Network Group Masterclass programme

Theme: Changemaking

LGBTQ+ networks are an immense force for positive change both for their members and for the whole organisation. They form part of a long history of organising within the LGBTQ+ community to create a more equal society.

At this year’s Network Group Masterclass, we’ll explore what we can learn from one another and the wider LGBTQ+ movement about creating change.

You’ll have the opportunity to select two of the leadership development workshops to attend in the morning. Then in the afternoon you can select two good practice workshops.

Programme Quick View

Leadership Development Workshops

Care, community and leadership

At its heart an LGBTQ+ network group is a community of people seeking to make their workplaces safer, healthier and more equal for our community. This work forms part of a long history of structures of care established by and for the LGBTQ+ community.

In this session we’ll explore what we can learn from social justice movements about community care and how this can strengthen the support that we as leaders provide to our network groups.

Influence, change and leadership

As network group leaders we occupy a unique place in an organisational hierarchy. Navigating the places where we do and do not hold positional power in our roles can be challenging but is essential if we want to leverage our position to create change at work.

In this workshop we’ll explore how to intentionally use your influence as a network group leader and overcome some of the common challenges in building more inclusive networks and workplaces.

Power, privilege and leadership

Understanding our own privilege and the power that it affords us is essential if we want to create network groups that provide support to the whole community. Within the LGBTQ+ community our identities and experiences differ widely, and exploring those differences helps us develop solidarity in our leadership.

In this workshop we’ll reflect on our own identities and experiences in order to understand how we can nurture a form of leadership that redresses power imbalances and inequality in our network groups.

Good Practice Workshops

Fostering active networks

Network groups are a valuable space for individuals to come together, connect and create organisational change. Active and engaged members are vital in doing this work. But with the pressures of work and the challenges of remote or hybrid working maintaining high levels of engagement can be a challenge.

In this workshop we’ll explore innovative ways to enable higher levels of engagement with your network group.

In this workshop you will:

• Explore the barriers that prevent engagement in networks, especially among more marginalised members of the community
• Share innovative approaches to running network groups that enable greater participation
• Discuss how to provide holistic support to everyone in the LGBTQ+ community as a network group

Creating change as a network group

Network groups have the potential to transform an organisations LGBTQ+ inclusion work. However, with so much work to do and often limited resource it can be a challenge to ensure your advocacy has the greatest impact for the community.

This workshop will explore different ways to create change in your organisational culture and systems.

In this workshop you will:

• Understand the role of a network group in advocacy at all levels of an organisation
• Explore how impactful and well-designed strategy can be a foundation of changemaking
• Share strategies to advocate for your network and influence senior leadership to take action

Running impactful and inclusive events

Events are a crucial way to support your members, educate the wider organisation and build a culture of active allyship.

This workshop will explore how you can build a year-round programme of impactful and collaborative events that support your networks wider strategy. We’ll also share key ways to ensure that the events you host are accessible and inclusive.

In this workshop you will:

• Understand how to build a sustainable and impactful programme of events around your LGBTQ+ inclusion strategy
• Discuss how to effectively collaborate with other network groups in your organisation to create events
• Explore good practice on creating accessible and inclusive events

Closing Panel: Leading Change

Thriving LGBTQ+ networks play as much of a part in changemaking as they in do community building.

Their role in advocating for LGBTQ+ colleagues, pushing for policy change and creating structures of support can have a momentous and lasting impact.

At this year’s closing panel, we’ll have the opportunity to hear from colleagues leading their LGBTQ+ networks who’ve played a part in establishing positive organisational change. We’ll hear what it takes to drive a campaign, keep the momentum and secure sustainable change to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people at work.

Programme deep dive

Leadership Workshops

Care, Community & Leadership

Facilitators: Ash Brook | Empowerment Delivery Manager | She/Her - Gwen Taylor | Empowerment Content Manager | They/them

Location: Explore

At its heart an LGBTQ+ network group is a community of people seeking to make their workplaces safer, healthier and more equal for our community. This work forms part of a long history of structures of care established by and for the LGBTQ+ community.

In this session we’ll explore what we can learn from social justice movements about community care and how this can strengthen the support that we as leaders provide to our network groups.

Influence, Change & Leadership  

Facilitators: Liz Ward | Director of Programmes | She/Her

Location: Imagine

As network group leaders we occupy a unique place in an organisational hierarchy. Navigating the places where we do and do not hold positional power in our roles can be challenging but is essential if we want to leverage our position to create change at work.

In this workshop we’ll explore how to intentionally use your influence as a network group leader and overcome some of the common challenges in building more inclusive networks and workplaces.

Power, Privilege & Leadership

Facilitators: Leah Buckle | Senior Empowerment Delivery Officer | She/Her – Sarah Campbell | Head of Empowerment | She/Her

Location: Session A: Inspire

Understanding our own privilege and the power that it affords us is essential if we want to create network groups that provide support to the whole community. Within the LGBTQ+ community our identities and experiences differ widely, and exploring those differences helps us develop solidarity in our leadership.

In this workshop we’ll reflect on our own identities and experiences in order to understand how we can nurture a form of leadership that redresses power imbalances and inequality in our network groups.

Good Practice Workshops

Fostering Active Networks

Facilitators: Zee Monteiro | Senior Empowerment Content Officer | They/Them – Armando Soto Lara | Client Account Manager

Location: Explore

Network Groups are a valuable space for individuals to come together, connect and create organisational change. Active and engaged members are vital in doing this work. But with the pressures of work and the challenges of remote or hybrid working maintaining high levels of engagement can be a challenge.

In this workshop we’ll explore innovative ways to enable higher levels of engagement with your network group.

In this workshop you will:

• Explore the barriers that prevent engagement in networks, especially among more marginalised members of the community
• Share innovative approaches to running network groups that enable greater participation
• Discuss how to provide holistic support to everyone in the LGBTQ+ community as a network group

Creating change as a Network Group

Facilitators: Florence Scordoulis | Client Account Manager | she/her – Kim Sutton | Client Account Manager | she/they

Location: Inspire

Network groups have the potential to transform an organisations LGBTQ+ inclusion work. However, with so much work to do and often limited resource it can be a challenge to ensure your advocacy has the greatest impact for the community. This workshop will explore different ways to create change in your organisational culture and systems.

In this workshop you will:

• Understand the role of a Network Group in advocacy at all levels of an organisation
• Explore how impactful and well-designed strategy can be a foundation of changemaking
• Share strategies to advocate for your network and influence senior leadership to take action

Running Impactful & Inclusive Events

Facilitators: Katie Fretwell | Client Account Manager | She/her/they/them – Jaipreet Deo | Client Account Manager | She/Her

Location: Imagine

Events are a crucial way to support your members, educate the wider organisation and build a culture of active allyship. This workshop will explore how you can build a year-round programme of impactful and collaborative events that support your networks wider strategy. We’ll also share key ways to ensure that the events you host are accessible and inclusive.

In this workshop you will:

• Understand how to build a sustainable and impactful programme of events around your LGBTQ+ inclusion strategy
• Discuss how to effectively collaborate with other network groups in your organisation to create events
• Explore good practice on creating accessible and inclusive events

Closing Panel

Panel Host: Ash Brook | Empowerment Delivery Manager | She/Her

Speakers: Deon Fang | Clifford Chance | – Alison Green | Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service | (She/Her/They/Them) – Kara Bridgeman | NHS England

Thriving LGBTQ+ Networks play as much of a part in changemaking as they in do community building. Their role in advocating for LGBTQ+ colleagues, pushing for policy change and creating structures of support can have a momentous and lasting impact.

At this year’s closing panel, we’ll have the opportunity to hear from colleagues leading their LGBTQ+ Networks who’ve played a part in establishing positive organisational change. We’ll hear what it takes to drive a campaign, keep the momentum and secure sustainable change to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people at work.

Keynote speakers

Deon Fang (any pronouns) is a Litigation & Dispute Resolution lawyer at Clifford Chance, and Co-Chair of the firm's Arcus LGBTQ+ network. His LGBTQ+ pro bono work includes a judicial review in the Supreme Court on behalf of Christie Elan-Cane, whose campaign seeks legal recognition for individuals who do not identify as either male or female.

With Arcus, Deon has implemented events and policies focusing in particular on less-represented groups within the LGBTQ+ community, contributing to Clifford Chance’s 1st place position on Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers 2023.

Alison Green (she/her/they/them) identifies as a hard of hearing, white, cis female lesbian. Ali has been a member of support staff for Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (GMFRS) since 2016, an active member of the Rainbow Staff Network and an EDI SPOC for the organisation. She has been both a Chair and a Co-Chair leading the network for 2 ½ years. 

Highlights leading the network: creating safer spaces for LGBTQI+ colleagues; engaging allies as EDI SPOCS to enable intersectional engagement, creating ways to engage members who are not out and driving network direction. Ali is honoured to have been in the working group for the Stonewall Index submission, achieving gold awards for the last 2 years and while leading the network to be awarded Stonewall Network Group of the Year 2023.

Kara Bridgeman (she/her) is a white, pansexual transgender woman. She works at NHS England as a Diversity, Inclusion, and Participation Programme Officer. She is LGBTQIA+ Network member and became the Trans Network Lead when the position was created in 2021. Kara works collaboratively to create a thriving LGBTQIA+ community, with supportive allies and a workplace culture where everyone is included, cared for and valued.

As the trans lead she led and contributed to updating trans inclusion policies, creating a trans ally guide, running trans awareness sessions, creating/hosting trans safe spaces, sharing her stories and experiences, and helping others do the same. This work, alongside that of colleagues, gained a place in Stonewall's Top 100 Employers, a gold award and a highly commended network group award.

Network Group Masterclass