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Music legend Boy George was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by De Beers Group, at the 16th annual European Diversity Awards (EDAs), held at the InterContinental London Park Lane and headline sponsored by Optum. The award recognised Boy George’s four-decade contribution to promoting visibility, acceptance and inclusion for the LGBTQIA+ community, and his lasting influence in shaping a more open and diverse cultural landscape across Europe.

 

Hosted by Kamali Melbourne and Gillian Joseph, the ceremony brought together more than 600 guests from across business, politics, media and civil society to celebrate individuals and organisations leading the way in diversity, equity and inclusion.

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Munich Re was named Company of the Year, sponsored by DHL Group, recognised for embedding diversity and inclusion across its business globally and championing inclusive leadership at every level. Employee networks once again took centre stage, with ScottishPower’s In-FUSE network named Outstanding LGBTQIA+ Network of the Year, sponsored by myGwork, for its work creating visibility, allyship and belonging across the organisation.

 

Among the individual winners, David Lawlor of Kellanova received the Inspirational Role Model of the Year, sponsored by Allianz Commercial, for his commitment to fostering an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive. Florence Henderson of Moody’s was named Head of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging of the Year, sponsored by Haleon, recognised for driving measurable change and embedding inclusion across her organisation.

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The Social Mobility Initiative of the Year award went to AMS for its AMS Skills Creation programme, recognised for opening pathways and creating opportunities for underrepresented talent to succeed. Other winners included Cinema Without Barriers by ZAMEK Culture Centre in Poznań for Community Project of the Year, Andy Goff of Capgemini for HR Champion of the Year, and Capgemini’s Capability network for Outstanding Ability Network of the Year.

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This year’s winners, chosen from hundreds of nominations across Europe, reflect the outstanding progress being made to advance equality, representation and belonging in every sector.

 

Founder Linda Riley said:

“Each year, the European Diversity Awards celebrate those who are driving real change — people and organisations proving that inclusion isn’t just an idea, it’s action. This year’s winners truly embody that spirit. Their work is helping to build a fairer, more connected Europe for everyone.”

 

 

2025 European Diversity Awards – Winners and Highly Commended

 

Community Project of the Year – sponsored by CBRE
Winner: Cinema Without Barriers, ZAMEK Culture Centre in Poznań
Highly Commended: Academy for Disabled Journalists (ADJ), Ability Today

 

HR Champion of the Year – sponsored by Sanofi
Winner: Andy Goff, Capgemini
Highly Commended: Emily Lofting-Kisakye, Cognita Schools

 

Social Mobility Initiative of the Year – sponsored by Denova Legal Services
Winner: AMS Skills Creation, AMS
Highly Commended: Sanofi NextGen Scholarship, Sanofi

 

Charity or Not-for-Profit of the Year – sponsored by Optum
Winner: IMANcorp FOUNDATION

 

Diversity Team of the Year – sponsored by Paramount
Winner: Executive MBA (EMBA) Team, Cambridge Judge Business School
Highly Commended: DEI Team, Munich Re

 

Outstanding Employee Network – sponsored by Globalinclusivity.org
Winner: Well-being Employee Resource Group, HSBC Innovation Banking
Highly Commended: Carers Network, Centrica

 

Outstanding LGBTQIA+ Network of the Year – sponsored by myGwork
Winner: In-FUSE, ScottishPower
Highly Commended: Proud@Sainsbury’s, Sainsbury’s

 

Outstanding Ethnicity Network of the Year – sponsored by The Voice
Winner: GLOBE International, Gilead Sciences
Highly Commended: Race Equality Network, University of Birmingham

 

Outstanding Ability Network of the Year – sponsored by Centrica
Winner: Capability, Capgemini
Highly Commended: Critenable Community, Criteo

 

Outstanding Women’s Network of the Year – sponsored by Sedulo
Winner: CBRE UK Women’s Network, CBRE
Highly Commended: Connected Women, ScottishPower

 

Changemaker of the Year – sponsored by EmployAbility
Winner: Melissa Brette Ogée, Hyatt UK & Ireland
Highly Commended: Adelle Barker, Sky UK Ltd

 

Inspirational Role Model of the Year – sponsored by Allianz Commercial
Winner: David Lawlor, Kellanova
Highly Commended: Raj Jones

 

Head of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging of the Year – sponsored by Haleon
Winner: Florence Henderson, Moody’s
Highly Commended: Jennifer MacDonald, Royal Academy of Engineering

 

Diversity Champion of the Year – sponsored by Abercrombie & Fitch
Winner: Kat McGurk, Flutter
Highly Commended: Deon Pillay, Legal & General

 

Company of the Year – sponsored by DHL Group
Winner: Munich Re
Highly Commended: Sanofi

 

Lifetime Achievement Award – sponsored by De Beers Group
Winner: Boy George