Emma Cusdin is a speaker, facilitator and champion for trans and non-binary rights. With over 20 years’ experience in human resources, Emma is an award-winning role model in the business sector for LGBT+ people.

She is currently People Director at Standard & Poor Global and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development.

She is an openly trans woman, having transitioned in 2009 and uses her passion to raise awareness of trans and non-binary issues through speaking events, and working with the private sector to enable trans and non-binary inclusion.

An outspoken advocate, Emma features regularly in the press, including in The Financial Times, The Huffington Post and HR Zone.

Pauline has worked in Financial Services for more than 20 years, primarily in management and senior leadership roles across the UK. She started out as a cashier in a high street bank and realised from the outset that she had a real enthusiasm for the industry and for engaging others. Currently she is the Senior Support Manager with M&G Wealth Advice, and comments: "I am passionate about leadership and the difference we can make to people's lives when you inspire everyone to be their true selves' in work."

In Pauline's early career and throughout school, she did not hear about LGBT identities and often avoided conversations about her personal life, for fear of judgement or exclusion. When she and her wife decided to have children, they knew they had to lead the change they hoped to see and speak freely about their lives, encouraging others to do the same and celebrating difference.

Pauline adds: "Unfortunately, inclusion is still not a given - particularly in certain industries and I am proud support and lead never having to feel awkward about being in some way different to many of your colleagues, to have real pride in your own story and where that has brought you. A positive discussion around LGBT identities creates a far more welcome and supportive environment, empowering everyone to challenge discrimination and be a positive ally."
Upon joining M&G, Pauline took on the role Co-Chair for the M&G plc Pride network. In this role she has made immediate impact overseeing the expansion of network chapters across M&G’s global locations, including India and Poland She is also actively working with the Mumbai team to increase visibility and awareness and is leading the focus on LGBT+ allyship across all M&G locations. In 2022 Pauline has led the network to achieve ‘Gold Standard’ for LGBT+ equality within financial services and has overseen key organisation changes which has had a tangible impact for M&G and its LGBT+ colleagues such as the induction of the pro-noun tool to add to email signatures and the change of the M&G plc logo, for the first time in the organisations history, to include the inclusive LGBT+ rainbow for Pride month.

Farah Bouzida is Global Head of Solutions Analytics and Research at HSBC Asset Management.

Farah has been working in the industry since 1999 and, prior to joining HSBC in 2007, she worked in the Middle Office OTC & Complex Product team and then as a Portfolio Manager Structured Investment Solutions at AXA Investment Manager.

Farah graduated with a degree in Applied Mathematics with a specialisation in Statistics and Probabilities from the UniversitéMohammed V, Rabat (Maroc), and holds a Postgraduate degree in Applied Mathematics with a specialisation in Finance from the UniversitéParis Dauphine (France) and the engineering school ENSAE (France).

Orla is an experienced Individual with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services and asset management industry. Skilled in Fund Of Funds, Hedge Fund Accounting, Mutual funds, Project management, Business Analysis and Data Governance. Orla is a CDMP Associate through DAMA, accredited DCAM and Data ethics also via the EDM Council, with a keen interest in advanced analytics.

Currently leading a global team looking after data governance, data ethics and records management oversight activities.

Patricia joins LGBT Great as a Member Operations and Project Coordinator. Before joining LGBT Great, Patricia was studying for a BsC in Chemistry at KCL.

As a black woman and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Patricia has been involved in a wide range of DE&I initiatives across London. These included working with The West Way Trust managing a media project, called ‘Black & LGBT+’, which outlined the intersectionality of being Black and Queer.

Patricia has 4 years of professional experience, including project management and HR coordinating experience at Weezy and Getir. Most recently, Patricia was a Customer Consultant at Ziglu, a cryptocurrency fintech based in London. At LGBT Great, Patricia will be working directly alongside Lauren Cahill and Luke Williams to support the delivery of LGBT Great’s client-facing programmes and projects.

Hector is LGBT Great and Ocean Partnership's Group Marketing Manager. Hector's role is to enhance the overall brand identity of both companies and in order to increase brand reputation within the financial services industry.

Within LGBT Great, Hector focuses on creating marketing campaigns that promote LGBT Great's reports, training, and research to its 50+ members.

Hector plays a big role in the organization and planning of all webinars and in-person events since joining last year on September 2022. If you have received an email from LGBT Great, it was probably him pushing the "send button".