2019 Hong Kong LGBT+ Inclusion Awards - Finalists

To recognise an employee network that has played a proactive role in promoting LGBT+ inclusion demonstrating strong engagement with, and commitment to, local Hong Kong LGBT+ employees.

Eligibility: an LGBT+ employee network based in Hong Kong  

Finalists: 

Hong Kong LGBT Open Network
Credit Suisse

The mission and vision of the LGBT Open Network is to support a diverse, inclusive, and open environment that enables lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) professionals and their allies to maximise their potential and contribution to the Bank's success. The network also partners with lines of business to create new client opportunities and to advance Credit Suisse's diversity and inclusion strategy. The network was started in 2015 and is currently led by employee volunteers.   

PRIDE HK 
J.P. Morgan

PRIDE HK launched in June 2012, welcoming all J.P. Morgan’s staff as members, LGBT+ and allies alike. The mission of PRIDE HK is to engage allies, management, and other business resource groups in promoting an inclusive environment within the firm which consistently allows lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) colleagues the opportunity to build successful careers and reach their greatest potential. As a chapter of PRIDE in J.P. Morgan, PRIDE HK serves as a resource for LGBT+ communities internally and externally in Hong Kong and assists the firm in building business within the LGBT+ marketplace in Hong Kong. 

Asia Pride and Allies
Morgan Stanley    

Morgan Stanley is committed to fostering a culture of inclusion for LGBT employees, with the Asia Pride and Allies employee network providing the platform for employees to interact, learn and support each other. Asia Pride and Allies is an employee-led initiative sponsored by the regional Diversity Council whereby LGBT employees and straight allies work together with the support of the network Co-Executive Sponsors on initiatives to further LGBT inclusion in Hong Kong and across the region. The network offers events and programming to Morgan Stanley employees focused on raising awareness and engaging allies as well as development and networking opportunities. 

To recognise a senior business executive sponsor based in Hong Kong who has spoken up and used his/her influence to promote LGBT+ inclusion in the workplace and beyond in Hong Kong.

Eligibility: A senior business executive based in Hong Kong who is not in a line Diversity & Inclusion role

Finalists: 

Peter Picton-Phillipps  
EY

Peter is currently the Hong Kong Leader for EY's Financial Services practice in APAC. Since 2016 he has taken up the additional role of Professional Practice Director for EY’s Financial Services Assurance practice in Asia-Pacific. He has worked in the Assurance practice for 26 years, initially in London, then in Hong Kong since 1999. Throughout that time he has focused on the Banking & Capital Markets industry sector, taking senior roles in the audit teams of EY's large global investment banking clients. 

Rachael Shek  
Eversheds Sutherland

Rachael Shek is a litigation partner of Eversheds Sutherland. Her practice covers the spectrum of disputes from complex commercial litigation, joint–venture/shareholder disputes, cybercrime, corporate loan recovery, to employment disputes and insolvency. Rachael is the firm’s Graduate Recruitment Partner and chairs its Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which organises events to promote gender diversity, sexual orientation diversity, family and cultural diversity. 

Sanjeev Chatrath 
Global Business Executive

Sanjeev has worked in the Financial and Information Services industries for over 22 years in leadership roles. He has extensive experience leading large, diverse teams and P&L of up to US$2 Bn per annum, and has a proven track record of building, transforming and managing businesses to success. Sanjeev is passionate about developing client-focused, professional teams, and helping people achieve their fullest potential in a merit-based work culture. Sanjeev is a member of the Board of Governors for AmCham Hong Kong. He is also a founding member and co-chair of the Male Allies initiative of TWF and member of 30% Club. 

To recognise an LGBT+ employee based in Hong Kong who has taken proactive and effective steps to promote an LGBT+ inclusive culture in the workplace and beyond in Hong Kong.

Eligibility: An LGBT+ employee (any level) based in Hong Kong

Finalists: 

Louis Ng  
Fidelity International

Louis Ng is the Senior Manager, Early Careers Talent Acquisition at Fidelity International in Hong Kong focusing on building junior talent pipeline in Asia. Louis also leads Fidelity's Global LGBT+ Action Group and Fidelity for Everyone's Network where he is engaged in a number of key D&I initiatives in the region. He was a finalist for Community Business' 2018 LGBT+ Inclusion Champion Award and ranked 24th of OUTstanding LGBT+ Future Leader 2018. Louis graduated with a B.A. in Language Studies with Business from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a PGCert in HR Management and Development from University of Leicester.

Michael Lam
Goldman Sachs

Michael is an Executive Director at Goldman Sachs and serves as a co-head of the firm’s Hong Kong LGBT+ Employee Network. To raise awareness in the workplace and increase engagement level of employees in the LGBT+ space, in the past year, Michael led, advised and organised close to 10 internal and external LGBT+ related events across Asia Pacific. These have resulted in 105% increase in network membership in a year. Serving on the Hong Kong LGBT+ Interbank Forum representing multinational banks in Hong Kong, he has also helped several local companies launch their own LGBT+ networks. 

Rob Head
Thomson Reuters

Rob Head is the Head of Proposition, Core Law at Thomson Reuters Asia & Emerging Markets Business. He is commercially responsible for Westlaw services from Africa, Russia and the Middle East through to Asia, and Australasia and manages teams across Asia and Australia. Rob is passionate about Diversity & Inclusion in all its forms, and as such he was the lead for Pride at Work Hong Kong and held a role on the global leadership team. More recently he has taken up the Executive Sponsorship role but is also a male ally to Women@TR and in the wider legal community. 

To recognise a non-LGBT+ individual who has demonstrated personal passion and commitment to promoting LGBT+ inclusion in the workplace and beyond in Hong Kong.

Eligibility: An employee (at any level) who does not identify as LGBT+, based in Hong Kong and who is not in a line Diversity & Inclusion role

Finalists: 

Byron Phillips
Hogan Lovells

Byron is an experienced disputes lawyer based in Hong Kong with over 8-years' experience solving problems for clients. This has included conducting complex litigation, arbitration and investigations (both internal investigations and in response to formal investigations brought by regulators) usually of a cross-border nature. Byron has particular interest and experience in financial services litigation and investigations, telecommunications, media and technology disputes, cyber fraud and cybersecurity, white collar crime and fraud, insolvency litigation and professional liability disputes. 

Imaan Bhatia 
HSBC

Imaan joined HSBC two years ago and has worked in several different roles in business financial crime risk. Prior to joining HSBC, she worked with ANZ, ABN AMRO and Bank of America and has over a decade of experience in the banking industry. Imaan is an Indian-Jordanian and married with two kids. Having lived in Singapore, India, Thailand, South Africa and Hong Kong, and coming from a multi-racial family, Imaan understands the value of diversity and has always worked very closely in her community to bring people together through organising fundraisers and carnivals. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, fostering abandoned dogs and raising awareness about the environment. Imaan is the Green Ambassador for the HSBC rOARing Lions Dragon boating team. As a “super ally”, she has been part of Pride HK for over a year and supported various events. Imaan’ s impactful contribution was noticed and she was elected as the Co-Chair of HSBC HK Pride in Dec 2018. She is fiercely passionate about driving a culture of diversity and creating a great Ally support within HSBC and the larger Hong Kong Community.

Marta Bezoari
PIMCO Asia

Marta is SVP and head of business and strategy for PIMCO APAC. She is responsible for developing and leading strategic initiatives to drive regional growth in APAC. Previously, Marta was an account manager in the NY office, focused on institutional consultants. In 2016, Marta received the 'Rising Star Award' from the Women's Bond Club of NY. She is a member of the board of directors of Mercado Global. She has 11 years of investment and financial experience and holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management and an undergraduate degree in mathematics and physics from King's College London. 

Sudesh Thevasenabathy 
AXA Hong Kong

Sudesh brings with him more than 19 years of experience specialising in customer experience, process efficiencies and change management across multiple industries. In his current role, Sudesh is Head of Customer Care Management at AXA Hong Kong where he manages and runs all the customer contact teams. He has received numerous team and individual awards in recent years due to his passion for improving customer experience. He sits on the D&I Council on the LGBT+ And Origins taskforce. He also speaks in many events and conferences sharing best practices and his vision of improving customer experience and D&I. 

To recognise a community-based LGBT+ initiative that has had a significant positive impact in promoting LGBT+ inclusion in Hong Kong.

Eligibility: an initiative led by a not-for-profit organisation in Hong Kong

Finalists: 

A Woman is a Woman
Association of World Citizens Hong Kong China 

Through the production and screening of the movie “A Woman Is A Woman” the Association of World Citizens Hong Kong China hope to reach and penetrate different layers of society, conveying the message that, while transwomen are fragile and suffer from a lot of bullying in society, they are just ordinary persons and deserved to be loved and respected by all mankind.  Transwomen are just like cisgender women. The gender identity of this marginalised group of people needs to be respected so that they can participate equally in society and in their respective fields of excellence. 

Living your True Self 活出真我 
Blessed Ministry Community Church

Few bodies of faith in Hong Kong openly support the LGBTI+ community because religious texts are often misconstrued as a tool to separate people based on race, gender and identity. Living your True Self educates the public that our faith is anchored in the message of peace and inclusion. Blessed Ministry Community Church is commited to transforming this world into a better place, giving us the courage to make an impact outside the religious context. The Church also has a strong focus on public education and raising awareness for the next generation including seminars at universities, refugee sponsorship, etc. The reach of the Church extends to legislators, students and parents.

Asia-Pacific Rainbow Families Forum
Planet Ally  

The goal of the Asia-Pacific Rainbow Families Forum (APRFF) is to raise awareness of the existence of Rainbow Families in the Asia-Pacific region and highlight the important ways families headed by sexual-minorities require and seek support. By raising awareness APRFF works to achieve recognition, protection and equal treatment of Rainbow Families and LGBTQI+ people inclusive of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics. (SOGIESC). This is achieved by sharing of personal, professional and academic expertise as a means of education-based advocacy engaging private-public partnerships, government and other stakeholders. APRFF has been held in HK in 2017 and 2018.