi’s powerful photo sparked the hashtag #RaisetheflagforSarah on social media which extended the understanding of LGBTQ+ lives under threat in the Middle East and continued to steer the debate on LGBTQ+ rights and the freedom to live. Social media quickly became the tool to see and understand the conditions of people and how to support the global movement of LGBTQ+ lives. In hindsight it is surprising that in the midst of all of this, I felt ready to come out as non-binary, I accessed private Trans care and started my journey with Testosterone; or maybe it wasn’t. The push for the freedom and existence of LGBTQIA+ lives around the world, allowed me to push myself out of the fear and step into the existence of my transness. It gave the understanding that I should not wait or be weighed down by the expectations of the gender binary and move with the understanding of my energies and trusted that the people who understood my energy would simply come along. I wonder if without the uproar and fight of the global movement, and the use of social media, there would have been no change for me. Today we are still seeing the continued fight for liberation for the LGBTQ+ community, with more and more allies in our corner, learning how to use their privilege to engage in the movement and utilize their power, showing various athletes like Chris Eubank, Harry Kane and Hamilton showing their support through armbands and their social media. With the impact of the internet and social media with the use of symbolism and iconography, the understanding of how cultures around the world includes transgender, gender fluid and non-conforming individuals in their history and their present, means that there has always been and will always be a place for us in the future. Zee Monteiro (they/them) Zee is a writer, host, facilitator, and consultant with a focus on LGBTQ+ rights, anti-racism, Intersectionality and Neurodiversity. Zee is dedicated to promoting inclusion and equity, and is well-regarded for their ability to engage and educate diverse audiences on important social and cultural topics. You can find more information about Zee's work here. If you would like to book Zee as a speaker for a workshop or panel event, please get in touch with us via email at hello@wecreatespace.co While you're here... Did you know we consult with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here . New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!

Living with multiple identities that challenge the norms of a cisgender straight heteronormative society can present a labyrinth of emotional and behavioural conflicts. Our guest writer Zee Monteiro reflects on the influences of race, gender and spirituality on their journey to a deeper sense of self. I identify as non-binary, but I will always be a Black woman. by Zee Monteiro It's been a year and a month since I have been on low dose HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy). Six months into my journey when the changes became more apparent, I noticed a worry, a concern in my body. Don’t get me wrong, I was enjoying the lowering of my voice and the muscle growth - but I was worried that I was losing something. Yet I couldn’t really place my emotions with the language to work out what that something actually was. Around the same time, a friend sent over a link to the Black Trans Foundation as they opened up therapy services for Black trans and non-binary individuals. This came perfectly timed, as I was needing to hash out the feelings I was experiencing, and knew that I wanted to do it with a Black Trans therapist who could support me in understanding my emotions holistically - on a personal, spiritual and professional level. A couple of sessions in, during one of our conversations around how my family raised me and the ideas of gender, Blackness, and spirituality, I mentioned something along the lines of “I am non-binary, but I am a Black woman, it's a spirit I cannot and do not want to lose.” My therapist, a Black trans man, nodded. I took a deep breath and realized that this was that something that I was afraid of losing - the spirituality that I received through my Black female body and the womanhood I was brought up in. ''Womanhood has always been denied to Black women, therefore they had to carve their own space.'' I was raised as a Black woman, and my family is filled with Black women who are open, loud and very much present. I remember, as a child, the Sunday morning ritual of being sat between the legs of Black women whilst they braided my hair. Even though I hated it and could never sit still, it was at the same time my most sacred place. I remember being welcomed within the warm hands of Black women. As they held my small face between their hands and looked at me with joy as I grew year by year, I felt their pride through the warmth of their hands. By holding my face, they would let me know that I was safe with them, and that I could see myself in them. There is no other group of people or race that could make me feel as safe as a Black woman would. The older I got the more I understood why, and a lot of it changed around the time that I myself became ‘a young Black woman.’ During puberty I dealt with being adultified by non-white and white women. Men, both Black, white and all in between hypersexualized me and I was a subject of misogynoir. Simultaneously, I felt that I didn’t fully understand what I had been thrown into, and my brain did not grasp the full scope of growing up - but still I pretended as best as I could. I did understand that my experiences were different from women and that I only felt safe in spaces with Black women, yet the way I expressed myself even within Black spaces was not quite ‘the right way.’ I had assumed this was because I was brought up in specifically white spaces during my adolescent years, but in hindsight this conflict around expression was in fact often because of feelings rooted in gender. ''Living in this Black female body and having been subjected to racism, misogynoir, sexism and homophobia, I have performed and conformed my way into femininity and the heteronormative ideas of gender as a means of survival, to fit in and belong. This meant code switching not only in white hetero places, but also Black hetero spaces.'' The reason why I use women, Black women and the notion of womanhood as separate is because they are. Womanhood has always been denied to Black women, therefore they had to carve their own space. You do not have to go as far back as colonialism to see this. In fact you don’t need to look back at all - it is a very current, very visceral reality. Even very recently, shocking videos have surfaced from the Ukrainian borders of Black women and children being denied access on buses attempting to flee a live war zone . While Ukrainian soldiers made sure women and children had access to safety first, Black women and children were left behind. Amidst war and the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter movement, the dehumanization of Black bodies still very much exists. Before I continue, I need to state that when speaking on the self-identification of non-binary, I am referring to the unlearning of European societal standards on gender that has been internalized, and I also believe that there is a difference between race and spirituality in relation to this. There is a lot of debate and theories on what gender is, from theories stating that gender is created through interactions and performances, to other theories that dive into gender as feelings. On theories written on gender, I must constantly be aware that I live within the intersectionality of multiple identities and most theories are written through a white Eurocentric lens, where often spirituality and ancestral memories are yet to be included. On one hand, yes, gender is external and focused on performance and on the other hand gender is a feeling. Both can be true, and even more theories can exist. ''The marginalization and traumas that I have faced and still feel to this day, through the bodies of other Black women, is felt in my body. I feel what they feel, I stand where they stand, I laugh and cry with them. Yet some of them deny me my queerness, some deny me my gender-fluidity. Even though their erasure of my identity hurts me, Black womanhood is my spiritual and cultural safe haven.'' Living in this Black female body and having been subjected to racism, misogynoir, sexism and homophobia, I have performed and conformed my way into femininity and the heteronormative ideas of gender as a means of survival, to fit in and belong. This meant code switching not only in white hetero places, but also Black hetero spaces. I am not alone in this dynamic or the discussion about it. Popular TikTok creators @oujib ug and @annikaizora have mentioned that identifying as non-binary and a Black Woman is indeed possible as they are not mutually exclusive identities - a sentiment I feel aligns and resonates with my own feelings. There is an assumption that I must choose the binary and because I cannot fully align with my Black female body and its energy, I must therefore hate my current body. I do not. I am merely adapting it to align with the multitude of energies I feel. Black trans author, poet and educator J Mase III articulates it well: ''I was not born in the wrong body, I was born in a society that refused to see the capacity of this body.'' I identify as non-binary, but I will always be Black woman, as my experiences that I have are that of Black women. I was raised to be a Black woman and I cannot separate myself from these experiences. The marginalization and traumas that I have faced and still feel to this day, through the bodies of other Black women, is felt in my body. I feel what they feel, I stand where they stand, I laugh and cry with them. Yet some of them deny me my queerness, some deny me my gender-fluidity. Even though their erasure of my identity hurts me, Black womanhood is my spiritual and cultural safe haven. It's not all of me, but a very crucial part of how I make sense of my being and move through the world. ''With the multiple energies I have, as I came to explore and understand my identity, I knew I needed to live within and respect the energies I had been given.'' Again, it isn’t all of me. See, even when they held my small face in their hands as a child and made sure I saw myself in them, I wonder, looking back, if they were able to see all of me? They themselves had the experiences of being a Black woman and I understood the struggles that I was about to face, without yet fully yet understanding the full scope of them. I was raised with the understanding of the Eve Gene, the start of civilization through the African female body. The Ankh, creating a unity amongst Black women and tying their spiritual roots of the female body and femininity to Africa. Yet in understanding and co-existing in these spaces, my masculinity felt as powerful, it was an energy that was separate. Not one that overpowers the other but to co-exist with it, similar to the functions of our muscles and bones. Where bones shape and help us stand straight, whilst muscles, which are attached to our bones, help us walk, smile and run. One cannot function without the other, they must work in unity to move. ''Psychological, emotional and psychosocial warfare has, and still is being waged amongst Black bodies and specifically Black women. I cannot conform to this reality - as it will not save me, nor do I want it.'' The masculinity I speak about here should be seen as separate to the ideas of masculinity that society puts on Black women. This type of masculinity is described through the White supremacy lens and set towards the hatred of Black women. The energy I speak about exceeds the patriarchy, as energy itself is older than it. Our bodies hold onto energies that are older than we might be aware of, epigenetic research has shown that intergenetics and ancestral memories have more of an impact on our bodies than we realize. With the multiple energies I have, as I came to explore and understand my identity, I knew I needed to live within and respect the energies I had been given. The article The splendor of Gender non-conformity in Africa states: Shaman Malidoma Somé of the Dagaaba Tribe of Ghana says that that gender to the tribe is not dependent upon sexual anatomy.“It is purely energetic. In that context, one who is physically male can vibrate female energy, and vice versa. That is where the real gender is.” Often in villages it was not your sex that determined your role, but your skills, your energy and ultimately what you were able to contribute to the village that determined who you were. ''Each part has a role to play in my existence in this body. One cannot exist without the other, just like the sun cannot live without the moon.'' Psychological, emotional and psychosocial warfare has, and still is being waged amongst Black bodies and specifically Black women. I cannot conform to this reality - as it will not save me, nor do I want it. I cannot let the western societal norms, which have also been taken over by many Black individuals, tell me how to move within my own body. Especially the norms which deem women as lesser than, are centered around anti-blackness, or where there is hatred towards LGBTQ+ individuals. My spiritual and emotional experiences with Black womanhood and with my gender nonconformity fuels one another. Each part has a role to play in my existence in this body. One cannot exist without the other, just like the sun cannot live without the moon. References: Butler J (1990) Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. (Abingdon: Routledge) Langer S.J (2018) Theorizing Transgender Identity for Clinical Practice: A new model for understanding gender. (JKP) Wolynn M (2017) It didn’t start with you. (Penguin Books) Photography by Ayahtah Ayahtah About Zee Monteiro: Zee (they/she) is a writer and poet. Both in their writing and poems they challenge the reader to reflect and engage on topics relating to Blackness, Spirituality, Transness & Female Masculinity. Explore Zee's work: qingsland.com alignedpurpose.co Connect with Zee: @qingsland

Insights on optimising leadership engagement in DEI from our latest WCS Insights Report. Co-authored by Coda Nicolaeff This article is part of a series diving deeper into the We Create Space Insights Report | DEI Insights & Trends in 2025 . In this instalment, we explore how leadership engagement is pivotal to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Leadership engagement is the foundation of successful DEI initiatives. Leaders, from C-suite executives to line managers, influence the strategic direction of DEI and its perceived importance within the organisation. With 82% of business executives identifying diversity initiatives as critical to their strategies, leadership’s role in embedding DEI into performance metrics and decision-making has never been more vital. Practitioners agree: without active and accountable leadership, DEI efforts risk being perceived as superficial and ineffective. Securing Buy-In: Balancing External and Internal Pressures Practitioners noted that securing leadership buy-in often requires leveraging both external client expectations and internal organisational needs. External pressures, such as diversity metrics in RFPs, have become powerful motivators for leadership investment in DEI. “ In most organisations, there is no one way to approach securing buy-in… Sometimes it’s about doing what’s right from a social perspective, other times it’s making the economic argument… And often, it’s the client perspective that drives it.” - Practitioner in law Internally, linking DEI to tangible outcomes like employee retention and engagement strengthens leadership commitment. Practitioners emphasised that DEI must align with long-term organisational goals rather than reacting solely to external demands. “Traditionally, DEI is seen as non-revenue generating. So when it comes to leadership, I try to hit them where it hurts—their P&L. I focus on metrics, like retention… Metrics like these have really made a difference for us as a business.” - Practitioner in entertainment Partnering with Leadership: Accountability and Continuous Communication Embedding DEI into leadership accountability measures is essential for sustained engagement. Tying DEI outcomes to performance evaluations ensures that leaders at all levels remain committed and responsible for their contributions. “How do we actually hold leaders to account? A lot of us still haven’t reached that stage… Getting that balance right is really tricky.” - Practitioner in travel Continuous communication between DEI teams and leadership was identified as a key strategy for maintaining momentum. Practitioners recommended providing regular updates—even when leadership is not actively seeking them—to keep DEI on the agenda. “We need to communicate our impact as much as possible… Structurally and for leadership, it’s crucial to receive feedback on what employees like, not just what frustrates or disappoints them.” - Practitioner in private membership Moulding Leaders into Advocates: Leveraging Strengths and Visibility Practitioners acknowledged that not all leaders are natural DEI advocates but emphasised the importance of leveraging their existing strengths. By aligning DEI with leaders’ skills—whether in marketing, sales, or operations—practitioners can drive engagement and advocacy. “There will always be people whose minds you can’t change… So how do I tie it to something they do care about? That’s been a challenge for me, but I’ve started to focus on leveraging leaders’ strengths… It’s less about filling gaps and more about utilising strengths to get leadership more engaged in DEI.” - Practitioner in technology Visible and proactive leadership also sets the tone for organisational culture. Examples such as “real talk” sessions, where leaders discuss personal challenges like mental health or substance recovery, create safe spaces for dialogue and demonstrate genuine commitment to inclusion. “What’s been quite powerful is this series of real talks… Leaders talking about vulnerable topics… That really creates space for others to say, 'Okay, if this individual can get up and share, maybe I can too.'” - Practitioner in finance The Path Forward To strengthen leadership engagement and foster meaningful DEI progress, organisations should focus on both strategic alignment and cultural transformation: Integrate DEI into Leadership Metrics:   Tie DEI progress to KPIs and performance reviews, ensuring accountability for diversity, inclusion, and talent retention at all leadership levels. Leverage External Pressures:   Use client and industry demands for diversity to drive leadership buy-in, linking DEI initiatives to business outcomes like securing bids and enhancing reputation. Offer Ongoing Support:   Provide leaders with continuous development opportunities, such as workshops, mentoring, and peer learning, to strengthen inclusive leadership and accountability. Ensure Regular Updates:   Share consistent DEI progress updates with leadership, highlighting successes and areas for improvement to maintain engagement and urgency. By embedding these practices, organisations can ensure that leadership engagement transitions from a strategic imperative to an intrinsic part of organisational culture, driving sustainable and impactful DEI outcomes. This article is part of the We Create Space Insights Report | DEI Insights & Trends in 2025  series. To learn more, check out the full report here . Stay tuned for further instalments that explore practitioner insights on leadership, global challenges, and wellbeing in DEI work. While you're here... Did you know we consult with Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here . New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!

Facilitator Ora Özer shares why LGBTQ+ wellness experiences like Queer Retreats are so important. Ora is a community strategist at Omek, and a founding member of Periferia Cimarronas, an Afrocentric creative space and theater in Barcelona. She is a certified meditation teacher and coach, a seasoned D&I consultant with over a decade of experience in the film industry, and has extensive experience as a mentor and facilitator. Ora supports creatives, leaders, and changemakers in crafting bolder and bigger visions for the future and walk the steps to reach them. Her mission is to restore agency to those who've lost it and to foster and nurture communities where we learn, support each other, and collectively craft a shared vision of a thriving world that embraces us all. As a Queer Retreats facilitator, Ora was kind enough to share with us their perspectives on why wellness spaces like Queer Retreats are so important for the LGBTQ+ community. [Retreats] are a time where you can walk away from the world, work on something and then come back to the world with something changed within you. It's a very unique opportunity. - Ora Özer I remember as a teenager in a fast-paced world, dealing with studies and exams, I felt like life was like a train and I wish it stopped at some point, just so I could catch a breath. And then I found meditation and it was the first time that I felt, this is stopping the train. I stop the train... Retreats are the next level, this is really stopping time. It's enough to go back to the world and feel recharged. - Ora Özer Ora reflected on how important it is for LGBTQ+ individuals to feel able to show up as their full selves. In a holistic wellness space especially, feeling the need to compartmentalise aspects of our self will limit our ability to recharge and connect with ourselves and others. While our participants come from all different walks of life, their shared queerness creates commonality across life experiences and as Ora explains, this often creates a sense of instant safety. The tendency with minorities is that our struggle tends to overpower the conversation. There's such a focus on what's painful, what needs to change, what needs to move forward. And that is very important, I'm not saying it's not. What I'm saying is we need spaces to recalibrate, to rebalance, to show ourselves that beauty also belongs to us. Queerness is not just fight and survival. - Ora Özer If you’re a queer professional or leader feeling the weight of burnout, isolation, or the need to reconnect to your purpose—our wellness experiences are built with you in mind. Find your retreat. 📌 Stay connected: Follow us on Instagram: @ queer.retreats Explore more: www.queertretreats.com Sign up to our newsletter While you're here... Did you know we consult with Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here . New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter  so you can stay up to date!

New exclusive sessions with emotional intelligence trainer JD Valladares-Williams in time for Hispanic Heritage month. We’re thrilled to announce an exclusive partnership with JD Valladares-Williams  from EQ Me. JD is a People Development Expert with 15+ years of experience creating data-driven learning programs and facilitating dialogues infused with popular culture and storytelling. JD specializes in behavior change theory, instructional design, and program evaluation. JD combined their lived experience as a queer immigrant from Peru with their education, including a Master’s Degree in Psychology, to create a framework for increasing emotional intelligence. JD was also a 2025 WCS Awards awardee in the category of Corporate and Workplace Inclusion! Emotional intelligence (also known as emotional quotient or EQ) is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges, and defuse conflict. It can also help you to have meaningful relationships with yourself and your community while turning values and intentions into action.  Timed with Hispanic Heritage Month  (Sept. 15–Oct. 15) and LGBT History Month  (October), EQ Me offers an uplifting exploration of identity, culture, and community where fun meets deep, impactful learning. Their new fall offerings celebrate intersectionality and lived experience through interactive, story-driven sessions designed to engage teams, spark conversations, and inspire lasting inclusion.  The 2025 theme for Hispanic Heritage Month is "Collective Heritage: Honouring the Past, Inspiring the Future." Available sessions: 1st Person + Q&A (60 min) JD shares his Queer Latine journey and how living in Peru, emigrating to the U.S at 10, and moving to Spain at 25 shaped his identities, followed by Q&A. - Webinar or fireside chat with Q&A - Visual storytelling of personal journey - Themes: Immigration, Queerness, Latinidad Stories + Reflections   (60 min) A brief photo and video history of LGBTQ Latine historical figures Sylvia Rivera, Willi Ninja, and Lorena Borjas, followed by small group reflections. - Micro-keynote with small group prompts - Audio/video storytelling of historical figures - Themes: Civil Rights, Pop Culture, Immigration Game & Action (60 min) A jeopardy-style gameshow covering LGBTQ+ Latine terminology, trends, milestones, and figures, followed by small group action planning. - Jeopardy-style heritage/pop culture questions - Teams followed by small group planning - Themes: Latinidad, Queerness, Awareness EQ’ing Machismo (60 min) A review of machismo and its impact, EQ tools to disrupt it, and a self-awareness exercise, followed by small group peer-to-peer learning. - Micro-keynote, reflection, connection - Topic, individual prompt, group sharing - Themes: Masculinity, Social Norms, Identity Interested in booking one of these sessions? Get in touch at hello@wecreatespace.co or book a call with our Managing Director Jon-Paul Vicari. While you're here... Did you know we consult with Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here . New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter  so you can stay up to date!

Sevi and Michael discuss how kindness is foundational to Queer Leadership. In this powerful episode, hosts Michael and Sevi explore what it truly means to be a queer leader in 2025. Discover how: Kindness & active listening become superpowers Building community means meeting people where they are Vulnerability shatters outdated leadership myths Creating safe spaces for queer artists changes the world Whether you're a queer professional, ally, or aspiring leader, this conversation offers profound insight on authentic leadership, intentional community, and the courage it takes to make space in mainstream arenas. New episodes of UNLOCK drop bi-weekly. Don’t forget to subscribe and share with your community. 📌 Stay connected: Follow us on Instagram: @unlockworld.co Explore more: www.unlockworld.co While you're here... Did you know we consult with Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here . New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter  so you can stay up to date!

Ora and Alex explore how creative imagination is integral to Queer Leadership. Unlock: The Queer Leadership Podcast welcomes you to a candid, inspiring conversation with Ora and Alex. In this episode, they explore what makes a queer leader: the ability to see something before it exists—and to bring it into being with others. Discover how personal experience, identity, and creative imagination fuel queer-led vision Learn why holding bold dreams isn’t naive—it’s radical See how Become the Vision programs empower queer professionals to rediscover and act on authentic desires Gain tools like future self-meditation and communal support to dissolve internal barriers If you’re committed to turning inner longing into powerful impact, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more queer leadership insights and sign up at unlockworld.co to deepen your journey. New episodes of UNLOCK drop bi-weekly. Don’t forget to subscribe and share with your community. 📌 Stay connected: Follow us on Instagram: @unlockworld.co Explore more: www.unlockworld.co While you're here... Did you know we consult with Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here . New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter  so you can stay up to date!

We delve into our partnership with RuMU Beauty, who helped us celebrate the LGBTQ+ community at WCS Awards 2025 through product sponsorship. Overview In June 2025, the WCS Queer Leaders Awards and Pride Gala celebrated changemakers who are reshaping the world through authenticity, courage, and connection. Behind the glamour and storytelling of the evening, one partnership stood out not only for its generosity, but for the deep alignment between brand mission and community impact. RuMU Beauty, the non-binary skincare brand founded in Barcelona didn’t just sponsor our event. They infused it with soul. Among the night’s honorees were Gerard Solé and Egon Crivillers, the visionary duo behind RuMU Beauty, who were awarded the title of Queer Leaders in Media & Creative Influence for their radical reimagination of skincare and their advocacy for identity-affirming beauty. RuMU also played a pivotal role behind the scenes, partnering with We Create Space to deliver beautifully crafted gift bags for both the Awards and Pride Gala and the Awardees Dinner, offering not just products but a gesture of queer care. This case study explores how our collaboration with RuMU transformed a product drop into a moment of visibility, community, and shared values. Collaboration Objectives: The RuMU x WCS Awards collaboration was rooted in shared recognition and purpose. Our goals were to: Celebrate RuMU Beauty and its founders, Gerard and Egon, as recipients of the 2025 WCS Award for Media & Creative Influence. Showcase RuMU’s philosophy of radically honest, genderless skincare to a global LGBTQIA+ audience Offer meaningful gifts that reflect the power of queer creativity, delivered through two curated product experiences. Uplift a small, independent queer-owned brand and demonstrate how intentional partnerships can amplify shared missions "For me, queer leadership is about creating spaces of welcome in a world that rewards division. It’s about holding space for complexity, queerness, and joy. Being seen by WCS, an organisation that truly understands that, felt powerful and deeply aligned."   - Gerard Solé, RuMU Beauty co-founder Partnership Deliverables: RuMU generously provided their entire full-size product line , tailored to each activation: Awardees Dinner Gift Bag : 55 x 2 full-size facial skincare products (core RuMU formulas) → Designed for a deeply personal, curated experience → Plus branded stickers, identity-affirming postcards, and their “how-to” skincare booklet Gala Goodie Bags for Guests : 150 x 2 full-size lip products in RuMU’s signature aesthetic → Plus branded stickers, identity-affirming postcards, and their “how-to” skincare booklet All products were provided at no cost: an extraordinary gesture from a small independent brand led by creatives committed to community impact. " Getting skincare from a queer-owned brand at a queer awards ceremony just made sense. It was a reminder that our community creates excellence in every space. "   - Cindy (she/her), WCS Community member Audience & Impact: Each event offered a unique touchpoint with our community: Awardees Dinner:  An intimate evening gathering with global queer leaders, creatives, and advocates. The setting allowed for deeper brand engagement, meaningful conversations, and gifting rooted in shared values. Queer Leader Award Ceremony & Pride Gala:  A large-scale celebration hosting 150+ guests, including press, cultural partners, influencers, and allies. RuMU’s presence in each gift bag created a lasting emotional and tactile memory for all attendees. "We felt it was right [to provide full size products]. These weren’t “PR samples” for a campaign. They were gifts, from one queer story to another.." - Gerard Solé, RuMU Beauty co-founder Opportunities for RuMU This wasn’t just a product placement: it was a positioning moment. RuMU gained: Visibility and credibility among a highly engaged, international queer audience Association with a globally recognised queer and community-led platform Recognition as 2025 Queer Leaders in Media & Creative Influence Ongoing media potential, with inclusion in blog recaps, visual assets, and future digital storytelling by WCS Key Challenges Managing logistics and deadlines across two different events and formats Balancing scale vs. capacity as a boutique brand offering full-size gifts Customising the brand experience for two very different types of guests without compromising integrity "Community can be currency. Socially-aware initiatives can be loud, and showing up with integrity is priceless in today’s world."   - Egon Crivillers, RuMU Beauty co-founder Solutions & Success Factors Transparent communication and close coordination between RuMU and WCS teams Tailored packaging and messaging that made each audience feel seen Extended community offer: RuMU also launched a 7-day, 25% discount for the WCS community post-awards, extending impact beyond the event. Quick reactivity: RuMU moved fast, delivering everything on time and with care despite being a small team. Tailored experiences: Awardees received reflective skincare sets; gala guests got joyful lip products and playful extras. Full-circle alignment between RuMU’s mission (radically honest skincare with a queer soul) and WCS’s celebration of authentic queer leadership " Opening my gift bag and finding RuMU products felt like more than a present, it was a nod to who I am. "   - Nicolas (he/him), WCS Community Member Outcomes & ROI Strong emotional response from awardees and guests, many of whom expressed gratitude for the thoughtfulness and quality of RuMU’s products Organic amplification through attendee content, social sharing, and gift bag reveals Brand credibility boost through alignment with a reputable community-led platform Long-tail exposure via WCS email campaigns and upcoming blog articles featuring the partnership " Every time I use it, it reminds me of that night and the people I celebrated with. "   - Cécile (they/them), WCS Queer Leader Awardee 2025 Key Learnings This partnership reminded us that impact is not about scale, but intention.  Authentic partnerships create ripple effects beyond the moment of exchange. For small queer-led brands, generosity can be a powerful form of storytelling. Dual-activation formats offer a meaningful way to speak to different audiences while holding onto brand identity. At its core, this collaboration was a love letter to community care. RuMU didn’t just show up: they showed us  what it means to build queer future, and it resonated deeply with what we celebrated this year, with our 5th anniversary!  While you're here... Did you know we consult with Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here . New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!

Eva Echo and Saba Ali share the story behind their tribunal win and the important legal precedent it sets for the trans community in the UK. Content Warning: This article contains mention of an eating disorder relapse, as well as in depth discussion of a court case motivated by transphobia. In March 2023, Eva Echo and Saba Ali delivered a Trans Day of Visibility event for the Metropolitan Police. The two became embroiled in a legal tribunal after an employee of the Met complained that the event constituted discrimination and harassment against her on account of her ‘gender-critical’ beliefs. The employee lost their case which is a huge win for the trans+ community and the LGBTQIA+ community at large, as the UK continues to see a flurry of new anti-trans tribunals and court cases. As members of the We Create Space collective, we sat down with Eva and Saba to discuss their experiences, what the outcome of the tribunal means for future trans legal battles and how the LGBTQIA+ community can better work together to fight for trans+ rights. Eva Echo (she/they) is a prominent activist, writer, and public speaker with a passionate focus on transgender rights and mental health. She has previously taken legal action against NHS England in the High Court, challenging the unlawful waiting times for trans patients and sits on the Crown Prosecution Service’s hate crime panel. Saba Ali (she/her) is an award-winning and distinguished advocate specialising in intersectionality, cultural abuse, and the challenges faced by marginalized communities. She works as a critical friend to institutions like the Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police Service. WCS: How did this situation begin? Were you surprised when you heard the TDOV event would become the subject of an employment tribunal case? Saba: I started working as a critical friend to the Metropolitan Police Service about 4 years ago. I was working as a community stakeholder engaging with different officers, from new recruits to sergeants, inspectors, senior leadership, advising them on the LGBTQIA+ community, especially marginalized people within that community. I had a specific interest in platforming the needs of the trans community, as trans people have always been part of my life.  I never, ever thought that speaking as a community stakeholder, and speaking at the Met Police would mean that my name will become subject to an employment tribunal. A similar Trans Day of Visibility event the year before had gone really well, so it's not like we were walking into the unknown. It was really unexpected.  Eva: Speaking at that event, I thought the day went well, that it was needed, and I was really grateful that the Met had held it. You go to these events thinking the organizers have sorted everything, that it's going to be a safe event. So we didn't think anything of it, and then to find that our names are part of a tribunal was shocking. A tribunal is big, you've got to have exhausted all other avenues before it heads down that route. I just couldn't understand how it got to this. There was a bit of foreshadowing, because we had been contacted before by a Daily Mail reporter who wrote a hit piece about me. Even after that hit piece, and the hate I got in the aftermath,  I thought that would be it. I didn't think it would rumble on for two years. Saba: I was really disappointed at the fact that we were told 10 days before the tribunal on a Friday, so there were two weekends, literally 5 working days to get any advice. We were told by a Commander that; you've got nothing to worry about your name's just in the bundle of evidence - this is about the event and not about you. So we were completely misguided. Eva: When it came to safeguarding there was nothing. It was when a well-known anti-trans journalist from the Telegraph contacted us I realised how serious it was. That they will drag this out all over social media, amplified by the mainstream media. The way we were treated was disgusting. WCS: The two of you are no strangers to interacting with Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) designed to provide support and community for marginalised employees. How do you feel about the fact that the Met Police established a gender-critical staff network in response to the detective’s complaints?  Eva: I understand why, because of the pressure, especially after Maya Forstater’s tribunal ruling that being gender critical is a belief. But, I think more needs to be done to push back against it. You could say that being anti-black or anti South Asian is a belief, and therefore where does it end? ERG’s exist to represent the employees, they're supposed to be constructive, positive and for the benefit of everybody, not just the people within those groups. Saba: I think it is quite shocking, I'm not aware of any other institution that has a gender critical staff network. It shows no care or concern for trans employees or employees with trans loved ones within the Met Police.  One thing that disappointed me the most was the fact that this gender critical staff association was set up with no consultation with the LGBTQIA+ staff association or with the women's network. There was no community impact assessment, it was just signed off by a Chief Inspector who knew absolutely nothing about the trans community, let alone the LGBTQIA+ community, because it would look good in court. WCS: Anti-trans individuals have had several high profile legal wins in UK courts recently, at the expense of the rights and dignity of trans people, what does this outcome mean to you personally? And do you think this case may provide a blueprint for future trans+ legal wins?  Eva: I'm relieved. Honestly, I did not think we'd win. It's hope for the community to know that anti-trans campaigners aren't invincible. They're well-funded, well structured, well organised, and it’s easy for them to just keep firing out tribunals anywhere and everywhere, but we all need to stand firm. This particular tribunal was essentially trying to mirror Maya Forstater’s employment tribunal, but they lost. One very crucial part of the judgment was that she chose to put herself in that situation. It was a voluntary event, like a lunch and learn. Knowing her affiliation with the topic, she chose to join, and therefore it will set a precedent for future arguments like this. As an anti-trans person, are you going out of your way to put yourself into a situation that you know goes against what you believe so you can paint yourself as the victim? Saba: This process was two years of emotional torture. When Women's Rights Network first complained about the case in 2023 they complained to our clients, about us online and in the MSM. Because nothing happened after the complainant raised a complaint within the Met, she went straight for an employment tribunal rather than follow the internal complaints procedure, which took place in March this year. So everything was regurgitated, and we had to deal with everything for a second time, but much worse. I can't explain the level of elation to just know that we beat them. We just need to be ourselves, come together, support each other. The trans community does have a voice, we've beaten anti-trans campaigners today, and we can beat them in other cases. WCS: How has participating in this tribunal affected your wellbeing and your work? Do you have any advice for others undergoing or preparing to undergo similar legal battles? Eva: Yes, for me it's been chipping away at my mental health in a very detrimental way. I didn't realise until it finally caught up with me. It's this idea of being pulled into a tribunal, having your name dragged through the mud, being spoken about, and having no control over the narrative. That loss of control from the tribunal contributed towards a major relapse for my eating disorder. The case is now over but the struggle with the eating disorder still continues. On top of that I’m scared of going back on social media because of receiving so much hate. My own profile should be a safe space, but it isn’t. For others going through a situation like this, make sure you have a good network around you people that can protect you, like Saba has for me. She's shielded me from awful things, filtered out the rubbish and given me positive updates. It’s paramount to have someone to talk to, because it can feel like such a lonely process.  Saba: I suffer with high blood pressure, during the case I developed hypertension, my blood pressure was over 200 throughout the entire tribunal. I'm struggling so much at the moment with mental and physical fatigue. I feel like I've been rinsed and put through a mangle.  I have to thank TransPALS, an amazing trans organisation who listened to the whole tribunal and went through all the tweets and social media for us. We were really lucky to have them, and a few other people that really supported us by checking in regularly like Lady Phyll and Mzz Kimberley, offering advice and keeping our spirits up. Having those people gave me strength to get through each day.  To anyone going through a similar situation, I say if you're not in a good place mentally, if you're not feeling strong, I would get someone else to either cover for you or wait. If you're looking to take someone to court, you can wait and not do it straight away, because it does take it out of you. I have made a formal complaint to the police about the way we were treated, and the lack of support we received. Everything we've had to deal with is because of their inept way of dealing with the initial complaint. It's a real learning lesson for the Met police, how they support community stakeholders. They're very quick at asking communities for support and help, what we think, yet when it comes to a duty of care for us they walk away. WCS: This case has received minimal coverage both from the mainstream media and LGBTQ+ specific news sources, why do you think this is?  Eva: A few other things had happened around this time, so attention was on that, but at the same time this is a huge piece of news. I think that queer media needs to take a step back and think about prioritising the positives for our community. A positive isn't always about a celebrity who's endorsed trans rights. We need to amplify what the community is actually doing, because that's so much more powerful when it comes to creating unity and support. From the mainstream media point of view it's pretty obvious why this win hasn’t been covered, because it goes against the narrative that they've all spent years creating. Saba: There is so much negativity towards the trans community, and reporting on this win would have been an opportunity to cultivate hope. To say that Sex Matters, one of the largest anti-trans hate groups, lost in court trying to erase Trans Day of Visibility. The Met’s key witness, a trans man, pretty much single-handedly won this case. He was phenomenal in court. He was deadnamed by the claimant’s barrister and misgendered throughout the case but remained professional and won. To think that our own media couldn't be bothered to report that is such a shame. Eva: This could have been really helpful for other people to know that if something happens whilst working for a company they know the protections they have. A tribunal win like this goes a long way to show people that you can win. WCS: In a time where community is more important than ever, what do you want to see as an immediate change within the LGBTQ+ community to have stronger and more visible  solidarity? Saba: We need to put our differences aside and start coming together, working together. There are a lot of fractures within the community, and a lot of ‘I don't like this person, I don't like that person.’ If we all came together like 100,000 people did for London Trans Pride, left our paraphernalia and differences outside and came in the room with one purpose, one mission - we could silence the anti-trans groups. How amazing and powerful would that be? We'd be invincible. Eva: I think there are so many factors, such as groups working in silos. We need to stop and realise that no one single handedly can fix this, it will take unity.  If there are people or groups out there thinking I don't need to adapt, I don't need to change anything, then I'm sorry to say, but they’re part of the problem. The situation is ever evolving, and we need to always be adapting to it. Putting differences aside can be so healing; you grow as a person, but you also grow in terms of your network, who you have access to, who you can lean on, who has your back. Saba: We’ve got to put egos aside and compassion first. Some of my work is around restorative justice and I'm a real believer that you need to sometimes look beyond the differences. Find a common neutral ground and work from there. The common neutral ground here is to make trans people visible, to restore trans rights, restore their human rights to make sure that trans voices are heard. Eventually, what's happening to the trans community will affect every single one of us and that's what people need to understand. A note from the We Create Space Team:  Sharing stories from our community is embedded into the foundation of our work and this story is no exception. Saba and Eva deserve to be heard. Their struggle is everyone’s struggle. Their victory is everyone's victory. For our team, this interview is one step we are taking to provide hope in a time when it feels far from us. It’s also a reminder that we each have the capacity to be an ally to someone in our community and that there cannot be liberation for only some of us. We want to thank Saba and Eva for trusting us to share their story and encourage you to share it as well.  As an organisation committed to supporting, empowering, and platforming LGBTQ+ people, we are calling on everyone to find meaningful ways to be allies to the trans+ community. For more ways to explore your own allyship, here are some curated resources from us.  Fostering trans community care amidst anti-trans legislation. The Cost of Being Trans. Prioritising Trans Allyship in Our Queer Future. Community Building 101 | Inclusion with Trans+ History Week and QueerAF. How to interrupt microaggressions in the workplace. LGBTQ+ Inclusion: Free Online Course While you're here... Did you know we consult with Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here . New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter  so you can stay up to date!

Bringing Queer perspectives to an international audience at the Festival of Consciousness in Barcelona. This year We Create Space partnered with The Festival of Consciousness in Barcelona to deliver two events as part of the festival's annual programme. The Festival of Consciousness is a non-profit association made up of entities and people who promote the transformation of consciousness in the world through genuine collaboration. They aim to foster human evolution through transformation, knowledge, discernment, and self-exploration. Aligned with our mission to Learn, Connect and Grow, we crafted our events for FoC with the aim of exposing their audience to the new ideas and fresh perspectives that our Queer lens can provide - an approach we have honed through our events and consultancy work with over 180 businesses across the globe . As the FoC's D&I partner we didn’t just produce sessions, but helped embed inclusion across the event with tailored DEI training in Spanish for the festival teams across all levels, including organisers, management, logistic, hospitality, production, volunteers and facilitators. Building inclusion and a sense of belonging every step of the way, we helped the FoC foster a diverse and inclusive experience for their audience, as well as attract new visitors. WCS CEO and Founder Michael Stephens delivered a panel discussion and Q&A with Ora Özer and Timothy Lowenhaupt on "The Power of Community-Driven Transformative Experiences". Our staple Queer Speed Networking event returned in a special Queers & Allies edition. We Create Space x Festival of Consciousness The Power of Community-Driven Transformative Experiences, facilitated by Michael Stephens with Ora Özer and Timothy Lowenhaupt | The Laundry Temple Speed Networking: Queers & Allies Edition hosted by   Sevi Koppe  | The Blessed Garage Photos by Salva Garrigues and Tripod Land While you're here... Did you know we consult with Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here . New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!

Jourdan Hussein shares what he took away from attending an LGBTQ+ wellness experience by Queer Retreats. Jourdan is a globally trained and ICF-certified Executive/Founders Coach, specializing in tech startups and supporting underrepresented founders and CXOs, including those from socioeconomically, racially diverse, and LGBTQ+ communities. With an MBA from Stanford, and MPP from Oxford, he merges practical coaching theories and psychological frameworks, diverse leadership experiences, and somatic insights to empower leaders to navigate significant leadership scaling and organizational shifts. Inspired by his transformative experiences with sacred plant medicines, he advocates for deep inner work and inclusivity. He also invests in startups with disruptive missions and organizes LGBTQ+ healing retreats to foster growth and belonging. Jourdan recently joined us for a Queer Retreats wellbeing experience and was kind enough to share with us what she took away from her stay at Casa De Colores. Everything has been handled very well, impeccably. The food has been amazing, the nature is breath-taking, the activities are very nourishing and thought-provoking, heart-provoking and body-nourishing as well. - Jourdan Hussein The discussion was so rich, with so many Queer Leaders from so many different backgrounds, coming from so many different countries, genders, identities, socioeconomic status and professions. That was the rich tapestry which composed this retreat. It's what makes this retreat really meaningful and insightful. - Jourdan Hussein Jordan reflected on how deeply impacted he was by the retreat's reframing of joy, realising it is something innate that lives within us which we can cultivate, rather than something we must seek out from external forces. As queer people we have suffered a lot from marginalisation, stigmatisation, persecution, violence and misunderstanding. And yet we can still find those inner resources, that inner reservoir of joy that is so unlimited, it's divine." - Jourdan Hussein Jourdan joined our "Reclaiming Joy" retreat, which invites participants to reconnect with their essential nature, reclaiming their joy, well-being, and personal power as a means to navigate challenging circumstances. Through inner awareness, reflection, and practical tools, we guide participants on how to cultivate resilience and safeguard their mental health as Queer people, while fostering strength to face life's difficulties with renewed clarity and peace. If you’re a queer professional or leader feeling the weight of burnout, isolation, or the need to reconnect to your purpose—our wellness experiences are built with you in mind. Find your retreat. 📌 Stay connected: Follow us on Instagram: @ queer.retreats Explore more: www.queertretreats.com Sign up to our newsletter While you're here... Did you know we consult with Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here . New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter  so you can stay up to date!

Neil Hudson-Basing shares how to maximise event engagement through impact-driven comms. It’s been months of planning and you’ve just delivered a great event. The feedback was brilliant. Done & dusted. You’re onto the next… and repeat. That’s often the way it is for many event and community organisers but the reality is that this approach simply doesn’t build effective, long term or sustainable engagement, communities or impact. Picture this scenario: An awareness day rolls around, you host an event, maybe even using an external partner like WCS to educate and inspire your teams. It's well received at the moment but then you’re left wondering, did it create lasting change? The honest answer is unlikely. Sound familiar? No shade… we’ve done it too! Personally, it’s something I’ve been guilty of during my almost 20 years in the events industry. But we should know by now that the way we deliver and harness events as a force for positive change needs to shift if the work we’re doing is going to achieve the desired results. This gap between the success of a single event and enacting meaningful long term culture change is something we need to and can solve together. We recently launched our 2025 DEI Communications Toolkit . It’s a three-step, actionable guide focusing on the importance of evolving our comms around DEI in order to get buy-in, work around internal walls and overcome scrutiny in the face of a polarized political climate and pressure to rebrand or soften DEI language altogether. It’s driven by both quantitative & qualitative evidence and if you haven’t, you should definitely check it out This article is an accompanying resource focusing on tips & tools for amplifying the event experiences for your audiences to support you in your cultural transformation, inclusion efforts, and more broadly the employee experience. Bring the audience in sooner. Ask yourself these questions… Can the audience see themselves in the story you’re trying to tell? Either through the messaging, tone of voice or visual imagery? What you’re putting out there should be clear, inviting and make everyone feel included. Authentic collaboration & co-production is key! Are you making it clear why the audience should attend, or what they’ll get out of attending? It’s ok to literally outline this in bullet points. We’re living in an information-overload era - attendees appreciate this being spelt out for them. Up your comms and get people on board. Schedule some keep warm comms and reminders via both email and social media to create hype. Get creative. Ask your speakers to provide a punchy quote to feature alongside a headshot to showcase what attendees can expect to hear from them - it’s a great tool for storytelling and promotion. Why not invite your attendees to submit questions ahead of the event? Get them thinking about their own voice and role in the story! At We Create Space we’ve seen a boost in registration to attendance conversion with this and our average event attendance now sits at around 52% for free events. Factor in building momentum from the start of your event planning. Invite attendees upon registration to share their LinkedIn profiles if they want to be connected with other attendees post-event.  It removes some of the onus & awkwardness of exchanging details during the event. It’s a practice that bolsters your reputation for facilitating new connections and community building. Plan out your calls to action, resources documents, save the dates and take-aways in advance, to create a more cohesive journey for attendees. Think about how you’re going to present these. Is it in an email, a PDF or across both? Ensure it’s clearly broken down for ease of processing.  Be strategic. Embrace future planning. Move beyond seeing it as a ‘once & done’ or add on. Prioritise post-event engagement as intentional rather than a ‘nice thing to do’. Always follow up… and follow up again. Include a message of thanks and appreciation for their time, contributions & insights. Factor in the elements from above. Let them know the next steps. In terms of best practice, this should be done as soon after the event as possible, ideally the next day, whilst it’s still fresh in your attendee’s minds. Particularly if you’re asking for feedback. Don’t be afraid to check back in later with a further request for feedback/recordings/additional information. Provide assets for your attendees to encourage them to share in their pre- or post event reflections.  This might be an ‘I’m attending…’  template or pics/ a virtual screenshot of the event. We do this at We Create Space for a number of our events. It helps to encourage a sense of belonging and pride in what they’re doing. Check in on what people are saying and be sure to share and comment on social media posts to let them know you appreciate their continued support. Put event metrics to good use. Make it user-friendly and snappy! Ask questions that provide relevant information that you can action. E.G. Don’t ask about the platform if that’s something you can’t change.  Keep it short. Ideally around 6 - 10 questions that take just 2 - 3 minutes to complete. Use a variety of open & closed questions providing space for both qualitative and quantitative feedback. Mix up the formats - see our Community Events Feedback Survey  as an example. Make time to reflect on the feedback provided. You’ve given attendees the space to share - listen to them. You’d be surprised by how often event organisers ask for feedback but do nothing with it. Prioritise reflecting on this with colleagues to establish what went well and what can be improved. Put the findings into action. Use them to inform future themes for events, spaces for learning and opportunities to re-engage with attendees, grow communities and build on the impact. For example, we recently featured a live Menti poll during an event with our Leadership Collective to ask them directly what they’d like to see from us. The results didn’t match our initial assumptions but it’s reshaped where we’ll prioritise activity moving forward as an organisation that centres the needs of our community. You don’t need to do all of these at once. Like habit stacking, you can focus on one at a time. See what works for you, your organisation and your audiences. Put into practice, these are simple but extremely effective ways of building, engaging and re-engaging your attendees, as well as curating event experiences that centre belonging, growth and safety. Putting these changes into practice has not only yielded positive results but it’s given us a proven framework on our event offering. That’s not to say there isn’t more we can do to improve things. We should always strive to deliver events that are engaging, impactful and innovative. Having been in the events industry for a long time, I’m more than aware that event trends and audience behaviours shift and evolve over time… it can be unpredictable, especially since the pandemic.  However by allocating time for reflection, ongoing evaluation & consistently touching base with your community, you’ll put yourself in the best position to stay on top. Reach out if you have any questions and let us know how you get on with these tips! While you're here... Did you know we consult with Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here . New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter  so you can stay up to date!

This year's  WCS | Awards   are celebrating Queer Leaders a round the world - LGBTQ+ change-makers who are using their platforms, profile and roles to drive change, making the world a more inclusive place for all LGBTQ+ people. The Media & Creative Influence Award honors those who use media, arts, or creative expressions to advocate for and celebrate LGBTQ+ communities. Media & Creative Influence | Our 2025 Awardees: Abi Fellows , Adam Jacques , B eeillustrates , Bellini Boy , Ben Pechey , Carmen Daneshmandi , Cecilia Righini , Cora Hamilton , Damian Kerlin , Duke Duong , Emily Horton , Lennie , Jaï Bristow , Jamie Wareham , Joyce V Newrzella , Jua O’Kane , Júlia Rosell Saldaña ,  Kosta Karakashyan , Marty Davies , Natasha Devon , Oliver Jähnke , River Coello , Roxy Murray , RuMU Beauty , Shane Lukas , Sophie Edwards , Steven Elliott , and Yorgo Glynatsis . Other Award Categories: Community & Grassroots Activism Media & Creative Influence Policy & Advocacy Impact Corporate & Workplace Inclusion Sustainability & Innovation Emerging Queer Leader (Under 30) Honorary Award Abi Fellows. (she/her) Media & Creative Influence Abi has worked in the bookselling and publishing industries for over twenty years. She is currently a Literary Agent at D H H Literary Agency, where she focuses on amplifying marginalised voices and championing LGBTQ+ writers in particular. In 2023 she was shortlisted for Literary Agent of the Year at the British Book Awards. Her clients include Juno Roche, Dean Atta, Lizzie Huxley-Jones, Paula Akpan, Elizabeth Lovatt, Dr. Paul Taylor-Pitt, Layla McCay and many more. Abi regularly sits on panels and writes for the trade press, advocating for the support and funding of LGBTQ+ talent in the publishing industry. Abi is a Trustee for New Writing South and supports their curation of the annual Coast is Queer festival, which showcases LGBTQ+ writing talent. She is also a mentor with Just Like Us, the LGBTQ+ young people’s charity, supporting young people at the start of their careers. Adam Jacques. (he/him) Media & Creative Influence Adam is a composer, musical theatre writer, choir director, and vocal coach dedicated to making the performing arts accessible for adults of all backgrounds. He is the founder and director of Vocal Core, a Barcelona-based studio that champions the idea that artistic excellence can be achieved in a positive, inclusive, and safe learning environment. The studio embraces diverse cultural backgrounds, sexualities, gender identities, neurodivergence, and intergenerational communities - building confidence through fostering self-belief. Adam creates multiple shows each year that merge choir with experimental multimedia to raise funds for local charitable organisations, including Esperança (who support Barcelona’s homeless community) and Fundació Enllaç (who help protect the elderly queer community from discrimination). Beeillustrates. (they/them) Media & Creative Influence A visual artist, curator, and interdisciplinary creative based in London, Bee uses their platform to share their distinctive illustrations intended to educate, empower, and inform on a range of important topics. Bee's work often centres around personal narratives from their own experiences of navigating mental health issues and exploring their queer identity. Bee graduated from The University of Edinburgh with a First Class Ba (Hons) in Illustration, having also completed courses in Queer Studies, Curation and Social Anthropology. In 2021, Bee co-founded Hysterical ,  a yearly group exhibition and cultural programme that takes place throughout Women's History Month. The event platforms creatives of marginalised genders reclaiming the term hysterical, and using their practices to call for change. Hysterical has received much critical acclaim and has been featured in The Evening Standard, DAZED, It’s Nice That, BBC Radio London, ITV Woo and more. In 2022, Bee was Longlisted for the World Illustration Awards for their piece Lovers, and was a judge for the 2023 D&AD New Blood Awards. In 2024, they worked closely with the Barbican Centre awarding arts funding as part of an initiative by the Barbican Communities team, and are currently an NG200 Creator in partnership with The National Gallery for their Bicentenary celebration programme. Bellini Boy. (he/they) Media & Creative Influence Bellini Boy is a queer artist, performer and community facilitator whose work embodies resistance, joy and self-awareness. Through dance, voice, and unapologetic self-expression, Bellini Boy explores since 2024 what it means to live and love outside the norms. Rooted in the dancing and club culture, they create bold performances and lead workshops or conversations across Europe — including in regions where queerness is still taboo — using movement and storytelling as tools for healing and empowerment. As a growing figure in Barcelona’s queer scene, Bellini Boy is known for holding space with care, confidence and vulnerability. Their first single streamed in may 2025 marks a new chapter in their artistic journey, blending sound, sensuality and political presence. As a queer leader, Bellini Boy believes that identity is not something to explain or justify, but something to celebrate and expand — collectively. Ben Pechey. (they/them) Media & Creative Influence Ben Pechey, non-binary author, presenter, DEI consultant, and LGBT+ educator. They are the author of ‘The Book of Non-Binary Joy’ - picked as Top Self Help Book by Forbes - and ‘Your Gender Book’. They are also an ambassador for Diversity Role Models. Ben is a TEDx speaker, their talk focused on ensuring trans and non-binary people can find joy every day. They were also featured in Diva Magazine’s & The Guardian’s 2024 & 2025 Power List - Top 100 visionaries blazing a trail for LGBTQIA+ women and non binary people. Carmen Daneshmandi. (she/her) Media & Creative Influence Carmen is a queer first generation Spanish-Iranian photographer, writer, & visual artist currently based between Barcelona and New York. Her work often calls upon her own lineage and selfhood to inform her creative practice, placing her community at the forefront and disrupting traditional approaches in image making with a keen and powerful sensibility of color, playfulness, juxtaposition, and mixed media narratives (as most recently seen in her ongoing self-published decolonized Calendar Zine project). Driven by that texture of identity and culture, her work carefully balances the crosshairs of fine art, portraiture, fashion, and reportage. It is through these visual signifiers that she creates a poetic and cathartic space from which to infuse her subjects with the possibility of their own empowerment, blossoming visual capital, and self-preservation with fantasy. Cecilia Righini. (they/them) Media & Creative Influence Cecilia is the founder of Studio Lutalica, a non-profit graphic design and web agency based in Edinburgh, dedicated to empowering women and LGBTQ+ communities. With a background in Design Management and Gender Studies, Cecilia is recognised for their intersectional approach to leadership, combining lived experience with professional expertise. Named British Creative Businesswoman of the Year and a Wise100 Woman in Social Enterprise, Cecilia sits on the boards of several equality-focused organisations and is a visiting practitioner at the University of the Arts London. Their work is defined by a commitment to radical collaboration, accessibility, and ethical practice, having led Studio Lutalica to deliver over £40,000 in pro-bono services. Cecilia’s mission is to ensure that under-represented voices are not only heard, but are central to shaping creative and strategic outcomes. Cora Hamilton. (they/them) Media & Creative Influence Cora Hamilton is the Co-Founder and Director of uns*, the only queer model agency. Originally from London and based in Berlin for 5+ years, they are also a photographer and speaker. Celebrating and centering marginalised voices and stories is at the core of their work, and by guiding, supporting and advocating for fresh emerging models and creatives in their careers, Cora has a pioneering role in building a fairer and more inclusive future in fashion. Damian Kerlin. (he/him) Media & Creative Influence Damian Kerlin is a culture journalist, broadcaster, and storyteller amplifying LGBTQ+ voices across platforms. With bylines in Attitude, The Telegraph, and The Independent, he founded Material Queer, a Substack publication celebrating queer culture in all its complexity. As a presenter, Damian brings LGBTQ+ narratives to wider audiences through Monocle Radio’s Daily Briefing, Virgin Radio Pride, and the Iris Prize podcast, Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ film festival. A proud queer leader, Damian was selected as one of three Acast Amplifiers for his critically acclaimed podcast Memories from The Dancefloor, a docu-series spotlighting the people and spaces that shaped LGBTQ+ nightlife. With Season 2 released in 2024 and a book forthcoming from Dialogue Books in 2026, Damian continues to platform community memory, joy, and resistance. His work blends journalism, advocacy, and cultural commentary - centring queer experience and preserving its stories for generations to come. Duke Duong. (he/him) Media & Creative Influence Duke is an East Asian trans* activist for intersectional queerfeminist topics. His expertise lies in digital knowledge transfer and communication. With his own social media channels @trans.parenz, he manages to convey trans* and queerfeminist topics in an understandable, approachable and personal way. Initially just a narrative journey about his transition as a trans man, his channel and focus quickly developed into educational and informative content. As a LinkedIn Top Voice, he also represents the LGBTQAI+ community at the business level for the DACH region and actively works with companies to create a more inclusive and safe work environment for marginalized people. The collaboration with Duke is inspiring, activating and creates an important change of perspective. Emily Horton. (she/they) Media & Creative Influence Emily Horton (she/they) is the founder of More Diverse Voices, an inclusive communications consultancy. With over a decade of experience in PR, journalism, and social innovation, she has worked across newsrooms, creative agencies, and in-house teams to craft campaigns and deliver training for organisations of all sizes. Her work spans topics including LGBTQIA+ rights, neurodiversity, mental health, anti-racism, sustainable fashion, and financial empowerment. As a queer leader, Emily leads with empathy, boldness, and an unwavering belief that joy and justice can - and must - coexist. She uses her storytelling and PR expertise to champion equity, amplify underrepresented voices, and help clients use their platforms for good. Emily holds a degree in Archaeology and Anthropology from the University of Cambridge and has been recognised as one of the UK’s Top 100 Women in Social Impact (2023), a LinkedIn Top Voice (2024), and a Top Marketer to Watch by the Alt Marketing School (2025). Lennie. (she/her) Media & Creative Influence Lennie is based in the seaside town of Margate in the UK. She is passionate about championing diverse children’s books; celebrating authors and illustrators from the LGBTQ+ and other marginalised communities. Today, her platform includes an instagram account @lennie.stories which seeks to platform diverse books and a regular meet up in her home town for families. Her background in the theatre, her own parenting journey and coming out later in life have all profoundly influenced Lennie’s desire to see kids’ bookshelves queerified and diversified in community spaces, libraries, schools and homes. Jaï Bristow . (they/them) Media & Creative Influence Jaï is a queer, disabled, multiethnic DEIIB coach and consultant, and the creator of Beyond Boxes—a podcast and YouTube channel exploring identity, labels, and liberation beyond social categorization. Their work spans multiple formats including online and in-person workshops, public speaking, and tailored coaching to support people and organizations in navigating power, privilege, and prejudice. Their podcast and YouTube platform Beyond Boxes invites nuanced discussions about identity, community, and belonging, drawing from lived experiences and interviews with others from across the queer and global majority spectrum. Through trauma-informed education and storytelling, Jaï is redefining what it means to do DEI work creatively and relationally. Their workshops—Power, Privilege & Prejudice—are designed to make systemic concepts felt and personal. Using tools like Nonviolent Communication, somatic inquiry, and meditation, they help individuals and organizations build equity and inclusion from the inside out. Jamie Wareham. (he/him) Media & Creative Influence Jamie is the founder of non-profit LGBTQIA+ publisher QueerAF. A Forbes Under 30 recipient with a decade-long award-winning career in journalism (BBC, The Guardian, City A.M, Attitude), he is a leading voice on media change and developing talent pipelines for queer creatives. In the last year, he mentored 70 queer creatives, created documentaries for National AIDS Trust and Love Tank CIC, supported Trans+ History Week’s launch and published investigative journalism with bylines in QueerAF, Forbes & Fortune. His works sees him lead the UK's only non-profit, press regulated LGBTQIA+ news publisher, advocate and lobby media owners and brands for change, as well as mentor a new generation of queer creatives to change the media. Joyce V Newrzella. (she/they) Media & Creative Influence Joyce is a genderfluid artist, filmmaker and award winning photographer from Berlin living in Barcelona. They have studied Film and Theatre and dedicated their professional work to create visibility for the queer community through all different forms of visual language. Jua O'Kane. (they/he) Media & Creative Influence Jua is an Irish multi-disciplinary illustrator, designer, creative researcher and community organiser. Their creative practice explores trans identity, spirituality, intimacy and activism, all rooted in a curiosity for the unique possibilities illustration holds to narrate and depict queer lives. Their debut graphic novella “Road to Chimera” uses autoethnographic research conducted while recovering from top surgery as the basis for a new spiritual framework. Jua serves as the Communications Director for Trans Pride Plymouth, where they have helped make the event one of the South West’s most vibrant and distinctive Pride events through their unique visual flair. Additionally, Jua is Marketing Manager at We Create Space, where they have spent the last several years shaping the brand’s tone of voice and visual identity. Júlia Rosell Saldaña. (she/her) Media & Creative Influence Júlia is a multidisciplinary creator, writer, and independent researcher based in Barcelona. She explores the intersection of identity, language, and technology, advocating for inclusive futures where both human and non-human intelligences are respected. Self-defined as an INA (Autonomous Natural Intelligence) and demisexual, she has autopublished over fifty books, composed experimental music, and trained ethical AI systems. Júlia uses her voice and platforms to challenge normative systems through authenticity, clarity, and action. Her work has been recognised with the 2025 Queer Leaders Award for Media and Creative Influence. Without seeking the spotlight, she focuses on leaving a meaningful legacy. Ut alii vivant – "So that others may live" – is more than a motto: it's her mission. Kosta Karakashyan. (he/him) Media & Creative Influence Kosta Karakashyan is a Bulgarian-Armenian director, producer, choreographer, and writer exploring empathy and emotion through motion. He has built a prolific body of work, moving through disciplines including film, music videos, commercials, choreography, installations, theatre, and immersive performances produced alongside his production company Studio Karakashyan, and dance company Karakashyan & Artists. His work has been described as "an important voice for LGBTQ+ struggles in Chechnya and elsewhere" by The Columbia Spectator and has been featured by NOWNESS, The New Yorker, The Guardian, and ELLE. He brings visceral physical expression and strong storytelling to his projects, which often tackle social topics such as the lives of LGBTQ+ people in Eastern Europe, mental health, and the climate crisis. He is an alumnus of Berlinale Talents and EYL40 - European Young Leaders by Friends of Europe, a Forbes Europe 30 Under 30 honouree, and a member of the European Film Academy. Marty Davies. (she/they) Media & Creative Influence Marty is a renowned and sought-after consultant and speaker in the space where LGBTQIA+ culture collides with the creative industries and attention economy. She founded creative strategy consultancy Smarty Pants Consultancy, which helps brands connect meaningfully with queer culture. In 2024, she was shortlisted for PPA Columnist of the Year. Her column for global business magazine Campaign is noted for its provocative and refreshingly honest look at the advertising industry. As a social entrepreneur and founder of Trans+ History Week, she demonstrates how to build movements that deliver good for both community and business. Her globally recognised nonprofit initiative invests in the creative talent of the future to tell history stories that challenge misconceptions. She is highly regarded as a leading voice in both LGBTQIA+ advocacy and the creative industries – appearing on both Campaign’s A List and the DIVA Power List 2025. Natasha Devon. (she/her) Media & Creative Influence Natasha Devon is an author, broadcaster and campaigner. She visits an average of three schools per week throughout the UK conducting research and delivering talks on mental health. She also gives evidence at Parliamentary level on education and social equality. She has a weekly show on LBC on Saturdays, a column in Teach Secondary and works across various other forms of media. In all areas of her work and life, Natasha advocates for marginalised communities and promotes fairness. Recently, her radio shows and writing have challenged hateful narratives weaponised against trans people and emphasised the link between transphobia and misogyny. She is an ambassador for Pride at Global, which stages events and works on queer representation across all Global Media brands. Oliver Jähnke. (he/him) Media & Creative Influence Oliver is a trans man from Sweden and the founder of Queers of the World — a global video archive that documents the lives and stories of LGBTQIA+ people from all walks of life. With over 200 short documentary-style interviews filmed across continents, Oliver has created an accessible, diverse, and deeply humanizing platform that uplifts queer voices worldwide. Known for his calm presence and authentic curiosity, he creates safe spaces where participants feel genuinely seen and heard. His work not only preserves important narratives but fosters empathy and connection across cultures. Beyond filmmaking, Oliver is a sought-after speaker and consultant on trans inclusivity, with a focus on faith-based and spiritual communities. Through his advocacy, he helps institutions become more welcoming and affirming to trans and queer individuals. River Coello. (they/them) Media & Creative Influence River is a Guayaquil-born cultural weaver—writer, translator, performer, facilitator, speaker, and researcher—based in Orlando. They are the author of HAMPI, a multilingual, multimedia collection exploring their reconnection with the Andean cosmovision, published by For the Birds Trapped in Airports. HAMPI has received a Florida Book Award, an International Latino Book Award, an Independent Publisher Book Award, and a Nautilus Book Award. River's writing is also featured in the eXpuestXs anthology by El Beisman Press; the Chicago Reader’s Poetry Corner by the Poetry Foundation; and the Sweeter Voices Still anthology by Belt Publishing. River is a passionate advocate against racism and LGBTQIA2S+ discrimination. With a strong commitment to community care, River inspires and uplifts those around them, and continues to make a meaningful impact in the world. Roxy Murray. (she/they) Media & Creative Influence Roxy Murray is a queer, disabled advocate and creative, living unapologetically with Multiple Sclerosis. Named in the BBC 100 Women 2024, Disability Power 100 and Sexual Freedom awards 2025 as activist of the year . She champions radical inclusivity, adaptive fashion, and patient empowerment through a deeply intersectional lens. With a background in styling, Roxy works to make fashion accessible and empowering for disabled and chronically ill people. She consults on inclusive campaigns and uses her visibility to challenge how the fashion, media, and healthcare industries represent or fail to represent queer, disabled lives. Roxy’s work demands systemic change, calling out tokenism while spotlighting authentic, lived experiences. She creates space for marginalised voices and leads bold conversations on identity, care, and self-expression, pushing for a world where disabled and queer people are seen, heard, and celebrated. RuMU Beauty | Egon Crivillers & Gerard Solé. (Small Business) Media & Creative Influence Egon Crivillers and Gerard Solé are the queer creative duo behind RUMU Beauty, a non-binary skincare brand born in Barcelona. With roots in editorial beauty and fashion, their work spans campaigns for Louis Vuitton, Zara, and Hermès. Egon, a makeup artist and hairstylist, brings over a decade of experience shaping visual culture across the backstage of Vogue, i-D, and Harper’s Bazaar. Gerard, an art director and founder of RUMU Studio, crafts brand narratives where design meets emotion. Together, they created RUMU as a response to the binary constraints of the beauty industry—offering non-gendered, clinically efficient skincare that is not only truly functional, but speaks to all identities. For them, skincare is not a routine aimed for perfection. It’s an intimate ritual of self-love. At RUMU (the Japanese word for room) our skin is home. Shane Lukas. (he/him) Media & Creative Influence Balancing a thriving career as the owner of creative communications firm A Great Idea (AGI) with deep-rooted activism, Shane dedicates himself to harm reduction, bodily freedom, and queer liberation. His journey features decades of international cross-movement organizing for the rights and decriminalization of masculine-identified workers in parallel to his success as an art director for enterprise brands. Since 2015, Lukas' agency AGI has been providing award-winning creative strategies that grow and empower purpose-driven for-profit and nonprofit partners in sectors like healthcare, education, and social justice. In addition, AGI directly contributes to intersectional activism through original projects such as voter initiative Out.Vote, the Freedom For Every Body campaign, and the Power Beyond Pride queer changemaking podcast. Named a "Designer for Good" by Graphic Design USA, Lukas is a TED speaker alum, popular workshop presenter, and author, releasing his first book "The Advocate Advantage" in 2026. Sophie Edwards. (she/her) Media & Creative Influence Sophie is the creator of We Have Always Existed, a video essay series that showcases the wealth of transgender history in the ancient Mediterranean. It's built on the idea that transgender people deserve to know, and own, our own histories. Steven Elliot. (he/him) Media & Creative Influence Steven is the founder of QLIST, the world’s most comprehensive global directory of LGBTQ+ venues and events. Based in Brighton, he created QLIST during the pandemic in response to the rapid loss of queer spaces—and has grown it into a global platform now used in over 300 cities. The platform is entirely self-funded and community-focused, helping tens of thousands of LGBTQ+ people each month find places to connect, dance, protest, and belong. Steven also runs Wapo and Wapa, two popular LGBTQ+ dating apps, and has integrated QLIST into both—ensuring visibility and support for queer venues on a global scale. A digital strategist passionate about queer tech, visibility, and building lasting community infrastructure, Steven’s work helps sustain and amplify LGBTQ+ culture around the world. Yorgo Glynatsis. (he/him) Media & Creative Influence Yorgo is a Belgian, Greek, and Italian queer film director based in London. His work has been featured on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Tubi, and Here TV. Known for his emotionally resonant storytelling, he creates bold, inclusive films that amplify marginalized voices. His award-winning directorial debut Trigger, a queer short on consent mentored by Netflix’s One Piece actor Taz Skylar, secured global distribution via These Untold Secrets. He also co-directed Well Proud, an LGBTQIA+ award winning short docuseries exploring mental health in Black, POC, and Global Majority communities for Metro Charity. He recently directed Koupepia, an award winning trans/queer short, and is developing his debut feature documentary Alpha Men with BAFTA-nominated producer Yiannis Manolopoulos. A speaker and advocate, Yorgo was invited to NELFT NHS’s Beyond the Rainbow and interviewed for the Queer Global Project. He also mentors BAFTA Connect Member Sharon Sibyl Gatt on her neurodivergent short Decode Me. While you're here... Did you know we consult with Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here . New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter  so you can stay up to date!

Co-founders Egon & Gerard share the vision behind their queer-owned inclusive skincare brand RuMU Beauty. LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs aren’t just running businesses—they’re creating spaces that drive change and build community. Our 'Queer-Owned' series goes beyond the storefront to explore the purpose, impact, and stories behind queer-owned businesses. This time we're speaking to Egon and Gerard of RuMU Beauty , a queer skincare brand committed to radically honest beauty and disrupting the status quo. Their products invite us to rethink skincare, abandoning arbitrary gender distinctions in favour of clinical efficiency, transparency and a love for our bodies as they are. We were thrilled to have RuMU Beauty join us as a partner to the 2025 WCS Awards , where we sought to bring greater exposure to the important work they are doing to create a more inclusive beauty industry. What personal or professional experiences led you to create RuMU Beauty, and how does queerness shape the core of that story? Egon : RUMU was born from a very personal place. I’ve always seen beauty not as something you apply, but as something you return to — like coming back to your own skin after years of trying to escape it. As a queer person, your body is so often politicised, questioned, or erased. So RUMU became our way of reclaiming that space. For me, it’s a love letter to all the versions of myself I’ve had to survive to become. Gerard: My background is in fashion and the creative world, so I always felt drawn to the aesthetics of transformation, but RUMU wasn’t just a project of visuals. It came from the urgency of being seen without asking for permission. Queerness isn’t a strategy here, it’s our why. It’s how we formulate, how we communicate, how we exist. What does it mean to you, personally and professionally, to be recognised as Queer Leaders by the WCS Awards? Gerard: Being recognised as a queer leader feels meaningful not because it’s unexpected, but because it reflects the kind of leadership we believe in. For me, queer leadership is about creating spaces of welcome in a world that rewards division. It’s about holding space for complexity, queerness, and joy. Being seen by WCS, an organisation that truly understands that, felt powerful and deeply aligned. Egon: Professionally, it’s empowering. It gives weight to what we’re building and our way of showing up. And personally, it felt grounding. We’ve always created from a place of love, not strategy. So being recognised for that felt aligned, like something clicked. It reminded us that we’re not alone in the way we imagine beauty. Why did you choose to name your brand “RuMU,” and how does that concept connect to your vision of skin and space? Egon: The name “RuMU” comes from the Japanese pronunciation of the English word “room” (ルーム, rūmu). We loved the intimacy of that concept. The metaphor came naturally: skin as a room you inhabit. Not something to perfect, but something to tend to, live in, rearrange, and grow within. We didn’t want skincare to be about fixing flaws. We wanted it to be about staying, really staying, in your own body. Gerard: Also, as creatives, we loved that a room is never finished. It’s always changing just like us, just like skin. But more than that, for many queer people, a room has always been a refuge. A place where you could feel safe, express yourself, be held. RUMU is that space. Not a bathroom shelf full of steps, but a single room where you meet yourself as you are — raw, weird, radiant. RuMU stands for radically honest beauty. What does that mean to you when you're formulating, designing, or storytelling? Gerard: It means we say things most brands won’t. Like: “ this product works because of this ingredient, not that trending one .” Or “ no, we’re not using water as a base, because water doesn’t do sh* t for your skin barrier.” It’s about stripping back the noise and treating people as intelligent, sensitive beings. We aim for total transparency. Egon : And beyond formulas, it’s also emotional honesty. We don’t pretend everyone has time for 10-step routines. We know what it means to live in a body that’s tired, politicised, neurodivergent, or grieving. So the design, the copy, the texture — everything has to feel true . If it doesn’t, we don’t launch it. We Create Space is all about community. What role does the queer community play in your brand’s identity, design, and mission? Egon: Everything. We built RUMU thinking about our friends, our exes, our chosen families… and also our actual families. Our grandmothers, in particular, have inspired us deeply. This brand was born from all the people who’ve taught us how to care with tenderness, how to put intention into the small things. Yes, it’s a queer brand, but it’s not exclusive. It’s for anyone who wants to inhabit their skin without asking for permission. When we formulate, write or design, we’re not thinking about the skin ads say you should have, but about real skin, the one you have today. With its phases, its stories, its character. Gerard: Our design is fluid because our people are. Our identity is loud but loving. The queer community isn’t just an audience, it’s the co-author. Every DM we get, every story someone shares about their journey, that’s RuMU. That’s the whole point. How do you hope your products make people feel when they use them? Egon: We want people to feel calm. For the product to give them an immediate sense of care, of pause, of being present in their body. A moment that’s just for them, with no pressure. Gerard: We want people to feel their skin becoming healthier, more balanced. But without the pressure to transform or “improve” by anyone else’s standards. Using RuMU isn’t about correcting yourself — it’s about caring for yourself. About your skin feeling good in what it already is. If our products do anything, it’s helping you feel good in your own skin — not someone else’s idea of it. When you decided to support the WCS Awards with full-size products: what motivated that level of generosity? Gerard: We felt it was right. These weren’t “PR samples” for a campaign. They were gifts, from one queer story to another. We know how rare it is to be celebrated for existing authentically. We wanted our contribution to feel like the beginning of a long-standing relationship. Egon: Also, queer people deserve full-size everything. Full-size pleasure. Full-size joy. Full-size freedom. How did it feel to see your products in the hands of awardees and the community across different contexts (the Gala vs the Dinner)? Egon: It was beautiful. We didn’t have the chance to be at the gala, but the dinner felt intimate. We sat with people. We talked about joy, gender, skin, softness. To see someone open the product and say “I can’t wait to try everything”, that’s priceless. Gerard: It felt like being in a safe space. There was this effortless exchange of smiles, good vibes, and mutual recognition. It reminded us why we do this —not just for the products, but for what they represent when they’re held, gifted, and shared among us. In what ways do you think collaborations like this can shift how small queer-owned brands show up during Pride season? Gerard: They shift the why . It’s about visibility and reciprocity. It reminds us we don’t have to replicate traditional corporate strategies to be seen. We just have to show up honestly and build this community together. Egon: It’s also proof that community can be currency. That socially-aware initiatives can be loud, and showing up with integrity is priceless in today’s world. What do you hope people remember: not just about the RuMU gift bags, but about your message and presence at the Awards? Egon: That we don’t have to adapt to brands and spaces that aren’t inclusive of us. We are there to stay. With the community, for the long haul. Gerard: Our daily decisions, our daily routines can have an impact in how we show up in the world. Skincare can be a form of resistance. Choose products that adapt to you, not the other way around. What question do you think I should  have asked you? Egon: What’s the weirdest body part someone has applied the RuMU multibalm to? It is so multifunctional that nothing would shock me. Gerard: What would your teenage self think if they saw what you’re doing now with RuMU? While you're here... Did you know we consult with Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here . New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter  so you can stay up to date!

What are we getting up to in 2025? Learn about our new projects and how we plan to support the LGBTQ+ Community throughout this year. Building on our 2024 Community Impact Report and responding to the needs of our community, we’re excited to embark on a journey that marks 5 years of WCS. Incorporating all the valuable feedback and insights from our 2024/25 Community Survey , we've now set out our plans and ambitions as an organisation, and as a collective, for 2025. Our strategies for this year are designed to empower individuals, organisations, and communities globally - making meaningful progress towards a more inclusive and sustainable future. 1. WCS | Pathways We’ve redesigned our community engagement strategy to introduce three distinct learning pathways for our community members, each focused on: Inclusion Wellbeing Leadership These pathways offer four levels of engagement , enabling members to progress at their own pace and commit to personal development when they are ready. Whether you’re starting your journey or seeking deeper insights, these pathways will provide the support you need to learn, connect and grow. Get started by signing up to our newsletters here . 2. WCS | Reports After the success of our WCS | Reports in 2024, we are continuing our commitment to data-driven research and insights . Our key focus will remain on Community Building through the intersectional lens of Leadership , Wellbeing , and Inclusion , with regular publications and events that highlight industry trends and challenges. These insights will serve to inform both our community and clients, helping us respond proactively to the needs of diverse communities. Download our DEI Insights & Trends in 2025 Report here . 3. WCS | Events In 2025, we'll be enhancing all our online and in-person events with some new tech integrations . By utilising innovative tools and creating interactive experiences , we aim to increase global and local engagement both at a community and corporate level, offering immersive learning opportunities that connect people in new and exciting ways. Discover more about our corporate solutions here . 4. WCS | Wellbeing Our WCS | Retreats will re-launch in Barcelona in 2025 , offering transformational queer experiences designed for personal growth, leadership, and wellbeing. These retreats will be led by our global facilitators and supported by wellness activities such as monthly hikes , mini-urban retreats , and half-day workshops , creating a truly holistic offering. 5. WCS | Awards For 2025 , we are expanding the WCS | Awards to an international level, honouring queer leaders driving change and creating space for the community. The award ceremony will take place in during Pride Month , celebrating individuals and organisations that are making an impact at both a local and global level. 6. WCS | España We’re excited to officially launch WCS | España in 2025, a non-profit association focused on community-building initiatives in Spain. This new entity will allow us to better support our growing network in Barcelona and throughout Spain, creating new partnerships and funding opportunities to strengthen our community efforts. 7. Unlock | Powered by WCS UNLOCK will become our global platform for queer leaders , offering a space for personal growth, professional development, and mentorship. By providing tailored resources, workshops, and leadership programmes, UNLOCK will support and empower LGBTQ+ individuals to create inclusive spaces and foster community-driven change. 8. WCS | Content In 2025, we’ll continue creating unique video content that highlights the voices and stories of our global collective. This content will amplify our message of queer inclusion , wellbeing , and leadership , helping us inspire and engage a broader global audience across our social media channels. Follow us on Instagram and Linkedin . 9. WCS | Campus & Courses We will continue to offer WCS | Campus , our digital space for connecting with like-minded individuals. Campus will host global and local workshops , discussions , and events , allowing our community to engage with each other in meaningful ways. Additionally, our WCS | Courses will continue to offer self-paced online training in DEI , allyship , and leadership , helping individuals at any stage of their journey access the resources they need to grow. Join WCS | Campus here . 10. WCS | Library The WCS | Library will remain a core resource for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of queer leadership and wellbeing . With a range of videos , reports , and toolkits , the library will support community members at all stages of their development. Discover the latest WCS | Library content here . 11. WCS | Queer Speed Networking Our Queer Speed Networking events, held both online and in-person , will continue to provide spaces for community members to connect with like-minded individuals and collaborate. These events offer a fast-paced, engaging environment for building meaningful relationships and expanding professional networks within the LGBTQ+ community. 12. WCS | Community Building 101 In 2025 , we will launch a new webinar series , Community Building 101 , to explore the elements of building , growing , and managing a community. This series will provide insights from both grassroots and corporate perspectives, offering valuable knowledge for anyone looking to create or expand inclusive communities. 13. WCS | Queer Leadership 101 We are also excited to introduce Queer Leadership 101 , a webinar series that dives into the leadership journeys of members of our WCS | Collective . This series will explore the challenges and triumphs of queer leaders, providing inspiration and guidance for anyone seeking to step into leadership roles themselves. View all upcoming events here . Our Commitment In 2025 , we'll continue investing in our global community , building pathways for leadership development, wellbeing, and inclusion. Through data-driven insights , innovative events , and transformative learning experiences , we aim to empower individuals to lead with confidence and create change within their respective communities and workplaces. By fostering deeper connections , promoting growth , and prioritising wellbeing , we will continue to be a trusted partner for both individuals and organisations in their inclusion and leadership journeys. Together, we will build a more inclusive and sustainable future. Thank you for being part of our 2025 journey! While you're here... Did you know we consult with Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here . New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!

Teresa Lee shares what she took away from attending an LGBTQ+ wellness experience by Queer Retreats. Teresa is a queer woman of colour from London, based in Spain. She is a career coach (focusing on coaching women and LGBTQIA+ folk), a writer, a content manager in the tech space, and a dancer. Community-building and personal empowerment are the central, interwoven principles of Teresa's work. She takes a holistic approach, drawing on both her corporate and creative skillsets, to unlock the greatness in every individual and support the community. Teresa recently joined us for a Queer Retreats wellbeing experience and was kind enough to share with us what she took away from her stay at Casa De Colores. I didn't have any particular expectations coming to the retreat, but I really needed a safe space. I didn't always find that in other places. This retreat has really shifted my perspective, like I have found a safe space in community with queer people and that has meant a lot for me. - Teresa Lee Things like joy and pain - they seem like straight forward concepts that you don't really need explained to you, but exploring them more deeply was actually really interesting and I found some new perspectives. And then pairing that with the more embodied work, the yoga, the breathwork, the visualisations, the meditations, help to integrate that into the body. It's one thing to talk about things, but then to really bring them into the body kind of makes it more complete. - Teresa Lee Teresa shared how some of her biggest "aha" moments during the retreat occurred outside of planned sessions when interacting with other retreat attendees and connecting over shared experiences: The sessions we had were great, but also the conversations that happen between sessions, the unplanned, spontaneous interactions and connections that you make. Those have almost been even more profound in some ways, just connecting in this community. - Teresa Lee Teresa joined our "Reclaiming Joy" retreat, which invites participants to reconnect with their essential nature, reclaiming their joy, well-being, and personal power as a means to navigate challenging circumstances. Through inner awareness, reflection, and practical tools, we guide participants on how to cultivate resilience and safeguard their mental health as Queer people, while fostering strength to face life's difficulties with renewed clarity and peace. If you’re a queer professional or leader feeling the weight of burnout, isolation, or the need to reconnect to your purpose—our wellness experiences are built with you in mind. Find your retreat. 📌 Stay connected: Follow us on Instagram: @ queer.retreats Explore more: www.queertretreats.com Sign up to our newsletter While you're here... Did you know we consult with Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here . New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter  so you can stay up to date!

Download our new free toolkit to evolve your DEI communications strategy and address common pitfalls. Mounting pressure on DEI is manifesting in new communication challenges, from internal approval blockages to restrictions on global comms. Our new 5-page communications toolkit provides actionable strategies, professionals perspectives and data points to help you overcome common DEI communication challenges. Are you looking to build a more engaged and sustainable workplace? We Create Space is here to help! To enquire about our consulting services, annual membership and event packages, email us at hello@wecreatespace. While you're here... Did you know we consult with Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here . New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!

Jaron Soh shares what he took away from attending an LGBTQ+ wellness experience by Queer Retreats. Jaron is a Singaporean entrepreneur, creative, and designer with a deep passion for improving LGBTQIA+ mental health and wellbeing. He is the co-founder of Voda, a groundbreaking mental wellness app designed specifically for the LGBTQIA+ community, with input from leading LGBTQIA+ psychotherapists. Jaron is dedicated to creating positive culture change, building inclusive communities, and empowering individuals to take charge of their own mental health and wellbeing. Considering how much Jaron does to support the mental wellbeing of the LGBTQ+ community, we were especially thrilled to have him join us for a Queer Retreats event and hear what he took away from the experience! I came to the retreat because I've been craving community a lot recently, especially with the demands of work and the state of LGBTQIA+ rights around the world. I just really wanted a space to recharge and reflect. - Jaron Soh When we enter new spaces and we meet new people, a lot of us are quite apprehensive. We're afraid there could be unkindness, that people could be cliquish. But of course, my experience here has been entirely the opposite. Everyone here has been so kind. I've learned so many new things from the workshops, but also from each other... I've met many new friends for life. - Jaron Soh Jaron shared how he believes that when we focus energy on caring for ourselves, the benefits are carried beyond us as individuals and into our communities. We're less likely to project our traumas, troubles and stresses onto others, instead strengthening our capacity for compassion. There aren't a lot of safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ people. Even in spaces where there are a lot of us, we can tend to be quite reactive, because of whatever things we're carrying. The retreat has been a beautiful space to come back to learning new skills to self-regulate... Communal care is so important. We can find so much joy in helping each other through suffering, or being there for someone when they just need their voice to be heard or their story to be told. - Jaron Soh Jaron joined our "Reclaiming Joy" retreat, which invites participants to reconnect with their essential nature, reclaiming their joy, well-being, and personal power as a means to navigate challenging circumstances. Through inner awareness, reflection, and practical tools, we guide participants on how to cultivate resilience and safeguard their mental health as Queer people, while fostering strength to face life's difficulties with renewed clarity and peace. If you’re a queer professional or leader feeling the weight of burnout, isolation, or the need to reconnect to your purpose—our wellness experiences are built with you in mind. Find your retreat. 📌 Stay connected: Follow us on Instagram: @ queer.retreats Explore more: www.queertretreats.com Sign up to our newsletter While you're here... Did you know we consult with Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here . New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter  so you can stay up to date!

Jon-Paul Vicari and Lady Phyll explore the importance of innovative leadership when community building. At We Create Space, we see the transformative power of community every single day. When it comes to championing inclusion & creating space in which everyone can thrive, we believe community-building isn’t just a solution. It’s the foundation. We were thrilled to invite UK Black Pride to join us for the third edition of Community Building 101. Hosted by WCS Managing Director Jon-Paul Vicari in conversation with Phyll Opoku-Gyimah aka Lady Phyll and Timon Timon from UK Black Pride, this instalment focused on the key pillar of ‘Leadership’ as a fundamental factor in creating impactful & sustainable communities that provide both a sense of belonging & purpose.  Our previous sessions have focused on Inclusion and Wellbeing, with perspectives from the team behind Trans+ History Week and Voda: The LGBTQIA+ Mental Wellbeing App . The objective of Community Building 101 is to provide actionable strategies & tools to promote effective change, collective learning, workplace culture & shared values. It also serves as a talking point for how grassroots principles can be applied in corporate settings and vice versa. We asked our speakers to share their main takeaways from the event: Jon-Paul Vicari Leadership starts with listening, a great leader creates psychological safety for people to provide feedback without fear of reaction.  Be adaptable, each person/community will have different needs and a one size fit all approach can be harmful. You don’t have to carry it all alone, sometimes we shield people from our own emotions or issues. However, stop and consider if you’re protecting people from unnecessary stress or if you’re afraid of being viewed as a burden.  Timon Timon Let us tell our own stories—in our own voice and within our own capacity. We may not look like the “standard” leaders or be the most eloquent speakers. We may have accents, different rhythms, or different styles. But no one can tell our truth. Lead with care. Care and compassion are radical tools for building trust, especially in our communities. Collaboration is a strategy. When we move together, especially with lived experiences, we build something far stronger and more sustainable. Lady Phyll Leadership rooted in community is messy, radical, bold, brave and necessary. Build with care, not control. Sustainability is not just about funding, it’s about values, wellbeing, and collective ownership. Inclusion without justice is performance and window dressing. Create power-sharing structures, not photo ops. If you would like to discuss booking one of these speakers for your own session, please get in touch with us via email at hello@wecreatespace.co While you're here... Did you know we consult with Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here . New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter  so you can stay up to date!

Disability advocate Roxy Murray shares what Queer Leadership means to them. New for 2025, UNLOCK, powered by We Create Space, is thrilled to introduce 'Queer Leadership 101: Lesson learnt from my journey as an LGBTQ+ change maker’ - Our new online, bite-sized series focusing on change makers and role models creating positive change locally and globally. During each 30 minute session, you'll hear all about our guest speakers' stories as they share more about who they are, what they do & how they show up in the world as a Queer Leader. There will also be an opportunity for questions & discussion. Our guest speaker for July 2025 is Roxy Murray (she/they). Roxy is an internationally recognised advocate for disability rights, adaptive fashion, patient empowerment, and radical inclusivity, living boldly as a pansexual individual with Multiple Sclerosis. A proud member of the BBC 100 Women 2024 and the Disability Power 100 list, Roxy’s impactful work has earned her a place among the world’s leading voices for change. Leveraging her background as a stylist, Roxy empowers disabled and chronically ill individuals to embrace accessible, adaptive fashion with style and confidence. She consults on art direction and styling, while occasionally stepping in front of the camera as a model. Roxy’s voice has resonated across media platforms, with features in Vogue UK, Refinery29, and other major outlets, where she contributes to critical discussions on diversity and inclusion. A sought-after speaker, Roxy shines on topics like neurodiversity, body positivity, sexual health, workplace allyship, and self-empowerment. Her work champions intersectionality, wellbeing, adaptive fashion, and a future where radical inclusivity is the norm! If you are someone who envisions yourself as a Queer Leader now or in the future, this is for you! The sessions aim to empower you with insights, inspiration & practical take-aways centred around our core pillars of community building: Inclusion, Wellbeing & Leadership. We hope you can join us as we come together to shine a spotlight on our Queer Leaders & learn, connect & grow as a community. If you would like to discuss booking one of these speakers for your own session, please get in touch with us via email at hello@wecreatespace.co While you're here... Did you know we consult with Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here . New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter  so you can stay up to date!