The Group

The LGBTQI+ Affinity Group has grown into an important voice within GatenbySanderson. It brings insight, challenge and perspective that helps shape better decisions at every level of the business. In 2025, the group showed resilience, openness and a clear sense of purpose. During a period of change across our affinity networks, participation increased, conversations deepened and the group’s influence continued to grow. Their contribution reflects something simple but important. When people can share their lived experience, it strengthens judgement, builds understanding and leads to better outcomes.

Creating Space for People to Be Themselves

A key strength of the group is the environment it creates for colleagues. It offers safe and confidential spaces where people can speak openly, build connections and support one another. That sense of trust and psychological safety has a direct impact on the organisation. It enables people to contribute fully, collaborate more effectively and feel confident bringing their whole selves to work.

“It’s a privilege as a bisexual individual to be part of the LGBTQ+ Affinity Group, working to give others the visibility, support, and confidence that they can be their true selves 100% of the time rather than solely outside the workplace.”
– Katherine O’Donnell, LGBTQ+ Affinity Group Chair

Delivering Meaningful Impact

The LGBTQI+ Affinity Group continues to drive practical, measurable change across the firm.
In 2025, this included:

• Reciprocal mentoring
  Bringing together colleagues from different backgrounds and levels of seniority, strengthening understanding and building more inclusive leadership capability.
• Improving candidate experience
  Informing how we remove barriers in our processes so candidates can engage fully and demonstrate their potential.
• Shaping policy and practice
  Providing insight that supports more inclusive and consistent approaches across the business.
• Marking Pride with purpose
  Focusing on connection, conversation and reflection rather than visibility alone.
• Strengthening allyship
  Encouraging colleagues across the firm to take an active role in supporting inclusion.

Pride in Leadership

One of the most visible contributions of the group has been the development of our leadership interview series, which has been running since 2021 and is now known as Pride in Leadership. The series brings together senior leaders and LGBTQ+ voices from across the sectors we serve. It creates space for honest conversations about leadership, inclusion and the realities of decision making.

Across the series, a number of consistent themes have come through:

• Inclusive leadership is something leaders practise every day.
• Visibility matters, but it is not enough on its own.
• Accountability and governance are key to making progress.
• Boards and senior leaders have a critical role, particularly when inclusion is under pressure.
• Different perspectives lead to stronger decisions.

In 2026, the focus shifts to “Moments That Matter”. This looks at how leaders make decisions on inclusion in real situations, often under pressure. It reflects a move from discussing inclusion to understanding how it plays out in practice.

Looking Ahead

The LGBTQI+ Affinity Group continues to look forward with energy and ambition, their priorities for the next phase include:

• Building a cross sector network of LGBTQI+ leaders.
• Expanding structured allyship across the firm.
• Continuing to share lived experiences to inform thinking and policy.
• Developing the Pride in Leadership series further.

This work will help extend the group’s impact, both internally and across the organisations we work with.

Why It Matters

The contribution of the LGBTQI+ Affinity Group is felt across the business:

• It strengthens our culture by creating an environment where people feel supported and valued.
• It improves our capability by broadening perspective and strengthening leadership thinking.
• It enhances our client work by ensuring we bring insight, empathy and credibility to what we do.

Celebrating Pride and Looking Forward

Pride Month is an opportunity to recognise progress and celebrate the community we are part of. It is also a reminder that this work continues. The LGBTQI+ Affinity Group plays an important role in that journey. They help create a culture where people can be themselves and where different perspectives are valued. They also help ensure we are better equipped to support the leaders and organisations we work with.