The DIVA Charitable Trust Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony made a vivid return on 24 April as part of lesbian visibility Week (20-26 April). The evening combined celebration and advocacy, gathering LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people to recognise achievements across media, sport, community work and corporate inclusion. Organisers positioned the event not only as a night of recognition but as a visible moment in an ongoing campaign to ensure representation leads to concrete change.
Presenter and writer Deborah Frances-White hosted the programme, which featured musical sets from Sans Soucis and Horse. A standout moment came when Horse and Heather Peace performed a moving duet of Donna Summer’s “No More Tears,” energising a room full of prominent attendees such as Christine McGuinness, Mzz Kimberley and Jessica Kellgren-Fozard. The evening opened with addresses from DCT executive director Lady Phyll and DIVA editor-in-chief Roxy Bourdillon, who framed the ceremony around the charity’s work and community priorities.
Awards and winners
The ceremony honoured a wide range of contributions. The myGwork LGBTQIA+ Network Champion Award went to Alessia Cavallini of Kantar, with Bobbie Saxon at Diageo highly commended. The Kearney Innovation Award was presented to Voda, with Erica Rose earning a highly commended mention. For writing, the CoreRecruitment Writer Award recognised Isabella Dorta, while Ellen Jones received a highly commended accolade. The Centrica Media Moment Award celebrated the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final 2026, with Kesha and Trans Voices at Mighty Hoopla Festival 2026 highly commended.
Additional honours highlighted advocacy, community-building and cultural leadership. The Deutsche Bank Diversity Champion Award was awarded to Tolu Osinubi of Deloitte, with Adelle Barker at Sky UK Ltd highly commended. The LGBTQIA+ Network Award went to LGBTQ+ at Sky, while Spectrum at Barclays was highly commended. The London Women’s Clinic Creator Award recognised Jessica Kellgren-Fozard, with CurvyBlackWitch (Janae Owyn) and Oscar Davies highly commended.
Community and cultural prizes included the UK Black Pride Community Initiative Award for Glitter Cymru (highly commended: Black Queers Connect), and the Jackdaw Media Icon Award for Rita Hirani & DJ Ritu, Club Kali (highly commended: jane fae). The Inspirational Role Model Award went to Rebecca Paisis of Pride in London, while Dani St James was highly commended. Legal and allyship recognition saw the BNP Paribas Ally Award given to Jolyon Maugham, with Balvinder Sopal highly commended.
Further accolades included the Allianz Commercial Changemaker Award presented to Claire Harvey MBE, founder of Not In Our Name (NION) (highly commended: Laïla El-Métoui, founder & CEO of LEM Education). Sporting recognition via the Diversity Umbrella Sport Award celebrated the Lionesses (highly commended: Amanda Wah). The ceremony also acknowledged a career of sustained contribution with the Lifetime Achievement award presented to Mzz Kimberley.
Highlights and atmosphere
The night balanced celebratory performances with moments of reflection. Attendees praised the energy of live music and the visibility created by assembling leaders from across sectors. Presenters and winners repeatedly returned to the theme that public recognition is valuable only when it is paired with action: the event underscored how awards can amplify voices that advocate for inclusive workplaces, safer public spaces and better representation in media and sport. Photographs and conversations on site captured a sense of solidarity and a determination to turn visibility into measurable outcomes.
DCT’s mission and message
Throughout the evening Lady Phyll reiterated the trust’s commitment to turning spotlight moments into long-term progress. She argued that while celebrations are important, the purposeful visibility the trust seeks must translate into changes in culture, policy and day-to-day life for LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people. The gala therefore doubled as a platform to raise awareness of DCT’s programmes and to remind guests that recognition should fuel further advocacy and practical support.
Supporting queer media and the trust
Organisers also used the platform to highlight that DIVA has been amplifying queer women and gender-diverse voices for over 30 years and now publishes as part of the DIVA Charitable Trust. Attendees were invited to learn more about the charity’s work and consider ways to support queer media and community projects through the trust’s official channels. The evening closed with optimism: award winners celebrated, networks strengthened, and a clear call to sustain momentum so visibility leads to enduring change.