Iain Anderson was the UK’s first ever LGBT+ Business Champion, and resigned in April 2022 due to the Government’s position on conversion therapy. Hear his fascinating leadership story here.

Join us in conversation with Iain Anderson, who was the UK Government’s (first ever) LGBT+ Business Champion.

You may have seen the recent news regarding the Government’s plans to renege on its promise to scrap conversion therapy, its subsequent U-turn in the face of criticism from the LGBTQ+ community, and its attempt at a compromise which would have excluded our trans, non-binary and gender diverse community.

The LGBTQ+ charities responded in solidarity, with all withdrawing their support for the #SafetoBeMe Conference later this year. The conference was later cancelled altogether.

We were due to host a conversation with Iain on 7 April, but he resigned his role the day before our event, and we therefore cancelled. We now have a unique and fascinating opportunity to hear about a very specific leadership experience that resonates across our community. Iain will speak about his experience in the role, the pressures he encountered as a leader over the crucial few weeks before his decision to resign, what happens when a leadership role and personal values align and clash, and what the government needs to do next to better support our community.

As always, our event will include a short time for networking with other LGBTQ+ leaders.

Iain’s biography
Iain is an expert in integrated communications, global political risk and public policy with over 25 years’ experience in communications, initially as a business journalist and then as a founding shareholder at Incisive Media. He has worked for a range of politicians, including Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke MP on his leadership bids.

Iain is co-founder and Executive Chairman at Cicero/AMO and focuses on public policy and corporate communications strategy supporting many global FTSE and Fortune 500 blue chip organisations.

He is a Non-Executive Director of Innovate Finance and one of the Financial Times/ OUTstanding Global 100 Executives. Iain is a Stonewall Ambassador and a Trustee of global LGBT+ Charity GiveOUT. He has recently become the UK Government’s first ever LGBT+ Business Champion with a remit to improve the workplace for LGBT+ people, develop solutions to workplace discrimination and champion LGBT+ rights.