BOOK A CALL 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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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 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 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 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 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 Thought-Provoking Inclusivity I had the great pleasure of having Joanne speak at the APDO Virtual Conference 2021 on Diversity and Inclusion. Her presentation was not only extremely engaging but also got the audience actively thinking and discussing aspects of diversity and inclusion in ways they hadn't before. Joanne's approach was open, honest, and impressively non-judgemental, delivered in a calm and collected manner. She skillfully used the latest technology to incorporate live polling, adding a dynamic visual element to her presentation. It was evident that she had a clear understanding of the association's background and the needs of its members. I highly recommend Joanne as a public speaker. Her ability to foster open discussions on sometimes difficult topics is remarkable. Thank you, Joanne, for your invaluable contribution to our conference. Sian Pelleschi APDO President | Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Authentic and Impactful Storytelling Joanne and Marie delivered an incredibly moving and insightful speaker session at ManyPets, as part of our ongoing Pride celebrations and efforts to bring light to transgender issues across our global business. Both speakers were succinct, open, and truly inspirational, offering a fascinating glimpse into their journey from both perspectives of their relationship. Their session was eye-opening and enriching, and I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone in my network looking to enhance their understanding and become better allies to the trans community. A heartfelt thank you to both Joanne and Marie for their valuable time and impactful contributions. Jennifer Gabrielle-Chapman People Director | ManyPets 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 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 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 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 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 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

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.

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.

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Reg No: 13138905, Registered Address: 1 The Briars Waterberry Drive Waterlooville PO7 7YH

Joanne Lockwood