Diversity Summit Sets Date to ‘Drive Inclusion in an Ever-Changing Landscape’
Northern Ireland’s premier event for Diversity and Inclusion leadership will be hosted by Diversity Mark at their annual summit on 8th October in Titanic Belfast focusing on the theme of ‘Driving Value: Inclusion in an Ever-Changing Landscape’.
A transformative one-day event, the 2025 Diversity Mark Summit will bring together over 300 thought leaders, business executives and inclusion advocates from across all sectors with attendees engaging in a full day programme featuring expert keynote speakers and insightful breakout sessions.
CLICK HERE to view the full Summit programme.
CLICK HERE to book your tickets! Invoice and card payment options available.
Confirmed Speakers:
Richard Mihalic, Senior Manager Inclusive Diversity at Allstate brings a wealth of experience in embedding inclusion at the heart of a global organisation. At the summit, he’ll share real-world insights from Allstate’s Inclusive Diversity journey highlighting both the challenges and the powerful impact of building a truly inclusive culture.
Rebecca Robins is globally recognised leadership advisor, educator and organisational changemaker. She is the co-author of “Five Generations at Work”. With deep expertise across brand, culture and leadership, and a career spanning global consultancies, top universities, and transformative learning programmes, Rebecca brings a fresh, future-focused perspective to the workplace.
Sandra Healy, CEO and Founder at inclusio, has 20 years of experience in the global telecoms industry and five years at Dublin City University. She brings a rare blend of technical expertise, organisational psychology, and behavioural data science. She is also a certified NLP Master Practitioner. Sandra works with leadership teams to leverage culture as a strategic asset, strengthening performance, accountability, and trust across the organisation.
Babita Sharma is an award-winning broadcaster, journalist, and author whose career spans over 20 years at the BBC, where she reported on some of the most defining global events of our time, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 U.S. elections, Brexit and the Black Lives Matter protests. Her exceptional contributions to media earned her the prestigious Asian Achievement Award. Babita is a passionate advocate for diversity and mental health, mentoring BAME journalists and serving as a Trustee for United for Global Mental Health and Crescent Arts NI. A Patron of the South Asian Heritage Trust and the Migration Museum. Her storytelling continues to shape cultural discourse and inspire future generations.
Susan Hayman, Engagement and Employer Solutions Manager at CIPD has been driving professionalism and innovation in the Northern Ireland region. Through delivering professional services, she empowers people professionals and teams with internationally recognised standards, enhancing career success and workplace best-practice. Her promotion of CIPD standards and member benefits boosts operational efficiency and decision-making. Susan also delivers impactful events including an annual Awards and Conference which give recognition and resource to the HR community. Many benefit from her strategic guidance as she fosters professional growth while elevating industry expectations.
Lutfur Ali is an internationally respected Senior Policy and Practice Advisor at the CIPD and a Non-Executive Director at the Business Continuity Institute (BCI). With over 35 years at the forefront of equality, diversity, inclusion and ethical leadership, he has been a powerful force for workplace transformation—helping organisations unlock potential, embed lasting culture change, and deliver better business and social outcomes. From advising governments to shaping regulatory reform through landmark inquiries like the Zahid Mubarak Inquiry and the Prime Minister’s Prevent Task Force, Lutfur’s influence reaches across public, private and third sectors. A compelling advocate for fairness, his work champions people, purpose and the kind of leadership that leaves a legacy.
Natasha Boyd has been with Allstate Northern Ireland since 2016 and currently works as an Executive Assistant, supporting the global Architecture, Computing, and Engineering teams. She is also the Chair of Allstate’s Disability Support Group, where she plays a key role in promoting inclusion, raising awareness, and driving positive change for colleagues with disabilities.
Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 5, she developed diabetic retinopathy at 22 and a paralyzed stomach at 26, and now lives with a feeding tube. Her lived experience gives her a deep understanding of the challenges faced by those with long-term health conditions and fuels her commitment to fostering a more accessible and supportive workplace for all.
Michael Neill specialises in all areas of business recovery work, which includes advising local and national insolvency practitioners, major banks, and other creditors. He is also a partner in both our Restructuring and Litigation departments. Michael also conducts a wide variety of financial services and insolvency-related litigation. He acts on behalf of financial institutions as well as life, property, pension and investment companies. He has also acted for banks, companies, creditors and insolvency practitioners in the majority of high profile corporate failures in Northern Ireland in recent years.
Don Leeson retired as the Labour Relations Agency’s Chief Executive in late 2024, and is now pursuing a portfolio career. This includes consultancy work and being a Non Executive Director on the Board of Translink and a Diversity Mark Assessor.
Don was voted the IoD NI’s Director of the Year in the category of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in 2023 and, in March 2025, was recognised by CIPD NI for his outstanding contribution to people development in Northern Ireland.
Prior to becoming the Agency’s Chief Executive, in 2020, Don was its Director of Corporate Services since March 2017. He earlier worked as a senior manager at the Agency between 2011 and 2013, managing the Agency’s arbitration services and facilitating collective conciliations and mediations.
Filippo Sassi is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and currently serves as the Head of AI Labs at Version 1, based in London. With a strong background in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and applied research, he leads a team of 15 specialists focused on developing innovative AI solutions that drive real-world impact. His work spans strategic initiatives such as Generative and Traditional AI, Natural Language Processing (NLP), supervised and unsupervised learning, and responsible AI frameworks.
With more than 15 years of experience in the technology sector, Filippo has held a variety of roles across software engineering, technical leadership, innovation consulting, and AI strategy. He began his career at IBM and later joined Version 1, where he progressed through roles including Software Engineer, Scrum Master, and Tech Lead. This journey has equipped him with a unique blend of technical depth and strategic insight.
Jude Copeland is a leading lawyer in AI and emerging legal technologies at Cleaver Fulton Rankin Solicitors and serves as Chair of the Law Society of Northern Ireland Cybersecurity, Data Protection, and Emerging Technologies Sub-Group. Jude was part of the design and implementation of the first diversity and inclusion survey of the solicitor profession.
Jude has written and spoken widely on LGBTQIA+ rights and history, all over the UK and Ireland, in traditional media, and to businesses, charities and grassroots organisations. He is a trusted adviser to a number of charities and pride/sector organisations.
George Kilpatrick advises on both contentious and non-contentious employment matters across a wide range of sectors, with a particular interest in disability discrimination. His expertise is rooted in his former role as Deputy Director (Legal) for Disability at the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.
Known for delivering strategic legal advice with a strong focus on equality, workplace rights, and compliance, George will bring an array of insight to the conversation and you don’t want to miss out on it!
Michelle Alexis works with senior leaders across Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England to ensure Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging strategies are delivered. She delivers ‘Inclusive Leadership’ courses and works on high level projects and change initiatives which have impact across the BBC.
Beyond her work in the BBC, Michelle is an EDI Associate for the Arts Council of Wales, a Board Member of the Black Welsh Music Awards, and a Board Member of youth organisation Sound Progression. She has previously chaired the Women’s Equality Network of Wales, served as EDI Director for Basketball Wales, and worked in a consultancy capacity for the Welsh Government, shaping policy for their Anti-Racist Action Plan.
Dr. Sara Venning has led Northern Ireland Water as Chief Executive since 2014, following her appointment as Director of Customer Service Delivery in 2010. She is known for driving operational excellence, innovation, and customer-focused transformation. A strong advocate for sustainability, she has shaped NI Water’s strategic direction in infrastructure resilience and digital advancement.
A former President of the Institute of Water, she now serves as President of the WaterAid NI Committee, supporting global access to clean water and sanitation. Sara holds a Master’s in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Queen’s University Belfast and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science in Economics in 2023 for her services to business and commerce.
Lesley Miller is an experienced leader in business growth and strategy, specialising in Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI). With a background as a leader in Tech, Finance and Business Growth Lesley cemented her belief that EDI benefits both employees and businesses. By building diverse teams we build diverse viewpoints and experience leading to better business outcomes, making companies more attractive to potential employees, higher employee retention and increased profits. Over Lesley’s 40-year career she gained experience in Tech, Finance, Manufacturing and the Service Sectors across a range of organisations, most recently 20+ years in Allstate Northern Ireland, before retiring at the end of 2023. Lesley then joined Diversity Mark as Strategic Project Lead in Q2 2024.
Commenting at the Summit launch, Director of Diversity Mark Christine White, said, “In this ever-changing landscape, discussions on diversity can often be challenging but now more than ever, diversity and inclusion must be a standing agenda item for businesses seeking sustainable growth. At Diversity Mark we have seen diversity and inclusion transform organisations by enhancing collaboration, encouraging curiosity, and driving success across the board and we are delighted to announce Richard as one of our first confirmed keynote speakers who will share insights from their leadership in Inclusive Diversity.
“As well as showcasing real-world examples of the positive impact diversity can have on your organisation, Richard will explore both the challenges and the critical importance of maintaining a consistent and authentic approach to inclusion across global markets and we would encourage anyone who is interested in this area to attend and see the difference inclusion in the workplace can make to your organisation.”
Sponsored by Allstate, the Summit is also an opportunity for NI’s business leaders to build new connections, share best practice to drive meaningful change and equip attendees with fresh practical strategies and insights on how to create more inclusive and supportive workplaces for everyone.
This inspirational annual gathering will offer global and local perspectives on increasing innovation and learning, retaining top talent and reimagining diversity and inclusions impact. With a wealth of resources for attendees to put into place purposeful action to ensure their organisations innovate and cultivate inclusive progress, the event is especially timely as companies navigate shifting geopolitics, changing workforce expectations, and rapid technological change.
Looking ahead to the October Summit, Stephen McKeown, Vice President and Managing Director at Allstate NI, added:
Stephen McKeown, Managing Director, Allstate Northern Ireland:
“We’re proud to once again headline the Diversity Mark Summit 2025 – Driving Value: Inclusion in an Ever-Changing Landscape.
Inclusive Diversity is at the heart of Allstate—it shapes how we lead, innovate, and grow. A culture where every voice is heard drives value for our customers and impact in our communities. This summit is a powerful reminder of the business and human value of true inclusion. In Every Voice. In Every Step. In Every Success.”
Diversity Mark is the only independent not-for-profit Diversity and Inclusion Accreditation in Northern Ireland and has to date accredited almost 200 organisations across the UK and Ireland on their path to a more inclusive workplace.
CLICK HERE to book your tickets! Invoice and card payment options available in Eventbrite.
Take a look at last year’s highlight video to get a glimpse of what to expect.
