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1:42 PM 12th October 2021
business

Paralympian Joins IoD Inclusion And Diversity Conversation

 
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson is among the headline speakers taking part in an IoD conversation on inclusion and diversity and why it is good for business.

The free online event on 19 October has been organised by IoD and is open to IoD members and non-members across the UK.

Baroness Grey-Thompson is one of Britain’s most successful disabled athletes, winning 16 medals (11 gold, four silver and a bronze) over five Paralympic Games. She is chair of UKActive and a member of the boards of the London Legacy Development Corporation and the BBC. She is also a trustee of a number of organisations and is Chancellor of Northumbria University.

Joining her on the panel are Lord Kevin Shinkwin and Darren Rickards, Managing Director, Corporate & Investment Banking, Bank of America.

Lord Shinkwin has been a member of the House of Lords since 2015. He chaired the Centre for Social Justice Disability Commission which produced a ground-breaking report, Now Is the Time, earlier this year. It included recommendations for how the large disability employment gap could be closed, to the mutual benefit of disabled people, businesses and the wider economy.

Darren Rickards has enjoyed an international banking career spanning 30 years. In his role with Bank of America, he is responsible for leading the corporate banking coverage and debt products, treasury and risk management businesses across the emerging markets region (Central Europe/Russia, the Middle East & Africa).

Darren is a member of the bank’s global LGBTQ+ Executive Leadership Council. He was included in the Financial Times /YahooFinance OUTstanding list of Global Top 100 LGBT role models for 2018, 2019 and 2020.

IoD Kent Ambassdor for Inclusion and Diversity Maria Coulson, who is hosting the event, said: “This is a not-to-be missed event given the fantastic line up of speakers and their knowledge and experience of inclusion and diversity in the workplace. This is a great opportunity for directors working across the UK to learn and understand why inclusion and diversity is so relevant and of value to all businesses whatever the size.”