Best Speakers for Transgender Awareness Week

As one of the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in society, it’s important that transgender people are given a platform to spread their messages, support others who may be struggling with gender and identity and fight for equal rights.

With this in mind, organisations throughout the country are likely to be hosting a whole host of personal and corporate events to commemorate the week.

At Evolve Talent & Speakers, we’re home to a whole host of leading diversity speakers, including inspirational transgender personalities who are ideal for your Transgender Awareness Week event.

What is Transgender Awareness Week?

Taking place between the 13th-19th of November, Transgender Awareness Week culminates with the international Trans Day of Remembrance (TDoR) on November 20th.

The purpose of the week is twofold. First and foremost, it’s to celebrate the achievements and visibility of trans, non-binary and gender diverse people around the world. As well as this, the week offers the chance to reflect and remember victims of transphobic violence, while educating and advocating for a kinder and more equal society.

The origins of the event can be traced back to the 1950s and the trailblazing activist Christine Jorgensen. The USA’s first-ever trans woman, she’s regarded as the first person in the world to widely distribute information and educational materials on trans issues. In 2009, the first ever International Transgender Day of Visibility was launched, and it served as a counterpart to the week long celebration we know today.

Best Transgender Awareness Week Speakers

We’ve put together a list of some of the best Transgender Awareness Week speakers in the business who are all available to make an impact and engage audiences wherever they go.

Read on to find out more.

Kellie Maloney

For many years, Kellie Maloney was best-known for being one of the UK’s most successful boxing promoters who oversaw the career of world champions such as Lennox Lewis.

However, away from the macho environment of the boxing arenas, Kellie was battling her own personal demons. Formerly known as Frank, in 2014 she made the courageous decision to publicly come out as a transgender woman. Undergoing gender reassignment surgery, she then appeared on Celebrity Big Brother where the public was introduced to Kellie for the first time.

Now, she’s one of the most famous transgender people in Britain, who uses her platform as an inspirational keynote speaker to discuss her story with audiences, while also captivating audiences with her life lessons that resonate with people everywhere.

Katie Neeves 

Despite living as a man for 48 years, Katie Neeves knew from the age of three or four that the truth was very different. Aware that she was female, she began cross-dressing at an early age and grew up with feelings of guilt, shame and self-loathing. This gender dysphoria lasted well into adulthood, but now Katie has transformed her life.

Comfortable in her skin for the first time, she is the founder of Cool2BTrans, an organisation that aims to support people everywhere with issues surrounding identity no matter how far along their journey they are. As well as this, she provides educational talks and speeches on a whole host of trans and gender issues. Katie’s life story is one of a kind, and as one of the most knowledgeable diversity speakers in the industry is the perfect choice for all Transgender Awareness Week events.

Caitlyn Jenner 

Arguably the most famous trans person on the planet, Caitlyn Jenner is a former Olympic champion athlete who is a member of one of the world’s most high-profile families. Born William Bruce Jenner, at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal she was described as ‘an American hero’ for winning the Decathlon event and clinching a gold medal.

From here, she married into the Kardashian family and played a key role in the hit reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Caitlyn made international headlines in 2015 when she came out as a trans woman. A reality series, I Am Cait, was then launched which followed her as she adapted to her new normal. These days, she is a vocal trans and LGBTQ+ activist, and in her role as a speaker is able to discuss a wide range of issues impacting the Trans community.

Matt Ellison

Matt Ellison is one of the most popular transgender speakers on the circuit. He inspires both public and private sectors in the UK and internationally with his life experiences as a trans man.

Matt gained media attention as he starred in a high-profile Channel 4 documentary, Me and My Penis. This tackled a whole host of taboos, and covered sex, psychology, and men’s mental health issues. Matt was a spokesman on the programme for those facing these issues and gained the viewership of the masses. Matt’s insights on change apply to people in all areas of professional and personal life, and in all sectors, from healthcare professionals to businesses and educational organisations. His first-hand and sensitive approach to modern-day issues has proved most effective and he has consulted for organisations including Microsoft, eBay, Mars, Toyota, and Disney.

Having experienced a transition journey himself, Matt knows the challenges which come with it. He can both provide support for those with similar struggles and help educate others on the importance of its acceptance and equality.

Joanne Lockwood

Public speaker and inclusion and belonging, Joanne Lockwood is the founder and CEO of SEE Change Happen. She is a role model for the LGBT+ community and being transgender herself, understands the struggles people face with it.

Her success in the field of diversity and inclusion has been widely recognised and in 2022, she was voted one of the “Top 30 Diversity & Inclusion Leaders You Must Follow” by LeadersHum.com. Joanne is also well known for her contribution and featured in the 2019 UK Channel 4 documentary, “The Making of Me”. This detailed her gender transition and the impact on both her and those around her. She is also a regular media contributor, where she shares her views on acceptance and belonging.

A valued inclusion consultant to many organisations, Joanne advises and educates corporations on how to promote equality within the workplace. A force on the speaking circuit, she is guaranteed to spread positivity with her mantra “smile, engage and educate.”

Charlie Martin

Charlie Martin is regarded as one of the most inspirational diversity speakers in the industry. Her journey as a trans woman making her way in the world of motorsport never fails to captivate an audience.

Prior to Charlie’s transition in 2012, she had made her name on the British stage in motorsport and competed in a whole host of competitions around the world. She had struggled with her identity, knowing from the age of seven, she was transgender. Losing both her parents at a young age made this even more difficult for her. Following her transition, Charlie made the courageous decision to return to motorsport, despite it being extremely male dominated. She had huge success and competed in the German VLN Championship and the 2021 Britcar Endurance Championship.

Charlie has used her platform and own experiences to raise awareness of transgender and LGBT rights. She has received huge recognition from within the community, and regularly gets involved with a range of initiatives to raise the profile of LGBT and trans sportspeople. She works as an ambassador for Racing Pride and as the LGBT charity Stonewall’s first-ever Sports Ambassador.
Now having ambitions of being the first trans driver to compete at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans, she has become an inspirational role model for transgender people.

At Evolve Talent & Speakers, we have an extensive portfolio of speakers from a wide range of industries. As well as diversity speakers that are perfect for Transgender Awareness Week, we can also facilitate the booking of sports stars, entertainment personalities, intrepid adventurers and event hosts. For more information, contact our team today.