We are delighted to announce the winners of our TLC Lions Human Awards Europe 2026. The winners have been recognised for their commitment to human leadership and driving forward a more human working world for all. Please join us in congratulating them and honouring their extraordinary work in humanising the workplace.
With a leadership style defined by courage, authenticity, and impact, Zahra Bahrololoumi CBE is transforming what it means to lead in the digital age. She has built cultures where trust, integrity, and equity are the foundations of progress, drawing on her own lived experiences as a woman of colour in tech to advocate for those too often overlooked. Zahra has accelerated representation across leadership levels, ensuring diverse voices shape strategic decisions, while expanding equitable recruitment to open doors for women across the organisation. Her commitment to social mobility is reflected in the Migrant Leaders mentoring partnership, mobilising 50 professionals to support young migrants into meaningful careers. Beyond organisational change, Zahra’s national advocacy for accessible digital skills is influencing how the UK prepares its workforce for the AI era. Courageous, empathetic, and unafraid to confront barriers head-on, she is redefining what transformative C-Suite leadership looks like – leadership that elevates people, shifts industries, and ensures innovation remains truly human.
The embodiment of human-centred leadership, Mandy Beech inspires through authenticity, courage, and compassion, awarding her the Human Leader of the Year award. Rising from a back-office role at 18 in a single-parent, low-income household to leading over 6,000 colleagues, Mandy demonstrates that background need not limit potential. She has embedded inclusion at every level of Nationwide, championing the award-winning Social Mobility Network, mentoring colleagues, and creating opportunities for diverse talent to progress. Mandy has also transformed over 400 branches into Safe Spaces for individuals experiencing domestic abuse, equipping frontline colleagues with specialist training and access to support resources. By sharing her own journey, openly discussing resilience and challenges, and sponsoring initiatives that foster belonging, Mandy has created a culture where colleagues feel valued, seen, and empowered. Her leadership leaves a lasting legacy – shaping not only an inclusive, caring organisation but a society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Celebrated for her exceptional commitment to equity, growth, and inclusion, Samantha Woods is honoured as this year’s Future Human Leader of the Year. Joining E.ON UK in 2019 as a degree apprentice, Samantha seized an opportunity that removed barriers to higher education and has since dedicated her career to removing barriers for others. As a founding member and now Chair of Fast Forward, E.ON’s women’s development network with over 1,200 members, she has shaped listening sessions, learning journeys, and the Women in Leadership programme, which has supported 500 women and doubled promotion rates compared with the company average. Samantha’s influence extends beyond E.ON: through the IfATE Apprentice Panel, she champions best practice in apprenticeships across the industry, sharing insights that strengthen inclusive talent pipelines. A passionate advocate for flexible working, STEM access, women’s health and financial literacy, she leads with empathy, purpose, and courage. Sam embodies the future of human-centred leadership – one where authenticity, opportunity, and impact move hand in hand.
Alexandra’s leadership brings policies to life, creating a culture where employees feel seen, supported, and empowered. She has transformed HR in Romania by turning initiatives into deeply personal experiences, from the “One Team, One Voice” forums that unite teams to psychological safety frameworks and open communication channels that foster trust and inclusion. Alexandra has delivered impactful programmes – including “Human Moments” storytelling sessions, reverse mentoring, wellbeing labs, and a comprehensive mental health initiative – have increased engagement by 47%, reduced turnover by 35%, and established Romania as a global benchmark for employee experience. Alexandra personally invests in colleagues’ growth, mentoring employees, pairing them with mentors, and creating safe spaces where people can thrive. By bridging local culture with global initiatives and inspiring the next generation of tech talent, she has embedded practices that empower, connect, and uplift, turning Romania into a people-first powerhouse where every employee can flourish.
Guided by purpose, empathy, and action, Amera Otaifa exemplifies human-centred leadership. At Swiss Re, she has introduced initiatives that truly humanise the workplace, supporting employees at every stage of life – from neurodiversity care that has enabled children to receive long-awaited diagnoses, to menopause guidance, fertility support, and extended paternity leave that allow families to thrive. Amera has also led global HR learning programmes, building resilience, wellbeing, and future skills for colleagues who care for others. In times of personal and organisational loss, she has brought extraordinary compassion, personally supporting grieving teams and improving critical processes with dignity and care. Beyond HR, she co-leads charity efforts for Blood Cancer UK, demonstrating that leadership extends beyond the workplace. Through these initiatives, Amera ensures employees feel seen, valued, and supported, creating lasting impact, fostering trust, and building a culture where people – and their lives – truly matter.
Turning personal experience into purpose, Joseph Williams is named Human Storyteller of the Year. A proudly disabled and neurodiverse entrepreneur, Joseph has transformed the way organisations recruit and retain talent through his SaaS platform, Clu, which focuses on what candidates can do rather than where they learned it. Faced early in his career with discrimination and systemic barriers, he co-founded Clu to remove arbitrary hiring obstacles, empowering over 20,000 candidates from marginalised groups and supporting 150+ organisations to redesign recruitment practices, resulting in a 32% increase in diverse hires. Beyond business impact, Joseph amplifies the voices of disabled and neurodiverse communities through national media, Parliamentary roundtables, and the Disabled Entrepreneurs Alliance, influencing policy, investment, and societal perception. By sharing his story and creating tools for others to thrive, Joseph is reshaping the narrative around inclusion, championing social mobility, and proving that authentic storytelling drives meaningful, systemic change in the world of work.
By combining advocacy with action, Natalie has redefined what it means to be a true ally in the workplace and is named the Human Ally of the Year. Open about her own experiences with anxiety, she has fostered a culture of vulnerability and support, becoming a trusted advocate across Deutsche Bank. In 2025 alone, Natalie delivered over 200 events on disability, neurodiversity, and mental health, while reshaping UKI’s workplace adjustment processes and creating the first UKI Adjustments Guide for Neurodiverse colleagues. She ensures timely support for neurodivergent employees, embeds inclusive tools through the DB Assistive Technology guide, and drives global neurodiversity strategy initiatives. By merging accessibility forums, improving onboarding resources, and acting as a critical escalation point, Natalie has streamlined processes, reduced bottlenecks, and enhanced employee experience. Her work combines strategic impact with heartfelt advocacy – building systems, removing barriers, and creating a workplace where every colleague feels valued, heard, and empowered to bring their whole selves to work.
Dedicated to advancing disability inclusion, DiversAbility empowers employees with disabilities, long-term health conditions, and carers to share stories, build empathy, and drive change. Through focused programmes, the network champions awareness, allyship, accessibility, and support across inclusive physical and digital workplaces for all colleagues globally.
From global awareness events to intimate cafés and safe online spaces, DiversAbility is reshaping conversations on disability and chronic health. In 2025, landmark moments included Sign Language Day, Valuable 500 commitment, strong DisabilityIN results, and a global fireside chat inspiring confidence, allyship, and lasting cultural change for employees worldwide through storytelling and shared lived experiences.
Recognised for its remarkable impact on people, culture, and communities, The Access Group is named Human Company of the Year. Guided by its mission to “Love Work. Love Life. Be You,” Access Group has built a globally diverse organisation where nearly 9,000 colleagues feel empowered to grow, contribute, and thrive. Through its Thrive cultural programme, employee-led networks, and a standout eNPS score of +48, the company proves that rapid expansion and deep humanity go hand-in-hand. Access fosters belonging and wellbeing through powerful initiatives – from global wellbeing campaigns and mental-health first aider networks to inclusive learning pathways and community-driven giving that raised £1.55M for charities in the past year. With employees planting forests, championing environmental change, and coming together for festivals, volunteer days, and “Big Break” weekends, Access Group creates moments that matter. Its commitment to inclusion, care, and human-centred leadership has reshaped what a truly people-first culture can achieve – setting a new benchmark for organisations across Europe.
Recognised for her extraordinary commitment to people, culture, and truly human leadership, Elizabeth McGarrity is the recipient of the TLC Lions Human Awards Special Recognition Award. As Senior HR Director for EMEA at Fragomen, she consistently creates workplaces where humanity is a lived experience, not just an aspiration.
Elizabeth lifts others up, leads by example, and cares deeply – professionally and personally. She listens, absorbs the feelings of others, and puts people first, often before herself. Her leadership reflects the 4 Cs: unlocking capability through learning, creating a human-first culture, building meaningful connections, and guiding teams through change with clarity and compassion.
Curious and thoughtful, Elizabeth constantly seeks ways to add value and help others grow. With high emotional intelligence and low ego, she delivers impact with calm, inspiring those around her. She leaves colleagues feeling uplifted, lighter, and genuinely happier – truly putting the H in HR.