Steve Jacques, CEO at Key Assets – The Children’s Services Provider and National LGBT+ Federation board member, has been included in the OUTstanding leading LGBT+ Role Model 2018 list, ranking in fourth place.

The list seeks to highlight key industry role models who champion LGBT+ awareness and inclusion within their organisations.

All of the 2018 role models were nominated by peers and colleagues with nominations then being reviewed by OUTstanding’s judging panel, consisting of Executive Chairman of L1 Energy and former CEO of BP Lord Browne, CEO of Getty Images Dawn Airey, CEO of Barclays UK Ashok Vaswani, CEO and Chairman of Asia Pac and IBM Harriet Green, Dean of Faculty and Director of Research at Ashridge Business School Vicki Culpin, Founder and CEO of INvolveSuki Sandhu, and Transport Correspondent for Financial Times Josh Spero.

Each nominee was then reviewed by OUTstanding’s judging panel and was scored on the seniority and influence of their role, their impact on LGBT+ inclusion inside and outside the workplace and their business achievements.

Steve is no stranger to being recognised as a role model amongst his peers as earlier this year, he was listed in the Australian Deloitte/Google Top 50 LGBTI executives leaders list.

Jacques said, “I’m really honoured to have been included in this list and fortunate to work in an organisation like Key Assets, which is committed to celebrating diversity and ensuring a fully inclusive workplace. I recognise that we still have so much work to do all over the world and we must never take our freedoms for granted.

“Demonstrating the role and contribution that LGBT+ people make in the workplace and community is as important today as it was when, those before, started to fight and campaign for equal treatment. Our work is not finished until all LGBT+ citizens the world over no longer face discrimination in society and through the law.”

Founder & CEO at Involve Suki Sandhu 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.”