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

Humor and Humility

Joanne Lockwood traveled a considerable distance to deliver her keynote talk "From Zero to Hero - Building a Speaking Business" at my Professional Speaking Association region. Her presentation was much more than what the title suggested, providing key messages that were delivered clearly and relatably, with actionable outcomes. Joanne's mix of humility and humor was beautiful. For anyone seeking a keynote speaker who can boost self-confidence, motivation, inspiration, and the desire to succeed, Joanne Lockwood is an exemplary choice.

James Perryman

Founder | Momentus Limited

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

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

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

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

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

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

Embracing Uniqueness

Joanne was an engaging and thought-provoking speaker who highlighted why embracing all individuals and celebrating their uniqueness is so important within the workplace. People need to feel that they belong, not just that they are equal.

Catriona Ralls

Associate Solicitor | Warner Goodman LLP

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

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

Engaging Authentic Speaker

Joanne was an exceptionally engaging and warm speaker. Her ability to deliver content was not only excellent but also distinctively different from typical trainers who rely on scripts. Her authentic and insightful presentation style set a new standard for what an effective and engaging training session should be like.

Louisa Phillips

Director | BCL Legal

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

Standout Speaker, Genuine Impact

Joanne stands out not only as a remarkable speaker but also as a truly exceptional human being. Her natural comfort in her own skin and the extensive preparation she puts into her speeches create a unique and inviting atmosphere. When she entered the conference at Hiring Success, hosted by SmartRecruiters in Berlin, all she needed to do was be herself, and she effortlessly attracted the audience's attention and admiration. This sentiment is not just my own; it's a reflection shared by many who witnessed her captivating presence and impactful speech.

Roy Baladi

Head of Marketplace | SmartRecruiters

what clients say

Courageous Inclusive Storytelling

Joanne recently joined the lululemon EMEA collective for a talk on inclusion, focusing on storytelling and how to be better allies. Every attendee was deeply moved by the courage she displayed in sharing her personal journey and the challenges she faced. Her passionate storytelling not only provided us with a profound understanding of the trans community but also practical ways to act as allies in the workplace. The conversation was engaging, impactful, and provoked significant insight within our team. We've received outstanding feedback, and the talk has spurred ongoing discussions about fostering inclusive environments in our workplaces. A heartfelt thank you to Joanne for sharing her inspiring story and contributing her time to our collective.

Nicole Markus

Senior Learning Partner | lululemon EMEA

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

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

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

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

Enlightening, Informative, Meaningful, Appropriate

Enlightening, informative, meaningful, appropriate - Soooo many things. More inspired to carry on the work in this area and to keep on learning.

Hayley Christodoulou

UK Group People and Business Partner | NBS Enterprises

what clients say

Fearless and Memorable Discussion

We were extremely honoured to have Joanne participate in Levi’s inaugural Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) day. Her exceptional communication skills and professionalism were evident throughout the entire process, making the planning phase seamless and straightforward. Joanne intuitively understood our goals, contributing to the event's success. Her discussion was fearless, honest, thought-provoking, and incredibly real, creating a moment that attendees won't soon forget. I personally learned a great deal from her insights and perspectives. I am hopeful and excited about the prospect of working with Joanne again in the future. Thank you, Joanne, for your invaluable contribution and for making our D&I day so memorable.

Ann Smith

District Manager | Levis Strauss & Co

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