2020 Hong Kong LGBT+ Inclusion Awards - Finalists

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

Eligibility: An LGBT+ employee network based in Hong Kong  

Finalists: 

HSBC Pride HK 
HSBC

Pride HK is a volunteer-led Employee Resource Group that seeks to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees and their allies can perform to the best of their abilities fulfilling HSBC's strategic goals in an open, inclusive and supportive environment. It’s mission is to promote policies, and practices that facilitate employee engagement and acceptance at workplace. PRIDE HK supports grassroots efforts to build stronger communities, therefore enhancing the HSBC brand. The Global Pride Sponsor is Charlie Nunn, GMD & Chief Executive, Global Head of Wealth and Personal Banking. The sponsor of PrideHK is Kevin Martin, Group General Manager, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Digital Transformation for WPB.

J.P. Morgan PRIDE Hong Kong 
J.P. Morgan

PRIDE Hong Kong is part of the J.P. Morgan's Business Resource Groups (BRGs), representing the firm's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, + and Ally employees. As a resource group, PRIDE provides members with information, awareness and networking opportunities - to enhance their career development. PRIDE also actively reviews the policies, processes, procedures and strategy of the firm via it's various chapters globally, to ensure the firm is fully inclusive to LGBT+A employees.

Nomura LGBT+ Network AEJ
Nomura International (Hong Kong) Limited

Nomura LGBT+ Network AEJ is one of three employee networks at Nomura and is a key lynchpin of Nomura's Diversity & Inclusion platform. All employees, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, are welcome to join the network. It aims to drive personal and professional growth for employees by building Nomura’s culture and raising awareness of LGBT+ issues to develop world-class diverse and inclusive teams.

The network connects members through internal and external events, assists in the recruitment, development and retention of employees to ensure related initiatives are fair, balanced and appropriate to a diverse audience. It also drives policy review and development to ensure best practice in the LGBT+ space.

Pride at Work
Thomson Reuters

Pride at Work aims to create a safe and inclusive workplace, remaining aligned with Thomson Reuters business objectives, those of our customers and external partners and the wider community of LGBTQ+ individuals as well as friends and allies. Pride at Work is host to projects such as On Side with Pride, through which allies can declare their support for their LGBTQ+ coworkers and offer encouragement to those working in regions where living with different sexual orientations or gender identities is dangerous or illegal. The Pride at Work group also sponsors and gets involved with events all around the world.

To recognise an organisation which has recently started on its LGBT+ inclusion journey in Hong Kong (within the last 2 years) and has made significant progress. 

Eligibility: An organisation based in Hong Kong.

Finalists: 

Eaton HK

Hong Kong's first and only IGLTA certified hotel, Eaton HK is a pioneer in welcoming LGBTQ+ travelers to the city. This is seen through their hosting of equality activists and transgender advocates for events, sponsoring HK pride and Miles of Love forum, a robust programming schedule centered around humanitarian, creativity and community activism causes, inclusivity in hiring practices and guest service training, all the way down to little details such as storing marriage equality literature on-site, billboard displays for equality and the rainbow flag outside the hotel,  and gender neutral bathroom signs throughout the property.

Manulife

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services group that helps people make their decisions easier and lives better. With global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, the group operates as Manulife across offices in Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. Manulife is committed to providing a space where the employees do not have to choose between doing a job they love and being who they are, something that disproportionately affects the LGBT+ community. In Hong Kong, Manulife aims to bring this life by engaging with and visibly supporting the community through sponsorships of key events such as International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia (IDAHOT), Pride & Prejudice Summit, Pink Dot, Pride Parade Hong Kong & Pink Season. It recognises same-sex partnerships and extend employee medical benefits coverage to same-sex domestic partners. It have set up an internal PROUD employee network to provide a space for the community and allies to connect, network, engage and help to shape and drive an inclusive and safe space for the employees. As a member of the Hong Kong Interbank LGBT+ forum, it has taken the opportunity to learn and share learning and leverage the power of a collective voice. Its regional and local leadership teams are engaged on this journey it have started towards being a leading LGBT+ inclusive insurer and employer.

Marriott International  

For more than 90 years, Marriott International has lived by its core value of putting people first and providing equal opportunities for our employees. We recognize our global responsibility to use our scale and size as a force for good, and the meaningful role we believe we can play in creating a safe and welcoming world for all.

At Marriott, we are committed to providing a world of opportunity for everyone. We have a global diversity and inclusion council that monitors the integration of its diversity and inclusion initiatives across all aspects of its global business strategy. All senior executives are committed and hold themselves accountable for reviewing the progress in their respective disciplines; and have diversity and inclusion goals included as part of annual management business objectives.

Marriott is devoted to serving the world and creating lasting, positive impact in the communities where we operate. In October 2018, we embarked furthering our support for the LGBT+ community in Hong Kong, where our Asia Pacific headquarters is based, starting with the participation in the LGBT+ Inclusion Index 2019. This has allowed us to transparently and stringently assess our current LGBT+ inclusion standing locally and has assisted us to frame our go-forward plan in advancing diversity and inclusion within the local organization as well as in the community.  

Being in the business of hospitality, Marriott serves people from all around the world from all walks of life, with all points of view. We will continuously leverage on our strength in the diversity of its workforce and community of customers, and strive to identify compelling opportunities to progressively raise the profile of LGBT+ inclusion, with the aim of contributing towards the collective effort of like-minded organizations in Hong Kong.

To recognise a senior executive sponsor based in Hong Kong who has spoken up and used their 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: 

Bill Greene 
Morgan Stanley 

Bill Greene is a Managing Director in the Equity Research division at Morgan Stanley. In September 2015, he was appointed Morgan Stanley’s Director of Asia Research, based in Hong Kong. In 2017, Bill approached the Asia Pride and Allies network co-chairs to discuss becoming more engaged in in the network. After nearly two years in the region, he recognised the strategic role he could play as the Executive Sponsor of Asia Pride and Allies. As the only openly gay Managing Director in Hong Kong, Bill recognises the significance of being an active and visible Role Model in Hong Kong and the region. In his management role, Bill sits on Morgan Stanley’s Asia Pacific Executive Committee and Asia Pacific Diversity Council, providing him the unique opportunity to discuss LGBT+ inclusion with senior management on a regular basis. He often raises the topic of inclusion with senior-level colleagues and helps secure funding for LGBT+ internal and external initiatives. Prior to his arrival in Asia, Bill was a research analyst covering transportation North American transportation stocks in Equity Research. He was also involved in Morgan Stanley’s Pride network in New York City, and thus, brings a global view to his role as Executive Sponsor in Hong Kong.

Matt Bower
Allen & Overy 

Matt Bower is a partner in Allen & Overy's litigation department. Matt is the co-chair of the firm’s Hong Kong LGBT+ committee and has been instrumental in driving forward the D&I agenda both internally within A&O and more widely within HK’s business communities. Matt led a team at A&O on an unprecedented piece of research on relationship equality in HK, leading to the launch of a report which identifies widespread instances of differential treatment according to relationship status. Matt was recently shortlisted by Chambers for "LGBT+ Lawyer of the Year" in the Asia Pacific Diversity and Inclusion 2020 awards.

Richard John Seeley
HSBC

Richard is Managing Director and Global Head of Equities Operations and Head of Global Markets Operations, Asia-Pacific at HSBC and has over 25 years’ experience in Financial Services. A HK permanent resident and longtime LGBT+ advocate, Richard led the sponsorship of the inaugural Community Business LGBT Climate Survey in 2011-12. In the near decade since, Richard has been a founding member and Chair of the Asia based LGBT+ networks at Barclays and Bank of America, has worked with global organizations such as OutLeadership and has spoken at multiple events including Stonewall’s annual conference in the UK. Most recently, Richard has been engaged in HSBC’s efforts to partner with clients on LGBT+ inclusion activities while also continuing his work internally as an LGBT+ mentor and sponsor of HSBC’s ally program in Asia-Pacific.

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. Priority will be given to employees whose primary job is not related to Diversity & Inclusion.

Finalists: 

Caxton Chung
Nomura International (Hong Kong) Limited 

Caxton Chung is a Marketing Specialist in Corporate Communications in Nomura. He has extensive experience on branding, marketing and graphic design. He has been a dedicated, active member for Nomura LGBT+ Network for Asia ex-Japan since 2008 and was appointed Network Leader in January 2019. Prior to Nomura, Caxton worked as a graphic designer in Lehman Brothers Asia from 2007. He is also an International awarded designer on visual communication and packaging categories.

Jennifer Feng 
Kirkland & Ellis

Jennifer is a partner in the investment funds group of the Hong Kong office of Kirkland & Ellis. Jennifer has actively participated in various external speaking engagements focused on LGBT+ inclusion and diversity matters, and has recently led the successful launch of Kirkland & Ellis Mosaic, the very first LGBT+ Diversity Committee in the Asia offices of Kirkland & Ellis. Kirkland & Ellis Mosaic has a mission not just to act as an internal support group, but to serve as a platform to externally promote diversity and inclusion and to positively influence our business and social communities in this space. Kirkland & Ellis Mosaic’s long term hope is that whenever people hear of “Kirkland & Ellis”, they automatically associate Kirkland as a champion of diversity. In addition to being committed to LGBT+ Diversity issues, Jennifer is also a member of Kirkland & Ellis’ Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) committee in Asia and has actively participated in a wide range of activities led by the Firm’s WLI group.

Louis Ng
Fidelity International

Louis Ng is the Senior Manager, Early Careers Talent Acquisition at Fidelity International  managing junior talent pipeline in Asia and global MBA programme.Louis also leads Fidelity's Global LGBT+ Action Group and Fidelity for Everyone's Network where he is driving a number of key D&I initiatives in the region. He was a finalist for Community Business' 2018 & 2019 LGBT+ Inclusion Champion Award and ranked 12th of OUTstanding LGBT+ Future Leader 2019.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 GoldmanSachs and serves asa co-head of the firm’s Hong Kong LGBT+ employee network. With his commitment to intersectionality, Michael has collaborated with multiple affinity networks topromote inclusion. Michael is an active participant invarious global LGBT+initiatives, including theGlobal Pronouns Initiative Working Group. Externally, Michael serves asthe Secretariat forthe Hong Kong LGBT+ Interbank Forum and asa board member of AIDS Concern. His active engagement with local NGOs including PinkDot and QueerStraightAlliance encourages stronger collaborations ofbusinesses with thewider community. Michael mentors and coaches LGBT+ and ally employees on related topics, and has spoken at a number of public events on the importance of LGBT+ inclusion, his personal experience as an out individual and the concept of role modelling.

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 (any level) who does not identify as LGBT+ based in Hong Kong.

Finalists: 

Imaan Bhatia
HSBC 

Imaan advocates allyship in her personal and professional life and aims to be a super ally role model. She has worked in various teams across HSBC with experience in business deployment solutions, financial crime and project management. She is committed to creating an inclusive environment at work where everyone can reach their full potential. She is eternally upbeat and uses her unbeatable determination and enthusiasm to reach out to senior stakeholders in all areas of the bank to increase awareness, not only bringing them onboard as allies, but also creating new partnerships and attaining sponsorships. For example sponsorship of the First Pride Run in 2019 and starting of the Pride Ambassador Program. Imaan played a pivotal role in incorporating the ally training programme for the Insurance team through Insurance Academy which ensures ally ship not only within HSBC but also for our LGBT+ customers as they will now be served by an ally sales force. Imaan has been leading to make policy changes that will benefit the LGBT+ employees and or LGBT+ dependents. She was also instrumental in creating a single HR page to list all domestic partner benefits. She is passionate about sustainability and created the first Pride Badge holders made with recycled corks.

Nathalie Hobbs 
Linklaters 

Nathalie is a banking partner, specialising in acquisition finance and other types of lending. She is Linklaters’ regional managing partner for Asia, where 1,000 of the firm’s partners, lawyers and business team members are based, in 10 locations from the UAE to Tokyo. Nathalie sits on the global executive committee of the firm and she has previously held a variety of management and governance positions within the firm, including two years on the Partnership Board, as head of the firm’s Asia banking & projects practice, as head of knowledge & learning for Asia and as managing partner of the Paris office. She has been a LGBT+ ally for many years and a vocal supporter of promoting anti-discrimination measures in Hong Kong and creating an inclusive environment within the offices in the Asia region. She believes that now, more than ever, with so much uncertainty around us, an inclusive culture within organisations is vital and LGBT+ inclusion is a bellweather for all aspects of inclusion.

Sean Navin
Goldman Sachs 

Sean is a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, Head of Hong Kong and Northbound Connect sales trading and he manages HighTouch execution strategy. In addition, Sean serves as a co-head of the firm’s HongKong LGBT+ employee network. Sean has a longstanding commitment to LGBT+ inclusion and is the creator of PinkFriday, an annual flagship internal event founded in 2014 which has expaneded cross-industry and 60 organizations now participate in the HK event. PinkFriday raises LGBT+ awareness in the workplace. He actively leverages his influence within Goldman Sachs and his client relationships to drive LGBT+ inclusion in the workplace and beyond. He leads, participates in and volunteers at various LGBT+ events to share best practices, raise awareness with industry peers, and to pay it forward to the community.

To recognise an individual or organisation which has contributed to the advancement of LGBT+ equality and inclusion in Hong Kong through advocating for legal and/or social change.  

Eligibility: An individual or organisation based in Hong Kong. 

Finalists: 

Allen & Overy and Equal Opportunities Commission

Allen & Overy is an international legal practice with approximately 5,500 people, including some 550 partners, working in more than 40 offices worldwide.The Hong Kong Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) is the statutory body responsible for implementing and promoting equality under the Sex, Race, Disability, and Family Status Discrimination Ordinances in Hong Kong. Its key roles are to investigate and attempt to conciliate complaints of discrimination; provide legal assistance to complainants; advocate for legal and policy changes where appropriate; and conduct research and education on issues relating to equality.The EOC engaged Allen & Overy on a pro bono basis to identify and analyse areas of Hong Kong legislation and policy in which an individual’s relationship status impacts their legal rights and obligations. Allen & Overy’s findings are documented in ‘The Recognition and Treatment of Relationships under Hong Kong law’, a report released in June 2019. (captured from its publication on website)

Love Unbounded 

Love Unbounded is a bisexual community that is dedicated to providing a safe and friendly platform for bisexuals to meet, as well as seek relevant information and support. We also aims to introduce bisexuality, polysexuality and the gender and sexuality spectrum to the public, by both creating online contents like infographics, as well as organising offline activities, in order to raise bisexual visibility, break monosexism, and eliminate misunderstanding and discrimination.

Dr Travis S K Kong
The University of Hong Kong 

Dr. Travis S.K. Kong is a leading sociologist with a specialization in Chinese gender and sexuality. His mission is to expose discrimination and the challenges LGBT+ encounter in Hong Kong as well as fight for their social inclusion through producing scholarly publications, playing a key leading role in advising the government and NGOs regarding gender and sexuality issues, and educating professionals and the general public about inclusion and diversity through public talks, seminars and discussions. His long-term service to and research on the LGBT+ community in Hong Kong has been widely recognized locally and internationally.

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: 

Gay & Grey 晚同牽
The Unforgettable and the Unspoken Voice

"The Unforgettable and the Unspoken Voice" aims to raise awareness of the unspoken needs and problems of older gay men to the general public and the LGBT community through providing community services as well as public education.For community services, we aim to provide monthly gathering which will include tea gathering, film screening and karaoke, followed by focus group discussions. Topics discussed will fall into four main areas of their everyday life: work and retirement; family and intimate relationships; social service and health; and the sexual communities. We will also provide a helpline to answer questions raised by older gay men.For public education: we aim to educate the general public to understand the needs and problems of this hidden population through lecture, workshop, interview, and media exposure.This initiative also empowers the participants which we believe is an integral part of positive identity formation and community building given the fact that their sexuality was denied when they were young.

Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival

HKLGFF is a festival of arts, dance, music, films, and panel discussions. For 30 years the film festival brings artists, filmmakers, actors/actresses, performers and speakers from around the world to Hong Kong. Queer/lgbt+ films that usually find it harder to get a general release at our local cinemas are given a platform to be able to screen their films and share their experiences at a great venue, collaborating with Broadway Cinemas for nearly 2 decades some screenings are 300 plus packed. Every year we work with fabulous venue spaces for our opening/closing parties and collaborate with lgbt+ allies establishments.

Les Corner Empowerment Association 女角平權協作組
Supporting Lesbian -- Away from Partner Domestic Violence Project 支援女同志--遠離伴侶家暴計劃

"Supporting Lesbian -- Away from Partner Domestic Violence Project" is a 3-year subsidized project:

1. Organise workshops to educate volunteers on the coverage of the current Hong Kong Domestic Violence Ordinance, Social Welfare Department’s current policy in handling domestic violence, supporting services provided by welfare NGOs, Police’s way of handling it and basic counselling services, etc.
2. Provide training to and share with mainstream domestic violence service providers, including government, welfare NGOs, police and colleges, to dispel misunderstandings on the community. Educate the community on knowledge about domestic violence. Assist homosexual domestic violence victim or show care for lesbian experiencing domestic violence, in hopes of building a supportive network to break down social isolation.

To recognise a young person (age 30 and below) who has advocated for and championed LGBT+ inclusion in Hong Kong, or a community organisation which has advocated for and championed LGBT+ youth inclusion in Hong Kong.  

Eligibility: An individual (aged 30 and below) or community organisation based in Hong Kong.

Finalists:

Aaron Chan Chun Tat
DLA Piper Hong Kong 

Aaron is the Pro Bono Associate - Asia of DLA Piper Hong Kong. Prior to joining DLA Piper, Aaron has received training and worked in Daly & Associates, a leading human rights law firm in Hong Kong. He was involved in a number of landmark public law cases in Hong Kong concerning LGBT+ rights, including Leung Chun Kwong v Secretary for the Civil Service and another, Ng Hon Lam Edgar v Housing Authority and Ng Hon Lam Edgar v the Secretary for Justice. He also has advised and represented the transgender community in seeking recognition. Outside the courtroom, Aaron has often been invited to attend seminars and media interviews to advocate for LGBT+ rights. He is one of the general advisors of Hong Kong Marriage Equality. Aaron believes in equality and fairness for everyone. To him, he, as a lawyer, is obligated to bring fairness and equality to everyone in Hong Kong. Aaron was the winner of the Young Lawyer Special Award in the Pro Bono and Community Work Recognition Programme 2019 by the Law Society of Hong Kong for his pro bono legal service to his clients.

Gary Lee
Standard Chartered Bank (HK) 

Gary graduated from The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2013 and joined Standard Chartered as a Management Trainee in the Commercial Banking division. He was a Relationship Manager in Commercial Banking covering SME clients before becoming a Credit Analyst covering large multinational corporations and conglomerates in Greater China within the Corporate and Institutional Banking division.

Gary started his D&I journey by helping South Asian teenagers adapt in Hong Kong when he was 14. He helped to re-launch the Standard Chartered Hong Kong LGBT & Allies Network(“network”) in 2014 and became the Co-Chair in 2017. He has been leading the network to create an inclusive environment and reinforce the LGBT+ inclusion message within the bank and in the community via organising, participating, helping bank sponsor various internal and external events. He initiated the bank’s first sponsorship in Hong Kong Pride Parade that Standard Chartered has been a Key Sponsor for 6 consecutive years since 2014. In 2018 and 2019, with senior management support, Gary has helped create LGBT+ experiences with partnership of the Liverpool Football Club at Pink Dot, Pride Parade and Pink Friday to further enhance and visualise the support to LGBT and allies community. As a young local LGBT+ champion, Gary is happy to share his LGBT+ inclusion journey with others and works hard to inspire the younger generation to step out and drive LGBT inclusion.

Ryan Fung
Hustle4Diversity and Credit Suisse (Hong Kong) Limited 

Ryan Fung was born in Hong Kong in 1992 and spent more than a decade in Canada. Ryan’s interest in diversity was sparked not in the classroom, but instead on the basketball courts of Toronto where he connected with players from different parts of the world. After roles with various global technology companies based in Hong Kong, Ryan secured a position with a multinational organisation where he developed his interest in human resources. Subsequently, Ryan joined Credit Suisse as an HR Analyst. Driven by his commitment and passion to create positive change in the world around him, Ryan co-founded Hustel4Diversity as a platform to advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace and in society.