As part of #PrideAtGatenbySanderson series, taking place during Pride month and beyond, we are amplifying the voices and lived experiences of public sector and not-for-profit leaders who are part of the LGBTQ+ community and reflecting on what true allyship means for all of us.
In the second of our series for #Pride2023, we sat down with Lee Marshall, Chief of Staff at the Church of England Pensions Board. Lee has worked in various capacities within the Church of England’s national administrative bodies for over 35 years. He is a co-founder of Stonewall and was a founding trustee for Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation. In receipt of numerous awards in recent years, Lee was included in LGBT Great’s List of Global Top 100 LGBT+ Executive Allies in 2021, ranked 28th on the global OUTstanding list of LGBT+ senior executives in 2020 and shortlisted nominee for the European Diversity Award for Campaigner of the Year in 2019, to name just three.
Lee shares his insights on actionable ways the Church of England Pensions Board of Trustees have measured and increased diversity, including the challenges and benefits of doing this. Lee also shares how measuring and benchmarking diversity and protected characteristics ensures not only future diversity can be increased, but that the organisation is transparent and holds itself to the same, if not higher standards, than its investors. Lee considers tangible actions leaders can take to increase allyship and promote D&I in their organisations and reflects on Pride, and what this time means to those within the LGBTQ+ community.
It’s so important to amplify voices and experiences of the LGBTQ+ community and their experiences in the workplace and how organisations, leaders and colleagues can make a difference as allies and community members. Thank you Lee for sharing your story with us so openly and with such courage.