Joanne Lockwood - Keynote Speaker

Joanne Lockwood The inclusive culture expert

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Who is Joanne Lockwood?

Joanne Lockwood is a renowned Keynote Speaker, Thought Leader, and authority on Inclusion & Belonging, with a unique journey from a successful career in IT/STEM to becoming a trusted expert in HR and People Consulting. Her approach combines deep professional expertise with personal lived experience, offering insights that are not only engaging but transformative for organisations looking to create truly inclusive cultures.

In addition to delivering powerful keynotes, Joanne writes for leading publications such as HRZone, The HRD, Training Zone, and Worklife PA. She also hosts the highly regarded “Inclusion Bites” podcast, where she explores vital conversations about improving the world and workplace for all.

Joanne’s credibility stems not only from her extensive knowledge but also from her life journey as a transgender woman. She embodies the principles of inclusivity and equity that she champions, making her a dynamic speaker who brings both empathy and authority to the stage. Joanne’s lived experience, combined with her professional insights, makes her a living testament to the power of embracing diversity and fostering cultures where people can thrive—not just survive—in the world of work.

Guided by her mantra of Smile | Engage | Educate, Joanne is dedicated to promoting #PositivePeopleExperiences, helping organisations move past performative engagement to develop actionable, inclusive strategies that drive real change

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Why work with Joanne?

Expertise: Extensive experience in keynote speaking, consulting, and facilitating workshops focused on inclusivity, belonging, and equity.

Authenticity: Personal experiences enriching her professional insights, offering a unique and relatable perspective.

Engagement: Known for her relaxed, humorous, and warm style, making complex topics accessible and enjoyable.

Global Reach: Experience working globally, both in person and online, catering to diverse audiences.

POPULAR KEYNOTES

Trusted by…

175

Happy Clients

350

Sessions Delivered

Expert Topics

Years Experience

what clients say

Resourceful and Engaging

I would recommend Joanne to any organisation who is looking to improve organisational culture, and specifically in relation to improvement to staff experience, inclusion and belonging. I can't wait to invite Joanne back again to support us, the SEE Change Happen resources and podcasts are also really helpful.

Ceri Connor

Director of OD and Inclusion | University Hospital Southampton NHS

what clients say

Engaging Delivery Mastery

Last night at the Outsource D&I event in partnership with the NCSC I heard Jo speak for the 2nd time. As with her 1st talk it was fantastically delivered and truly engaging. The talk not only had great content with thought provoking material, but Jo puts forward these points with humour and great cadence. Most of all Jo’s passion truly translates to energy and authenticity, which sat it the audience is very evident to see. I look forward to see you on the next Outsource Event

John Crichton

Head of Specialist Markets | Outsource UK

what clients say

Empathetic and Impactful Engagement

As a panelist at the Global Speakers Summit 2022 in Dublin, Ireland, chaired by Joanne Lockwood, I witnessed firsthand her exceptional ability to orchestrate a meaningful and impactful discussion. Joanne's vision of moving beyond just thinking about Diversity and Inclusion to generating tangible outcomes for better business and audience engagement was executed flawlessly. From our initial online meeting to the mainstage event, everything was calm, competent, and comprehensive, resonating well with the audience. Joanne's inclusion of generational diversity in the discussion affirmed her as a truly inclusive 'Inclusion and Belonging Specialist.' Her even, empathetic, and heartfelt approach allowed the panel to effectively communicate the importance of aligning with diverse viewpoints. The event was highly appreciated by attendees and added significant value to the summit, all thanks to Joanne's embodiment of the values she advocates.

Neerja Singh

Generational Diversity Specialist | The Seenager

what clients say

Inclusive Training Expertise

Joanne is a fantastic trainer and facilitator. Her methods and style are inclusive, challenging and supportive, helping participants navigate what can be sensitive discussions. Her non-judgmental but questioning approach helps people to explore and consider their understanding and attitudes in the safe space that she creates.

Lesley Pollard

CEO | Chilypep

what clients say

Transformative Inclusive Training

I strongly recommend this training for everyone in the leading edge at SBG. It was surprising to realize that some of my contemporaries were unaware of fundamental concepts like microaggressions and allyship. This training is essential for cultivating a truly inclusive culture. Leaders can only be genuinely inclusive if they understand what it entails and are equipped to act as true allies. I plan to suggest this to my manager, emphasizing its importance for all our leaders.

Sidrah Warburton

Service Lifecycle Manager | Sky Betting & Gaming

what clients say

Expert Storytelling and Impact

I have had the privilege of hearing Joanne speak on multiple occasions, and each time she has made a lasting impression. Her expertise in storytelling, combined with an authentic style, not only captivates but truly immerses you in the narrative. Joanne’s talks are consistently thought-provoking and inspirational, always leaving the audience with practical, actionable insights. Her ability to convey meaningful messages on diversity and inclusion is exceptional. I would wholeheartedly recommend Joanne for any diversity and inclusion conference without any hesitation.

Winston Ben Clements

DEI Specialist and Keynote Speaker | Positive Spin International

what clients say

Thought-Provoking Allyship

Joanne conducted an exceptionally thought-provoking and engaging session on how to be better Transgender Allies in the workplace, as part of our 'Ask Anything' series. She shared her own experiences and adeptly handled questions from the group with a mix of sensitivity, good humor, and grace. The session was well-attended, and we received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the attendees. Joanne's deep knowledge as an inclusion speaker was evident, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her for her valuable insights and ability to engage diverse audiences.

Charlotte Watmore

Inclusion and Diversity Project Manager | Wates Group

what clients say

Storytelling with Impact

Our D&I Network at Brainlabs, 'Know Different', recently held an event focused on creating more diverse and inclusive workplaces, and Joanne was a standout contributor. Recommended by another speaker, her credentials and glowing testimonials on her website immediately indicated her value. Joanne's ability to tell a story is remarkable – her talk was engaging, moving, and empowering from the start. She also added substantial value during the Q&A sessions, with feedback being overwhelmingly positive. Beyond her talk, Joanne has been incredibly helpful in connecting us with additional speakers, which is greatly appreciated for our fledgeling network. I am very hopeful and excited about the prospect of having Joanne join us at future events, given the significant impact she has already made.

Caitlin Rozario

Head of Brand and Culture | Metrikus

what clients say

Genuinely Moving Speaker

Joanne was the epitome of an authentic, open, and genuinely moving speaker. Her ability to perfectly mix challenge with humor made her presentation not only impactful but also incredibly memorable. Thank you, Joanne, for bringing such a balanced and engaging approach to your speech.

Sarah Winship

DEI Director | Molson Coors Beverage Company

what clients say

Captivating Content

Joanne presented as part of our Annual Employment Conference yesterday, delivering the final session of the event. Not only was the content and delivery captivating, but she also included comments from the previous presentations to bring it all together - a very intelligent presenter who gauges her audience perfectly and delivers in a professional and engaging style! The best leaders don't have all the right answers, they facilitate the team to come up with them!

Richard Dibden

Commercial Director | CMA Recruitment Group

what clients say

Humorous and Humble Expertise

Thank you, Joanne, … it was an absolute pleasure to meet you. Your knowledge, humour and humility shone through [transgender awareness session and policy review] and I have learnt so much from you.

Des Johnson

OD Service Manager | Wakefield and District Housing

what clients say

Inclusive Event Triumph

Working with Joanne on the delivery of the UK Athletics 'Raise the Bar' event for Transgender Awareness Week was the first time we'd worked together, but you wouldn't have thought so. Joanne made my job so easy and was hugely supportive of what we wanted to achieve. Joanne was brilliant at the event and gave open and honest answers to those in the audience. I recommend any organization to work with Joanne and SEE Change Happen so they too can start the conversation about trans inclusion. Thank YOU, Joanne!

Donna Fraser OLY

Equality, Diversity & Engagement Lead | UK Athletics

what clients say

An Insightful and Engaging Session

Joanne and Marie's fireside chat with our organisation was a profoundly open and candid sharing of their life experiences. Their honesty fostered a secure environment, encouraging active engagement and questions from the participants. The session was not only engaging and laced with candid humour but also deeply emotional, educative, and informative. It provided enlightening insights into the personal experiences of transitioning, enhancing our ability to support friends, family, and colleagues dealing with gender identity issues. My colleagues and I gained significant understanding and empathy from this session. I am keenly interested in working with Joanne and Marie again in the future.

Wayne Page

Head of Inclusion & Diversity | Brit Insurance

what clients say

We asked Joanne to deliver an input at our Surrey and Sussex Mentoring CPD day. Her presentation was incredibly well received by delegates, the positive feedback we received has been absolutely overwhelming. Joanne is personable, professional and has an incredible ability to share her story in an honest and informative way which encouraged delegates to open up and really listen to the important messages she was delivering. Joanne also provided a number of practical tools for attendees to take away and think about, and equipped them with skills to be better mentors. It was a pleasure to liaise with Joanne from the start and we are already looking at ways to work together again as her presentation and messages were so impactive. Thank you very much Joanne!

Cecilia Cabodi

Leadership & Talent Development Manager | Sussex and Surrey Police

what clients say

Inspirational Speaking Mastery

Meeting Joanne Lockwood by chance just before my talk at the People Power conference turned out to be a stroke of luck. Initially, I stayed for her session out of courtesy, albeit somewhat arrogantly believing I already knew most things about Diversity and Inclusion. However, Joanne's presentation was a complete eye-opener. She not only broadened my understanding with aspects I hadn't considered before but also managed to make a familiar subject incredibly interesting, clever, and moving. I have never felt so inspired by a speaker before. A massive thank you to Joanne for that enlightening experience – I'm extremely fortunate and grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from her.

Lysa Morrison

Adjuct Senior Lecturer | Newcastle University Business School

what clients say

Professionalism Meets Approachability

Working with Joanne over the past year has been an incredible experience, both personally and for my company. Her blend of utmost professionalism with an approachable manner makes her a joy to work with. Joanne's openness and honesty in discussing her experiences as a Trans woman have sparked significant and ongoing insightful discussions among LexisNexis Risk Solutions Group employees. These discussions have continued well beyond the events, a testament to her effective approach to a topic still widely misunderstood. Joanne's ability to put the audience at ease, encouraging them to ask questions and providing engaging, direct answers, has been highly appreciated by my colleagues. I would wholeheartedly recommend Joanne as a speaker for any event focusing on inclusion and diversity. Her contributions to our LGBT+ Allyship discussions have been invaluable, and I eagerly anticipate our continued collaboration, especially in her upcoming role moderating one of our Courageous Conversations sessions.

Matt Tudball

Senior Editor, Recycling | LexisNexis Risk Solutions Group

what clients say

Enthralling Storytelling

Great storytelling used to lead us through Joanne's life and the challenges she has overcome. Really took the online audience on a journey and it landed a lot of useful points about what to do to create an inclusive workplace. During Joanne's talk, I was receiving messages from the team about how emotional they felt, why they love this organization, and generally how great the session was. The comments from the Leadership team at the end were very positive - that Joanne was the star of the call and that she was really excellent. I have never seen this call of 110 people so silent and still - they were enthralled. Thank you, Joanne - you are a star and changed some minds today, people are busy re-learning how to think about people who are different to them.

Charlotte Johns

Global Talent & Communications | Elida Beauty (Part of Unilever)

what clients say

Eye-Opening Awareness Talk

I thought I had a good awareness, but after attending Joanne's inspirational talk, I now see that there is a lot to learn.

Alex Neate

Project Director | Altair Ltd

what clients say

Fresh and Engaging Session

Just wanted to say wow wow wow to Joanne’s training. When I think back to the first unconscious bias training with a different provider years ago and compare it to today’s session, it’s incredible. And also just thinking about Joanne’s previous sessions – it must be difficult to provide the same training each year but make it fresh and different in ways to make it engaging for people. Today’s session was in my opinion the best yet – she’s excellent at being up to date, relevant, positive, meaningful, real, pragmatic, and gentle but focused in her delivery of it. Makes me proud to work for North Star and be part of the inclusion group.

Clare Ambrose

Housing Officer | North Star HG

what clients say

Transformative Inclusion Workshops

Joanne conducted two highly successful workshops for our team at Plantlife. These sessions were not only educational but also challenging, engaging, and highly participative, leading to their great acclaim. Many of our team members have described these workshops as the best training they've ever received. The sessions have sparked highly reflective and ongoing debates within our team. As a result of Joanne's training, we have made a significant stride forward in understanding and achieving our inclusion ambitions. I wholeheartedly recommend her training for its effectiveness in advancing organisational goals related to diversity and inclusion.

Ian Dunn

Chief Executive Officer | Plantlife International

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