In this episode we speak to the Head of Relationships at the QSA's charity partner Diversity Role Models, Emma Miller McCaffrey (she/her). Emma shares more about growing up as a teenager during Section 28, her journey towards motherhood with her partner and the work of DRM. Find out more about Diversity Role Models and volunteer to become a role model at diversityrolemodels.org

In this episode we speak to the QSA2023 Role Model of the Year: Education, Ash Scholz (they/them).

In this episode we speak to the QSA2023 winner of Activist of the Year, Clay Nash.

In the latest episode of Proud To Be Queer we learn more about one of the QSA2023 Role Models of the Year, for the LGBTQ+ Youth category, Jasper Hopkins (he/him).

In the latest episode of Proud To Be Queer we learn more about the QSA2023 Influencer of the Year, Emma Prach (she/they). Emma was also awarded runner-up of the Queer of the Year and Role Model of the Year: LGBTQ+ Youth categories. Follow Emma's work at Project Sonrisa here Watch Emma's mental health documentary 'Our Minds' here Listen to Project Sonrisa's podcast 'It All Matters' here

In the latest episode of Proud To Be Queer we learn more about the QSA2023 Queer of the Year, Taj Donville-Outerbridge (he/they). Taj is also one of two winners of the QSA Role Model of the Year: LGBTQ+ Youth category. Read ‘#EmbraceEquity: an opportunity for solidarity’ written by Taj, which is discussed during the episode, here: https://www.royalgazette.com/opinion-writer/opinion/article/20230313/embraceequity-an-opportunity-for-solidarity/

Miles has worked in the financial services sector for more than 30 years. He is currently WTW's global head of external communications, Executive Sponsor of the company's LGBT+ inclusion network and a member of the company's global I&D Council. Miles has been openly gay at work throughout his career and has seen tremendous change throughout this period. Now married to his Spanish partner of 28 years, Miles is concerned that the rights many in the LGBTQ+ community now take for granted, could easily reverse unless we maintain the fight against prejudice and discrimination. You can listen to Miles' queer anthem 'Wind Beneath My Wings' by Barbara Streisand on our YouTube playlist here.

Justin is a diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) changemaker and leader. His role as the first Global Ambassador for DE&I at one of the world's largest law firms enables him to lead and empower others to have a positive impact on people, workplace environments, culture and society.Having trained and qualified as an employment lawyer, he uses his past and current experience to help ensure A&O recognise people’s differences and understand the benefits and value people with diverse backgrounds, thinking and experience contribute to an organisation. This means challenging discrimination, dispelling stigmas and ensuring people are treated fairly, with dignity and respect.He is also the Founder and CEO of GROW Mentoring, a registered charity supporting more than 4000 underrepresented future lawyers, addressing intersectionality and providing mentoring for diverse aspiring lawyers. He has been recognised as the #1 Future Leader in the UK by The British LGBT Awards 2021 and is the recipient of the global McKinsey & Company Achievement Award. He received a Commonwealth Points of Light Award for social impact by the British Prime Minister and is listed on Attitude’s global 101 LGBTQ+ Trailblazers 2021. Justin was the first winner of 'QSA Rising Star' in the awards' inaugural year. Hs is a regular speaker, panellist and has given a TEDx talk.

Dr Robert Vesty (he/they) is co-chair of the LGBT+ staff and student network at Middlesex University where they work as a Senior Lecturer in Theatre. A white cis male, they were born in Luton in 1973 but quickly moved to Lancashire before moving again to Essex when he was ten. He grew up in a working-class household with two younger straight brothers and found himself hiding his queerness from those around him, including himself. In some ways, he found space and a potential outlet through theatre, which he studied at GCSE, A-level and then at the University of Birmingham where he graduated with First-class honours. He then went to the Welsh College of Music and Drama to complete actor-training before moving to London to work as an actor in theatre. Robert ‘came out’ as gay at 27 (he was kind of ‘outed’ by his dad one Christmas) and was lucky enough to be supported by a strong network of friends and, for the most part, family too as he got to know his sexuality. At work he has mostly felt supported too - at one point in his early 30s fearlessly holding hands with his partner at the headmaster’s reception on day 1 of a new job at a posh secondary school prompting more gay teachers to increase their visibility especially when it came to including their partners at social events. In 2009, Robert did an MA, moved into teaching in academia and developed his performance practice as an improviser before embarking on a PhD. Which he completed in 2020. These days, Robert most readily identifies as queer; uses both he and they pronouns and lives in East London with their genderqueer spouse who is Spanish. They were married in 2016 in a queer act of resistance against the EU referendum and then celebrated the marriage with a day-long queer festival of performance billed as ‘our very own European union’. In terms of work, he now specialises in teaching movement for actors. He writes about and practices improvisation and is interested in the topics of queerness and class. More at www.robertvesty.com You can listen to Robert's queer anthem 'Do You Wanna Funk' by Patrick Cowley on our YouTube playlist here.

Pavlo Cherednychenko is a Ukrainian British cis gender gay man with the successful personal, professional career and geographical transitions. Currently an Audit Director at Mazars in the UK, he is a passionate coach, mentor and facilitator who is curious to see people, their unique journeys and to help them build fulfilling sustainable futures. You can listen to Pavlo's queer anthem 'Brave' by Sara Bareilles on our YouTube playlist here. Pavlo invites you to connect with him via Instagram and LinkedIn.