Jacqui Gavin Keynote Speaker

Jacqui Gavin is an inspiring public speaker, leading transgender role model and the D&I Lead for the Department of International Trade.

She became a transgender activist in June 1983 in a world where being yourself was socially unacceptable. Jacqui began raising awareness of transgender issues as elected deputy chair of Grampian Gender Group and has been fundamental in the promotion of Transgender issues throughout HM Government.

Jacqui joined the Civil Service in July 2009 where she joined the Department for Work & Pensions working out of Warrington Pension Centre after a long term career working her way up the career ladder in the private sector to head of Service Delivery for a major plc.

It was a decision that Jacqui has not looked back on as she was able to combine her role as a respected transgender activist and directly working in the area of transgender equality at the heart of government. First of all as the first ever Chair of the Transgender Network within DWP followed by becoming a active Steering Group member of a:gender in 2010.

This was the launchpad needed as she became the the Vice Chair of a:gender in 2012 and in 2013 she became the youngest ever Chair and in March 2015 returned as the Vice Chair.

This opportunity has allowed Jacqui to not only support the Civil Service in its delivery of transgender equality but to work with external organisations and entities to promote transgender equality across a wider landscape. This has highlighted to government the challenges of transgender people both within and outside of the Civil Service in their daily working lives. This has enabled the gap between government and private industry to be narrowed for equality in the workplace.