Queer Leadership – Past, Present, and Future | A Conversation with LGBT Foundation
Join us for a conversation that spans decades of change, resilience, and hope.
Join Paul Martin OBE and Jax Effiong, the Chair and CEO of the LGBT Foundation, for a thought-provoking exploration of queer and inclusive leadership through the lens of the past, the challenges of the present, and the opportunities of the future. This unique event offers a chance to reflect on where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we must go to continue building a future of equality and inclusion.
Details
- Wednesday 16 April | 11am – noon
- Online
- Book your place now
As the LGBT Foundation celebrates its monumental 50th anniversary, we’ll reflect on five decades of pushing boundaries, challenging discrimination, and empowering LGBTQ+ communities. From advocating for fundamental rights to driving health and wellbeing initiatives, the Foundation’s journey has been one of immense courage and hope. Hear from its leaders as they share personal stories and insights, bringing to life the pivotal moments that have defined the organisation’s legacy.
This thought-provoking discussion will also explore the leadership challenges that have shaped the LGBTQ+ movement over the last 50 years. From navigating the AIDS crisis to fighting for marriage equality, these stories are a reminder of the determination and vision that have brought us to where we are today. At the same time, the conversation will shine a light on what it means to lead in the current climate – where societal and political turbulence demands resilience, creativity, and bold action to safeguard the progress we’ve already achieved and ensure it continues to grow. Together, we’ll tackle the pressing question: How can we, as queer leaders and allies, maintain momentum and drive meaningful change in an increasingly complex and challenging world?
Speaker Biographies
Jax Effiong (She/Her) | Diversity & Inclusion Manager and Chair of LGBT Foundation
Jax Effiong is the Diversity & Inclusion Manager for Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (GMCA) and Chair of the Board of Trustees at the LGBT Foundation. With over 41 years of experience in Greater Manchester’s third and public sectors, Jax is a dedicated advocate for marginalised communities and a passionate proponent of intersectionality.
Joining the fire service in 2011 as a Community Safety Manager, Jax relaunched the organisation’s LGBT & Allies network, now the Rainbow Network, and supported the creation of other staff networks, including Race and Faith, Women’s, Enable, and Armed Forces. She also leads the organisation’s Stonewall working group and is a workplace coach and safeguarding officer.
Jax’s contributions have earned her recognition as Asian Fire Service “Woman of the Year” (2018) and Stonewall NW Role Model of the Year (2020). Her role as Chair of the LGBT Foundation allows her to drive progress on equity and inclusion across the region, aligning her personal values with her professional impact.
Dr Paul Martin OBE (he/him) | Chief Executive of LGBT Foundation
Paul has been actively involved in championing the rights of LGBTQ+ people to live happy, healthy lives for over 30 years. Paul is a founding
member of Healthy Gay Manchester. Through his determination 25 years ago, Manchester’s condom & lube distribution scheme for gay & bisexual men was established, now widely recognised as one of the longest-running and most highly regarded schemes in the UK.
In 2000, Healthy Gay Manchester merged with the Manchester Gay and Lesbian Switchboard to become the UK’s largest health and wellbeing charity for LGBTQ+ communities – now LGBT Foundation. The same spirit that fuelled our beginnings still drives us today. LGBT Foundation celebrates, supports and empowers LGBTQ+ people, so together we can realise our full potential.
Paul is a key contributor to the National LGBTQ+ Health Strategy which drives for meaningful, evidence-based change towards equitable healthcare. Paul is a member of LGBT Consortium’s Strategic Group, a national partnership of LGBTQ+ organisations, and sits on the NHS Partners Council.
Paul was awarded an OBE in 2011. In 2021, Paul was presented with an honorary Doctorate of Social Sciences by the University of Bolton for his outstanding contribution to the community. LGBT Foundation won Charity of the Year 2022 at the British LGBT Awards.
Outside of the LGBT Foundation, Paul sits on the Board of Salix Homes. He is happily married to his husband Pete and lives in Stockport.
