• The fifth annual Out Leadership Summit in Europe will bring together leading figures from across the financial services, technology and other industries to continue the dialogue about corporates’ role in advancing LGBT+ equality around the world.
• Panels will include:
  • “Wired Money: Technology, Business & LGBT+ Inclusion”:
    • Kevin Dallas, Chief Product & Marketing Officer, Worldpay
    • Vivienne Ming, Founder and Executive Chair, Socos
    • Claudia Brind-Woody, VP & MD, Global IP Licensing, IBM
    • Deborah Sherry, GM and Chief Commercial Officer, GE Digital Europe
      • Moderated by Richard Socarides, Head of Public Affairs, GLG
  • Keynote Fireside: “Out in Diplomacy: The Pitfalls and Rewards”
    • Rufus Gifford, U.S. Ambassador to Denmark
      • Moderated by Francine Lacqua, Anchor & Editor-at-large, Bloomberg
  • Before the Summit opens to the press at 4 pm, and off the record: “Regional Risk and Innovation: Learnings from Asiaand the Middle East“:
    • Stephan DuCharme, Chairman of Supervisory Board, X5 Retail Group
    • Laura King, Global Head of People and Talent, Clifford Chance
    • Paul Reed, CEO, Integrated Supply & Trading, BP
    • Eileen Taylor, Global Head of Regulatory Management, Deutsche Bank
      • Moderated by Colin Passmore, Senior Partner, Simmons & Simmons

More than one hundred senior European business leaders will gather today at the Out Leadership: Europe 2016, hosted by HSBC at the HSBC Tower, 8 Canada Square, London.

“We not only aim to attract and nurture LGBT+ talent but also to deploy it to help fulfill our purpose of connecting customers to opportunities,” said Noel Quinn, Chief Executive of Global Commercial Banking, HSBC. “As we said at this year’s Pride celebrations, we are proud to support everyone’s hopes, dreams and ambitions. Banking is an industry that exists to support the ambitions of individuals, companies, and society. To connect with our customers, we need to reflect the increasing diversity and changing expectations in the world around us.”

“This year’s Summit agenda reflects the growing number of discussions taking place at the intersection of LGBT+ progress and business,” said Todd Sears, founder and Principal of Out Leadership. “We convene every year in the world’s financial capitals, but what we discuss resonates across industries, disciplines and borders. While LGBT+ people have made enormous progress towards equality in Europe and abroad, many regions and jurisdictions still present distinct challenges. Executives who aim to leverage the power of business to build acceptance for LGBT+ people around the world have much to learn from each other, and we’re proud to drive the conversation forward.”