Women in Business 2021 Diversity & Inclusion Award Winner, Bernie Davies, is a TEDx Speaker, Bestselling Author, Diversity and Entrepreneurship Leader, with a previous outstanding legal career in property, of over 21 years. Past Chair of the Neath Chamber of Trade, Black History Wales Board member, Ambassador for the Commonwealth Entrepreneurs Club, Business Wales Mentor, Welsh Government Excelerator Coach and Founder of Bernie Davies Global; Bernie supports entrepreneurship programmes with a focus on diversity, for major banks, universities and government agencies. Top 100 Businesswoman in Wales 2017, Swansea Black Icon 2018 and Excellence in Business 2017 Award winner (presented at the Welsh Sennedd); she mentors and Coaches businesses globally. She regularly sits on Awards Judging panels as a Business Specialist. Bernie has been and continues to be a regular BBC Radio Wales Contributor and BBC and ITV media expert. She is nominated for the Leader Award in the prestigious Chwarae Teg Womenspire2022 Awards. Bernie was also recently a guest of the UK Government in Whitehall, London, which was a special reception, celebrating the successes of Welsh female Entrepreneurs. This event was hosted by The Secretary of State, the honourable Simon Hart MP. Bernie is passionate about inclusion; her famous mantra being, "We go together, or not at all."

Having previously worked as a Recruitment Consultant across various industries, Bolu recently transitioned into a Diversity & Inclusion role. During her years as a recruiter, she encountered clients struggling to embed D&I in company values and candidates from minority backgrounds who were forced to seek new opportunities due to the challenges they faced in the workplace; which included discrimination in the recruitment process, being overlooked for promotion/pay rises, lack of training or support etc. In her current role as a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion lead, Bolu is able to be part of the driving force that ensures underrepresented groups are represented fairly in the recruitment process as well as helping organizations recognize the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Christopher Kenna is CEO and Founder of Brand Advance Group which encompasses Brand Advance / DECA Diversity Media Consultancy, BA creative agency and technology platform Cultural Intelligence, a Startups.co.uk top 100 company the last 3 years (2021), and connects brands with diverse audiences globally, through Insights, Media and Creative that more authentically engages these communities. Brand Advance Group was named (Campaign 2021 -media Business of the year) & (The DRUM - Diversity & Inclusion Company of the Year 2021). Christopher is a member of the WFA Diversity Board, and as a mixed race, out gay father - he is a strong advocate for diversity and representations within media and advertsing. He is also on the advisory boards for ITV, London MetPolice and the V&A Museums. An award winning entrepreneur having received the Innovator of the Year Award at the second annual Ex-Forces in Business Awards and was recently named on EMPower’s 100 Ethnic Minority Executives 2020 and OUTstanding top 100 LGBT Executives.

“It is the responsibility of us all in society to ensure we push the DEI agenda across all parts of business and society - the Wales Online Diversity and Inclusion Awards are one way to ensure this happens. Being nominated will show both your teams and the rest of Wales that you are working together to build an inclusive society full of the fantastic difference that diversity brings. Im very proud to be part of this journey and very much look forward to meeting all these trail blazers and change makers.”

Debbie Forster MBE is an award-winning figure in the areas of diversity, tech, innovation and education and the CEO of the Tech Talent Charter. Debbie was awarded an MBE in January 2017 for “Services to Digital Technology and Tech Development” and named as the Most Influential Woman in UK IT for 2019 by Computer Weekly. She is CEO for the Tech Talent Charter, chairs the Institute of Coding's Diversity Board, sits on the steering group of #Tech She Can and both the government's Digital Economy Council and its Money and Pensions Service advisory board.

“These awards are an important opportunity to showcase all the great and important work done by those who are driving inclusion and diversity in Wales. I look forward to the very difficult and ultimately humbling job of judging these inspiring entries.”

Elin Haf is founder and CEO of Aparito, a global digital health company changing the patient experience of clinical trials. She’s also an avid adventurer having rowed across both the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean, raising half a million pounds for charities close to her heart.

“In today’s world where it seems to be at risk of falling apart at the seams, we need more than ever to be able to celebrate our differences and not feel threatened by the opportunity to include everyone at the table. Role models matter, celebrating them matter even more. I’m proud to be championing this for Wales and beyond.”

Dr Julie Humphreys joined Reach in 2021 from FTSE 20 Compass Group, where she was Group Head of Diversity & Inclusion and responsible for their global D&I strategy. She’ll report directly to our CEO Jim Mullen, and also be part of our HR Leadership Team, which reports to Group HRD Julia Warren. With more than 20 years’ experience in HR, specialising in diversity & inclusion and talent Management, Julie is a big name in the D&I space - she holds a doctorate and has won a number of awards throughout her career. A passionate advocate of good mental health in the workplace, Julie has appeared in the Lord Mayor of London’s campaign ‘This is Me’ and has featured as an LGBT+ ally role model across the insurance industry. She’s also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD) and a mother to four teenage children. Along with being a West Ham United season ticket holder, Julie is a member of the Pride of Irons LGBT+ fan group for the Club.

She says: “Reach is committed to building a more inclusive culture, there is already so much work going on behind the scenes to make that happen, I’m excited to join and build on that work with passionate people.”

"I am honoured to be judging the inaugural WalesOnline Diversity and Inclusion Awards and excited to recognise and honour all the individuals, groups and initiatives working hard to deliver change across Wales. Change can often be met with resistance, that's why it's important that we stop and celebrate people's determination and courage to make the world a fairer place."

Jenny Garrett OBE is an Award Winning Career Coach and Leadership Trainer, with over 15 years experience of running a Global Business. Jenny empowers people to make the transformation that they are seeking actually happen, that could be: navigating their career successfully finding work that is more on purpose for them or getting the best from their team. Everything she does is aimed at either advancing gender balance, creating inclusive workplaces or equipping young people with the skills that leaders of the future need. What she is best known for is her book Rocking You Role which is a guide to success for female breadwinners, delivering inspiring talks, career coaching, delivering leadership training, speaking in media, facilitating retreats and running teen conferences.

“It's an honour to be a judge for the inaugural WalesOnline Diversity and Inclusion Awards which aim to recognise our diversity and inclusion champions across Wales. There are so many unsung heroes who go above and beyond to promote diversity and inclusion, and I can't wait to shine a light on their efforts and impact.”

Nia Edwards-Behi yw Swyddog Amrywiaeth a Chynhwysiant S4C. Mae Nia yn gyfrifol am weithio gyda holl adrannau S4C yn ogystal â phartneriaid allweddol i gynyddu amrywiaeth S4C, ar ac oddi ar y sgrin. Mae ganddi gefndir mewn marchnata a’r celfyddydau, gydag arbenigedd mewn ffilm.

Nia Edwards-Behi is Diversity and Inclusion Officer for S4C. Nia is responsible for working with all of S4C’s departments as well as key partners in order to increase S4C’s on- and off-screen diversity. She has a background in marketing and the arts, with a specialism in film.

Sian Lewis, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, has worked at Admiral for 28 years and throughout her impressive career has undertaken many challenging roles in Admiral’s UK business and beyond. Sian has always been passionate about finding and nurturing strong talent regardless of gender, social standing, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or age and remains passionate about creating a workplace that continuously strives to be diverse, equitable and inclusive, where differences are celebrated and the perspectives, collaboration, and creativity that diversity brings is valued.