LGBT+ Careers: A Debate
What is it like to be out as an LGBTQ+ person at work? What types of challenges and opportunities does the work market present to those who are open about their sexual orientation or gender identity? This debate will address these and other questions by bringing together professionals from three different areas: corporate environment, the LGBTQ+ charity sector, and academia. It will also discuss some of the possible shapes that careers with a LGBTQ+ focus may take. It is aimed at anyone with an interest in understanding how sexual identity may intersect with a professional identity.
This is a joint event, organised at Royal Holloway, University of London by the LGBT Staff Network and the Student’s Union. It will be moderated by VP Welfare and Diversity Willow Wong. The debate will be followed by a wine reception.
Our Guests
Amy Tooth Murphy is a lecturer in Oral History at Royal Holloway, where she specialises in queer British history. In addition to working in academia, she has also worked in the voluntary sector for LGBT Youth Scotland, where she was the Co-Ordinator of LGBT History Month in Scotland.
Jenny Jean-Paul is the Young Person’s Mental Health Advocate at Stonewall Housing, whose mission is to create safer spaces and end homelessness for LGBT+ people. She works as part of a team that provides a holistic approach to client support recognising that mental health, housing, debt, domestic and sexual violence and discrimination are often related. Previously the young person’s advocate at Pace, the LGBT+ mental health charity; Jenny has been involved in developing alternative support networks for LGBT+ people organising social activities geared towards those who wish to pursue interests that are not club orientated. She facilitated a coming out group for LBT women and a social group as part of Opening Doors London for older LGBT people at London Friend. Jenny has also worked in the voluntary sector as a campaign and development worker, benefits advisor and as the marketing officer for a legal information charity.
Jorge Pikunic is the Managing Director of Centrica’s international Distributed Energy & Power business, established to deliver distributed energy solutions for large energy users as part of a more flexible energy landscape. He joined Centrica in 2010, first heading up the Group’s strategy team, before taking over as Managing Director of British Gas’ Smart Metering business, where he lead the roll-out of smart meters to over one million residential customers. Born in Venezuela, Jorge is an engineer and holds a MSc and PhD in Chemical Engineering. He was also a Research Fellow at the University of Oxford before joining McKinsey & Company, where he advised a number of institutions in energy and other sectors. He is a Board Director of the Faraday Institution and was a Board Director of Smart Energy GB. Earlier in his career he worked for Procter & Gamble and PDVSA (Venezuelan national oil company).
Ticket Information
This event is free. But please RSVP to LGBT Staff Network.