About - Joanne Lockwood

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Joanne Lockwood,
behind the curtain

The Person

Joanne Lockwood, Founder and CEO of SEE Change Happen, is a renowned keynote speaker and thought leader on Inclusion & Belonging. As a queer transsexual woman in her early 60s, Joanne embodies the essence of transformative change, bringing authenticity and lived experience to her work in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her personal journey not only amplifies her voice but also makes her a heartfelt mentor and advocate for transgender awareness and support.

With a background in IT and HR consulting, Joanne offers a unique blend of professional expertise and personal insight. She helps large organisations foster inclusive cultures where people can thrive—not just survive. Through keynotes, workshops, and consulting, she guides leadership teams to move beyond the fear of getting it wrong, driving real, lasting impact. Joanne’s mission is to create positive people experiences, helping organisations embrace diversity and inclusion with authenticity and purpose.

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The Expertise

With a background spanning from the Royal Air Force to a thriving IT business, Joanne has pivoted her career towards HR and People Consulting. She partners with “People People” — the HR professionals, Talent and Recruitment leads, and Organisational and Learning and Development leaders. Guided by her mantra “Smile | Engage | Educate,” Joanne nurtures Positive People Experiences, transcending traditional EDI models to bring about deeply rooted, sustainable change.

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Contact Joanne +44 7802 215457 info@seechangehappen.co.uk

The Accolades

Her soulful impact has not gone unnoticed. Joanne is a Fellow of the Professional Speaking Association UK&I and a Fellow of the Institute of Equality and Diversity Professionals. Featured in a Channel 4/RDF documentary, “The Making of Me,” she also hosts the ‘Inclusion Bites’ podcast and until recently served as a Trustee for akt, the LGBT+ Youth Homeless Charity.

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

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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

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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Professionalism and Ease

Working with Joanne was an absolute delight and our entire collaboration felt like a breeze. As the emcee and a presenter for our annual event, Joanne displayed an exceptional level of professionalism coupled with a calming demeanor that instantly put everyone at ease. She captured our audience and led them through our event agenda seamlessly. Despite any last-minute changes that arose, Joanne remained focused on the core objectives of the event, ensuring its success while demonstrating confidence and flexibility. Additionally, Joanne's expertise in diversity and equality in the workplace added great value to our program, providing valuable insights that enriched the experience for all involved.

Sue Morton

General Manager Events | HR.com

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

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

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Professional and Impactful Delivery

Joanne spoke at our Leadership conference titled ‘Waving Through the Window,’ where we delved into the experiences of leaders from different industries. She delivered an outstanding presentation, articulating her journey with clarity, honesty, and great insight. The feedback from her session has been fantastic, and we would not hesitate to recommend Joanne for your organisation. Collaborating with Joanne was incredibly smooth; her professionalism and ability to provide everything needed at a moment's notice made the process effortless. Working with her has been an absolute pleasure. Thank you, Joanne, for your invaluable contribution to our conference.

Klare Rufo

Director of Development and Improvement | Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust

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

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

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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

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

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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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Eager for More

Joanne created an incredibly well-held, safe space, covering sensitive topics in an informative and expansive way. The session was both engaging and inclusive, and we would love work with her again without question.

Maddy Christopher

Deputy Editor | Sift (HRZone)

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

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)

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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

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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

Continuous Source of Innovation

Working with Joanne on the 1st French Tech DIB Pan European Summit was an immensely pleasurable and enriching experience. Her exceptional talent, innovative ideas, and marvellous sense of humour made her an outstanding partner and advisor throughout the event. Joanne's ability to cause 'good trouble' – the best kind – truly set her apart as a unique and invaluable contributor in the field. Additionally, her podcast continues to be a source of renewed inspiration, consistently offering fresh and thought-provoking perspectives. I am eagerly looking forward to the opportunity to collaborate with Joanne again soon, as her impact on our work has been truly significant.

Mathilde Bacholle

Board Member | La French Tech London

what clients say

Transgender Inclusivity Advocate

Joanne is an exceptional speaker on diversity and inclusion, with a special emphasis on transgender topics. Her ability to share her personal story in a way that touches both the hearts and minds of our staff was truly remarkable. She also did an outstanding job in raising awareness about the importance of supporting transgender people in the workplace. Her session was not only informative but also deeply impactful, creating a lasting impression on all who attended. Joanne's contributions have been invaluable in advancing our understanding and support of transgender inclusivity in our workplace.

John Athanasiou

Director of People | HarperCollins UK

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

The Entrepreneurial Spirit

Joanne’s credentials go beyond her professional titles. She is an entrepreneur with a keen sense for business, having turned over £3m at the peak of her IT business and employing 25 staff. Her legacy in the Round Table as the first openly transgender Past National President shows her ability to challenge societal norms and engage in philanthropy.

Contact Joanne +44 7802 215457 info@seechangehappen.co.uk

The Speaker

Joanne’s riveting keynotes resonate deeply with audiences across the globe. Whether it’s after-dinner speaking events or international seminars, her storytelling ability grips her audience, teaching them to tackle their own imposter syndrome, overcome societal prejudices, and foster an environment where everyone can thrive.

The Community Advocate

The thread that runs through Joanne’s varied career is her commitment to community. From volunteering with Beyond Reflections, a Hampshire-based gender diversity charity, to contributing to the School of Health Sciences at the University of Southampton, her community work is a testament to her innate drive for inclusivity and belonging.

Fellow of The
Professional Speaking
Association UK & I

Fellow of the Institute of
Equality and Diversity
Professionals

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