This article was originally published by the IPA.

The IPA has announced the 30 individuals who have made the inaugural IPA iList, in partnership with Unilever, for their game-changing dedication to improving the diversity and inclusivity of the industry.

These outstanding iList individuals are responsible for some of the most influential and wide-ranging diversity and inclusion initiatives in adland, from working to improve gender and ethnic minority equality, to raising awareness and understanding of mental health, neurodiversity, disability and social mobility, to helping to stamp out sexual harassment, to increasing the diverse representation – in all its forms – within the work itself, and much more.

The 30 iList members include:

• Afua Basoah, Vice President, Rabin Martin
• Phil Bartlett, MD, Global Inclusivity & Diversity, CDM London
• Sean Betts, MD, Annalect
• Victoria Brooks, Inclusions and Strategy Consultant, Freelance
• Michael Brown, Partner, Insight and Cross Culture, UM
• Dan Cullen-Shute, CEO, Creature
• Fernando Desouches, MD, New Macho (Perfect Storm)
• Asad Dhunna, Founder, The Unmistakables
• Akama Ediomi-Davies, Product Director, Xaxis/GroupM
• Serhat Ekinci, Managing Partner, Omnicom Media Group – Multicultural
• Karen Fraser, Co-Founder AdWorks
• Cindy Gallop, Founder, Make Love not Porn
• Sid Gordon, Creative Director, RAPP UK
• Jaki-Jo Hannan, Integrated Producer, adam&eveDDB
• Louise Johnson, CEO, FUSE
• Laura Jordan-Bambach, Chief Creative Officer, Grey London
• Sally Keane, Head of Sales, Marketing Solutions, LinkedIn
• Kelly Knight, HR Director, AMV BBDO
• Vicki Maguire, CCO, Havas London
• Hannah McCready, Comms Manager, The Specialist Works
• Andy Nairn, Founder, Lucky Generals
• Liz Nottingham, Former Executive Director Learning and Development, R/GA
• Sufia Parkar, Diversity and Engagement Director, McCann Worldgroup
• Xavier Rees, CEO, Havas London
• Amie Snow, Creative, Ogilvy
• Carolyn Stebbings, MD, SVP Data and Tech, Code Worldwide (part of the RAPP Group)
• Charmaine St John, Head of People, Fuse
• Rudi Symons, Former Global Head of Culture, GroupM Global
• Trevor Robinson OBE, Founder and ECD, Quiet Storm
• Sue Unerman, Chief Transformation Officer, MediaCom

Says Leila Siddiqi, Associate Director, Diversity, IPA: “These are the trail blazers – the exemplars – of how to get inclusivity right. We’d like you to not just celebrate them; but to take time to learn how they have improved inclusivity within their agency or company and apply this to yours. The iList announcement is very timely, we know that diversity makes business sense and we must not lose sight of our longer term vision for inclusivity during this period of restructure and cost saving. We look forward to sharing with you specific examples from individuals on the list, especially those who are positively reinforcing the inclusion agenda in a way that is relevant during the COVID-19 crisis.”

Says Karen Blackett OBE, WPP UK Country Manager and MediaCom Chairwoman UK & Ireland and iList Chair of Judges: “It has been an immense honour to be part of judging the inaugural iList. It has been humbling, at times emotional, but so inspiring to read their stories and to meet them in person. Collectively, they are changing our industry for the better and propelling us forward.”

Says Claire Beale, Global Editor-in-Chief. Campaign: “I’m so proud to be able to showcase and support all the committed and passionate people on this list. My hope now is that the iList becomes so much more than a back-patting exercise and is seen as a source of inspiration and learning; the people on this list are leading the way but we all need to follow if we are to truly shape the industry for the better.”

Says Aline Santos, EVP Global Marketing and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Unilever: “Congratulations to all the finalists! Unilever has been humbled and inspired to partner with the IPA on the iList. In this completely new world we need diverse leaders, problem solvers and people from all backgrounds to ensure our ‘new normal’ works for everyone and not just a few. Role models like the iList finalists will help to ensure our industry comes out the other side stronger and smarter.”

Says Sam Phillips, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer OMG UK + Chair, D&I Consultancy and iList Deputy Chair of Judges: “Deputy Chairing the inaugural iList was both joyful and insightful. To discover the untold stories of individuals and businesses in our firmament striving to make a difference across the Diversity and Inclusion spectrum was a delight. Thanks to the IPA, Campaign and Unilever for supporting these new awards and to my fellow judges for providing such wise counsel. To all who have been leading our industry’s D&I charge – thank you and keep it up – there’s much to celebrate but there was already a steep road ahead pre-pandemic and D&I chasms will likely grow without eyeballs and action continuing to be trained on this vital area in the months and years to come.”

Says Debbie Weekes-Bernard , Deputy Mayor for Social Integration, Social Mobility and Community Engagement: “We want every workplace in London to be diverse and inclusive. We know advertising is a powerful tool but too often the images we are presented with provide limited impressions of the people they portray.

“At a time when having a sense of belonging is more important than ever, these game-changers are helping ensure the advertising industry, and the advertising they create, becomes not only more representative, but increasingly inclusive and truly diverse.”