Matt is an experienced talent management, diversity and organisational development leader with extensive experience within the financial services industry. A proven track record in inspiring others, developing effective strategies, programme execution, managing diverse teams and building partnerships.

Matt was the first in his family to go to university, is part of the LGBT+ community and also from a lower-social economic background.

Matt is responsible for the development of LGBT Great’s programmes, the strategic direction of the organisation and advising organisations on DE&I issues. Matt is also a Board Member of the Diversity Project.

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.

Mark McLane is the Head Diversity, Inclusion and Well-being for M&G plc, an international savings and investments business with over 7 million customers across the UK, Europe, Asia and the Americas. Mr. McLane is responsible for architecting a firmwide diversity and inclusion strategy that will leverage organizational strengths, remain nimble in the every-changing global business climate and enable M&G plc to maintain their competitive advantage by driving innovation to its customers.

Prior to M&G plc, Mr. McLane was the Head of Global Diversity and Inclusion for Barclays PLC, a transatlantic consumer, corporate and investment bank. During his tenure at Barclays Mr. McLane implemented a global Diversity and Inclusion strategy the delivered six consecutive years of improvement in the percentage of women in senior leadership, established a mental health and wellness campaign, This is Me, that is now a good practice across the UK with over 600 companies participating and developed Dynamic Working which positively improved overall colleagues engagement through inclusion in the workplace.

As the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Booz Allen Hamilton, immediately preceding his role at Barclays, Mr. McLane developed and implemented a firm wide diversity strategy including initiatives that leveraged the inherent differences within Booz Allen’s current and future workforce. Under Mr. McLane’s leadership these initiatives aligned with the organization’s vision of assuring continued growth in an increasingly competitive and global market.

Mr. McLane also held the position of Chief Diversity Officer for Whirlpool Corporation, a Fortune 500 global consumer product company in Benton Harbor Michigan. Under Mr. McLane’s leadership Whirlpool Corporation successfully implemented a global Diversity and Inclusion embedment strategy positioning the Company as a recognized leader in the industry. In addition to his role as a human resources leader, Mr. McLane has an extensive background in innovation, strategy development, marketing and sales across U.S. and international markets.

Mr. McLane is a former commissioner for the UK Equalities and Human Rights Commission, a member of the Lord Mayor of London’s Appeal fundraising Board along with additionally leadership roles as the past Master of the Guild of Human Resource Professionals, on the OutLeadership leadership committee and Department of Work and Pensions Disability Confident Leaders group. In 2014, 15, 16 and 19 Mr. McLane was recognized on the UK LGBT power list, the LGBT Great top 100 global allies, the Financial Times 100 LGBT business leaders in London and named to the top 50 global Diversity Executives by the Economist.

Mr. McLane holds a B.S in Business Management from the University of Scranton.