Kier planner honoured in list of 50 LGBT+ ‘future leaders’

Image: Christina Riley

A senior planner at Kier has been recognised as number seven in the 2018 ‘OUTstanding 50 LGBT+ Future Leaders’ list.

The sixth annual list, created by INvolve and presented by the Financial Times, honours people who have impacted LGBT+ inclusion inside and outside the workplace.

Kier’s Christina Riley is the only person listed to work in the construction industry.

Since transitioning from male to female in 2014, Christina has given over 45 diversity and intersectionality talks and has raised over £7,500 for charity. Since joining Kier she took up the role of vice chair of the company’s LGBT+ and Allies Committee.

This marks the fourth year that Riley has been recognised in the list and the first time she has been listed in the top 10.

All of the 2018 Role Models were nominated by peers and colleagues, with the nominations then reviewed by OUTstanding’s judging panel, which consists of former BP CEO, Lord Browne, Harriet Green, CEO and chairman of IBM Asia Pacific, among other well-known names in business.

Riley said: “I am thrilled to have been recognised on this prestigious list amongst a host of other names doing great things for the awareness of LGBT+ issues in business. When I transitioned there was no visible transgender role models in the industry and I have been overwhelmed by the amount of support I have received since joining Kier.

“It was very humbling to be asked to be the vice chair on the Kier LGBT+ and Allies Committee and spreading the word of the committee to Kier employees and other people in the industry has been great; I look forward to seeing what the future will bring.”

Suki Sandhu, founder and CEO, Involve said: “Our sixth OUTstanding list is our most international and diverse ever. It features executives representing 21 countries around the world – from Ghana to Germany and from India to Israel. We’re so proud to see so many senior and future leaders recognised as role models for their work driving cultural change and creating environments where everyone can succeed. Everyone – regardless of gender, sexuality or ethnicity – benefits from a level playing field where people feel able to bring their whole selves to work.”