Jacqui Gavin BEM’s career is like a colourful tapestry, made up of various industries and achievements from football, the army and modelling to civil society where she became a change maker in government and supporting the PM on policy and guidance around transgender issues. in Jacqui being recognised as a BEM for her contribution to driving positive change in transgender issues in the workplace in 2020. Jacqui has served as an ambassador for several charities promoting diversity & inclusion and working to eradicate homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. 

This knowledge and expertise was formed through Jacqui’s own lived experiences. A turbulent life with many twists and turns from one career to another in order to survive. This story is what books and films are made of. It follows her shame of segregation by her own family, discrimination within her football career, threats of imprisonment during her time in the army and a professional modeling career contract ripped up when she was outted by the press. After finding her footing in Civil Service, Jacqui went on to becoming the first ever chair of the Transgender Network within the Department for Work and Pensions, followed by Chair of ‘a gender’ the cross-government support network for transgender and intersex civil servants.

Jacqui’s story presents the struggles she has overcome throughout her transition journey  in order to be her true and authentic self. It is a story of equality, resilience and overcoming adversity. Jacqui relates her experiences back to the corporate world and reinforces the importance of inclusion and how and why understanding your colleagues and the impact of being an ally can save and transform lives.