top of page

MEET OUR SPEAKERS

01 Merary Blue.png

Merary
Soto-Saunders

CVC Dark 02.png

Merary Soto-Saunders - Founder / Global HR & Talent Expertise | Board Advisor | CPO, UK

​​​Merary served as Chief People Officer and Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at CVC Capital Partners, a private equity and investment advisory firm with approximately €186 billion of assets,  driving growth across all HR functions and she spearheaded initiatives to create an inclusive culture and helped portfolio companies attract underrepresented talent. ​

​

Recognized as one of the 100 most influential people of Black descent in the UK by the Powerlist, Merary is also a sought-after speaker at industry events like Super Return and PEI Insight. She actively contributes to social initiatives as a trustee of City Year UK and as a talent advisor for Ripple Works, supporting NGOs globally.

​

Merary Soto-Saunders is the Founding member for the UK branch of CHEIF, of a talent advisory firm focusing on inclusive leadership, succession planning, and HR technology solutions. She collaborates with organizations to strengthen diverse leadership pipelines, enhance talent strategies, and optimize HR operations.

Linkedin _edited.png

Neil
Milliken

ATOS.png

Vice President and Global Head of Accessibility & Digital Inclusion

ATOS, UK

Neil Milliken is the Vice President and Global Head of Accessibility & Digital Inclusion at Atos, driving organizations towards true disability competence. He focuses on setting strategies, embedding inclusive practices, and delivering change programs that improve technology for both customers and employees.

​

Neil's work is centered on making accessibility a core business issue, having developed an ESG-aligned framework for Atos’s accessibility program. He also contributes to global accessibility as part of the Global Leadership Council for the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) and chairs the ILO Global Business Disability Network.

​

A co-founder of AXSChat, Neil is also involved with numerous influential boards, including the World Institute on Disability and Genius Within. Named a top Diversity & Inclusion practitioner in the Disability Smart Awards, Neil advocates for accessibility, neurodivergence, and building more inclusive digital spaces.

Linkedin _edited.png
04 Neil Blue.png
Neil
03 Megan Blue.png

Megan
Cadd

Gartner.png

Director DEI

Gartner, Spain

Megan is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Gartner, where 8  vibrant Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) work to foster a culture of belonging for underrepresented communities.

 

With extensive experience across EMEA and APAC, Megan is committed to creating inclusive workplace environments that empower all associates. As a $5.9 billion company, with 20,000 associates, and a member of the S&P 500, Gartner is an objective partner with about 15,000 client enterprises in more than 90 countries and territories.

 

Strategic thinker and problem solver, working with key stakeholders to develop solutions that impact key business metrics. Her global perspective drives innovative initiatives that promote equity, enhance employee engagement, and bring about meaningful change. Known for her collaborative spirit and creative problem-solving, Megan leads with passion while building a workplace where diversity thrives and everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

Linkedin _edited.png
Megan

Tomas
Flier

Google.png

EMEA Diversity and Inclusion lead

Google, Spain

Tomas Flier is a Diversity and Inclusion Partner at Google for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). His role and purpose is to build a more equitable company and world by serving historically marginalized groups and dismantling systems of oppression. His focus centers on cultivating an inclusive culture at Google, where every employee feels valued not in spite, but because of their unique identities and perspectives.

​

In his more than 12 years at Google, Tomas worked in several regions and organizations including Sales from Argentina, Marketing from Brazil, Product Inclusion and Diversity and inclusion from the US.

He's been granted the Corporate Social Responsibility award from the EU business school, the Young Hispanic Corporate AchieversTM award by the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility and has been recognized as a One Young World global ambassador.

 

Beyond his role at Google, Tomas engages as a public speaker and consultant, driven by the goal of raising awareness about the power and responsibility that we all share in the battle against inequalities and inequities within our societies.

Linkedin _edited.png
05 Tomas Blue.png
Tomas
06 Caroline Blue.png

Caroline Vaquette

Pernaud-Ricard.png

Director DEI

Pernod-Ricard

Caroline Vaquette serves as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Pernod Ricard, where she champions workplace inclusivity on a global scale. With over 20 years of leadership experience spanning three continents—the US, Asia, and Europe—she has established herself as a recognized DEI expert in France with significant international impact.

​

As a Global HR Executive, Caroline excels at designing and implementing innovative programs that transform workplace cultures. Her portfolio encompasses DEI initiatives, talent management, learning and development, and corporate citizenship. Drawing on her deep understanding of multicultural environments, she builds inclusive workplace cultures that drive collaboration and deliver superior outcomes.

​

Known for approaching challenges with courage, benevolence, and transparency, Caroline brings boundless energy to her mission of advancing gender and minority equity. Her proven track record of success stems from combining strategic vision with practical DEI best practices to create lasting organizational change.

Linkedin _edited.png
Caroline

Anna Lundstrom

Spotify.png

VP Human Resources

Spotify

​Anna Lundström is at the helm of Human Resources for Spotify’s Business Organization, supporting the Co-President and Chief Business Officer while overseeing the growth and well-being of over 4,000 employees worldwide. Since joining Spotify in 2016, Anna has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s people strategies during its journey of hyper growth, driving organisational and people initiatives that have empowered teams across the globe.

​

Before taking on her current role, Anna led HR for Spotify's Americas region, contributing to the company's dynamic expansion. Her previous experience includes HR leadership positions at Nasdaq and Teracom, where she cultivated her passion for creating impactful workplace cultures.

​

Anna holds a Master of Social Science in Human Resource Management, with a major in Business Law, from Lund University in Sweden.

Linkedin _edited.png
02 Anna Blue.png
Anna
07 Payal Blue.png

Payal
Arora

Utrecht University Dark.png

Professor of Inclusive AI Cultures, Utrecht University

Co-founder, AI Inclusive Lab

Author: "Next billion users" and "From pessimism to promise"

A visionary in inclusive tech design, she has spent 20 years exploring user experiences in low-income communities worldwide. 

​

Digital anthropologist and an author, speaker and consultant. Author of "The Next Billion Users" and the upcoming "From Pessimism to Promise," her work has been celebrated by Forbes as championing tech reform for the next billion. Featured in BBC, Financial Times, and Tech Crunch, she has also consulted for Google, UNESCO, and Spotify. 

​

With over 350 talks in 67 countries, she brings global perspectives and bold ideas to the table. A Harvard and Columbia alumna, she is currently based in Amsterdam, blending Indian, Irish, and American insights to redefine technology's future.

Linkedin _edited.png
Payal
Oana

Oana
Iordachescu

Founder
Fair Cultures

As founder of Fair Cultures and conference director of Fair Barcelona, Oana is committed to amplifying initiatives that create inclusive and resilient workplaces. 

​

Her goal is to deeply understand key workplace challenges and co-create a path with partners to engage with diverse talent communities, apply inclusive design for work experiences and empower leaders to take action with confidence.
 

With over 15 years of experience in Talent Acquisition and DEI strategies, Oana Iordachescu has dedicated her career to change management and programmatic inclusion. She led teams in global organisations such as Meta, Booking.com, Criteo,  Wayfair prioritising and investing in DEI programs and advised clients such as Merck, Eurail, Softonic, etc.

​

Her experience is complemented by a Masters in HR from the University of Bucharest, a specialisation in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from the IE University of Madrid and a Women in Leadership program at Yale University.

​​

Linkedin _edited.png
07 Oana.png
bottom of page