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Deilight Consulting's Founder and CEO Ian Clarke and Global Chamber’s Scott Longman - the official City of London Ambassador - team up to launch a new City of London LGBTQ+ talent advocacy initiative and professional network.
"For several years, I was the most senior queer black banker anywhere across the Americas working for Europe's largest bank. All too often, it fell to me to address both communities across the bank, reassuring them of promises to change from above that ultimately turned out to be empty", said Ian announcing the new partnership with Global Chamber's Deputy Director Scott Longman. "Ultimately to marginalised communities living on the hard edge of oppression, words mean so little when actions paint such a clear picture to the world. That's why I'm committed to meaningful change through action not words that can benefit the communities we represent - that's all of them - at both a local, national and international level, not over eons but today".
Ian will be giving the keynote address at the launch event from 6pm, on Wednesday 21st September at Zodiac Bar and Club on 119 Hampstead Road, London NW1 3EE. "Here is a community - our community - so full of #loveislove that we were able to see and #FreeBritney when others could not. We are so full of creative talent and drive that we built Broadway and London's West End from the ground up. Our universal absence from every boardroom across the FTSE100 is costing people lives and costing our firms billions in lost potential."
"I wanted to find us a friendly venue within the city", added event organiser and host Scott Longman. An official Freeman and Liveryman of the City of London, Scott's dedicated his professional life to bringing others across the city together, only now he's turning his hand a little closer to home. "It turns out there's not a single LGBTQ+ venue within the square mile today, so no wonder representation for our community is so low. I want to help change that and clear a path for more LGBTQ+ people to succeed in Big Business where we can help our firms broaden their appeal and boost their competitiveness with our different ideas and perspectives."
He added "working together with our new partners at Deilight and others, I'm determined to help deliver - finally - 'out' talent, visibility, representation and perspectives to ubiquitous corporate boardrooms across the City, the UK and beyond."
Tickets are available now. And if you can't make it this time, there'll be new engaging LGBTQ+ and allied guest speakers every month on the 3rd Wednesday.
