Emma Dunn is an LGBT* champion. Over the last 18 months, she’s turned her first face to face attendance at an a:gender meeting (having been a member since 2009) into a relentless campaign of public speaking, offering to tell her story with disarming authenticity at almost 20 events, reaching more than 300 public servants from 15+ departments. Recent collaboration with ACAS has broadened this activity into collaboration across the private sector as well. She is inspirational. She balances these activities with a busy role in HM Land Registry (HMLR) and still finds time to drive and organise activity across HMLR’s Diversity networks in her capacity as secretary to the Diversity Panel and Diversity Working Group. And, when she’s not doing all of this, she’s walking at Pride, encouraging colleagues to support, sharing blog posts, raising awareness as well as mentoring others from AO level to SCS.

Feedback from the events is outstanding. She is clearly raising awareness of intersex issues, provoking thought and action and quite simply, changing views. Shelley Hardman, DWP says “Emma is an absolute inspiration and I’ve been privileged to work with her to champion Intersex issues and raise awareness across the CS. Emma’s perfect balance of candidness, vulnerability and humour helped the audience to 150% engage with her important and moving messages. Emma took everyone on a rollercoaster of emotions, as she shared her story. We are forever touched and more empathetic, because of what Emma shared. Her positive impact on others is immeasurable.” Jen Gagg, Home Office - “Emma opens the doors to have conversations about Intersex and the audience reacting with empathy can only enhance the CS to break down the barriers and for people to be their authentic self in the workplace.”

Emma’s approach encapsulates the spirit of A Brilliant Civil Service.