Rhammel Afflick FRSA is the Founder and Managing Director of Queer Beyond Belief, a space for LGBTQ+ people to connect, organise, and reclaim joy as a force for collective power and change. An award-winning campaigner, community organiser and writer, Rhammel brings nearly 20 years of experience driving change on LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, and youth activism. From grassroots organising to shaping national policy, his work is rooted in a belief in collective action and a deep commitment to equity.

A passionate advocate for intersectionality, cultural abuse, and challenges faced by marginalised communities, particularly Black/Brown and LGBTQ+ individuals. Drawing from her personal experiences of trauma she brings nuanced understanding of how race, gender, and sexuality intersect, informing her extensive work in community advocacy. Welfare & Met Liaison Manager for UK Black Pride, trustee for DIVA Charity and Biscuit bi+ Charity, she collaborates with grassroots organisations, police, and national bodies to amplify underrepresented voices. Saba holds multiple roles; Chair for Ban Conversion Practices Coalition, health strategy and suicide prevention forums, leads Royal Society of Art’s LGBTQIA+ Network. Her work spans training, public speaking, and contributing to national policy reviews on topics like VAWG and intersectionality in policing. Saba has received awards for her allyship and activism, widely regarded as a subject matter expert in trauma, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and intersectional practice whilst building bridges between communities and institutions through her strategic roles.

Matthew is currently completing his Project Management Degree Apprenticeship at E.ON UK, where he combines his professional responsibilities with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. He actively champions inclusive practice across the organisation, from leading E.ON’s Pride parade appearances to organising the company’s first global gathering of its diversity and inclusion networks. Beyond the workplace, Matthew uses his social media platforms, including LinkedIn, to speak openly about LGBTQIA+ inclusion and amplify conversations to a wider professional audience. After being recognised as a Rising Star at the 2025 Queer Student Awards, Matthew is proud to support this year’s judging panel, celebrating the incredible contributions of queer students and allies across the UK.

Kim works as a Recruitment Officer at the University of Staffordshire. This is her first time participating in the QSA and she is excited to get involved and celebrate the queer students transforming the education landscape for future generations.

Jordan Chan - Multi Award winning LGBTQ+ activist and charity fund raiser, Pride Director, Radio Host, underwear model and former Mr Gay GB runner up.

Alexis Curtis-Harris is an award-winning Equality, Diversity and Inclusion leader, speaker and consultant, known for her honest, transformative approach to inclusion and inclusive communications. She works with organisations to help them better engage, reach and support people who are often systemically, societally and historically excluded, using approaches that are authentic, practical and grounded in lived experience. Alexis brings a unique perspective as a Black queer woman, combining real-world insight with strategic thinking to challenge organisations to move beyond tick-box ED&I and focus on meaningful, long-term change. Her work spans inclusive communication, addressing systemic barriers, and rethinking how people experience recruitment, work and belonging. She has been recognised for her impact across the inclusion space, including being named Head of Diversity of the Year at the DIVA Awards and Diversity Trailblazer at the British LGBT Awards. Alexis is passionate about ensuring inclusion remains human, evolving and relevant to everyone.

Dhiren Doshi-Smith is a UK based therapist, speaker, and model, working at the intersection of mental health, identity, and lived experience. Their work is grounded, relational, and focused on helping people move away from coping alone and towards greater honesty, self trust, and ease. Dhiren works with clients who are thoughtful, self aware, and often outwardly functioning, but inwardly tired of holding it all together. They bring a particular sensitivity to experiences of queerness, neurodivergence, culture, and masculinity, while remaining open and inclusive of anyone seeking meaningful therapeutic support. Alongside therapy, Dhiren speaks and collaborates with organisations on mental health, visibility, and psychological safety, always centring humanity over performance.

Peter J Fullagar works in the English language teaching publishing industry as a freelance editor, writer and EDI consultant after having taught internationally for 17 years. He has presented at numerous conferences on LGBTQIA+ inclusion and worked with major publishers on creating guidelines for inclusion. He has created LGBTQIA+ inclusive materials, culminating in the self-published 'Existence' resource book, which usualises various LGBTQIA+ identities. Alongside his ELT work, he is keen to use his skills in the charity sector, and has edited reports for Galop and reviewed material for Guts UK, also sitting on Guts UK's Experts by Experience panel.

Sophie Layton is an award-winning journalist, producer & communications specialist, based in Sheffield. She is the Managing Editor of WILD Magazine, & was previously Editor of Ed Fringe Review, & Arts & Theatre Editor of Forge Press. She has also written for a dozen other outlets, including UniHomes, The Liberator, G(end)er Swap & Liberty Belle Magazine. She is currently the Digital Media Officer for the Student Publication Association. Previously the Trans+ Representative Councillor at the Sheffield Students’ Union, she wrote & passed policies aimed at Trans+ inclusion & liberation, including allowing Trans+ students to change their name on university ID cards to their chosen names, free of charge. She was the Founder & inaugural President of the Sheffield Students’ Union’s LGBTQ+ Society in 2024, where she co-ordinated the LGBTQ+ Blood Drive, recognised at the Queer Student Awards & National Student Pride Awards, that collected enough to save up to 96 adult lives.on goes here

Sam McCracken is a Queer & Trans Illustrator, Artist, Youth and Community Co-Ordinator and Educator based in Shropshire. He is an alumni of the University of Wolverhampton, a former finalist of the QSA's and a dad. Sam explores his identity as a Queer person within his art practice, highlighting LGBTQIA+ rights, striving to understand Queer intimacy and community within the visual arts.

Aaron McKenna is a career development professional and inclusion advocate currently working in Higher Education, with extensive experience across professional and voluntary sectors. He works at the intersection of education, sport, and community engagement, championing equitable opportunities for young people and learners, predominantly in further and higher education. Aaron has a strong track record in LGBTQ+ inclusion, particularly within football. He has held committee and leadership roles with Saltire Thistle FC, Glasgow's inclusive LGBTQ+ football team, where he was instrumental in the club being nominated for — and winning — two Football v Homophobia awards, recognising excellence in promoting inclusion and combating prejudice. He has also volunteered with the Gay Football Supporters Network (GFSN), supporting LGBTQ+ fans and players across the game in the UK. Across his work, Aaron combines strategic insight with a commitment to positive change, creating welcoming spaces championing where everyone can belong, contribute and succeed.

Previously Emma worked as a Drama teacher in Catterick Garrison for 9 years before leaving the profession to work for LGBT support charities, including Broken Rainbow, Mermaids UK, Diversity Role Models & The Proud Trust. She is now LGBT+ Fund Development Manager at Consortium, hoping to rebalance funding to LGBT+ grassroots organisations and develop the UK’s first LGBT+ endowment fund.

Ali Najjar is a Senior Contracts Manager with extensive experience working across a range of organisations. Alongside a successful professional career, Ali has consistently dedicated time and energy to supporting young queer people, helping them build confidence, navigate challenges, and achieve their goals in life. Ali has been with their partner for nine years and married for two and a half, and openly identifies as a queer Muslim. They are a proud advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, using their lived experience to challenge stereotypes and promote inclusion, particularly at the intersection of faith, identity, and sexuality. Ali’s marriage to their Jewish husband has also shaped much of their advocacy, highlighting the power of love, understanding, and dialogue across cultures and religions. An Attitude Pride Award winner, Ali has shared their story through articles, interviews, and podcasts, speaking candidly about resilience, visibility, and the importance of representation.

Ren is a fat, Queer, neurodivergent, lover of stories, and well travelled sidequester. A self-made patchwork of identities and experiences - much like the blankets they love to make, full of colour and texture! As the Side Quest Coach, Ren works with Queer folk of all ages, supporting them to find their own voice and path in all of the noise of the world. Their lived experience has led them to become a transformative mentor, facilitator, advocate, and anti-oppressive inclusion specialist. They are the Volunteer Coordinator for Trans Pride Bristol, committee member of LGBTQIA+ Little Library, and former trustee for Plus Importance Project. Their focus is on community building and co-creating accessible spaces, where everyone demonstrates that allyship is a verb! They hope for a world where every queer person feels welcomed, empowered, and able to be themselves.

“I'm Jamie (they/he) and I was the Winner of the QSA Role Model of the Year: University category in 2025. I am the 2025/26 chair of the LGBTQ+ Students' Network at York St. John University's Students' Union and am currently undertaking my Masters Degree in Product Design. I believe all students have the power to inact change and deserve to have their voices heard, as even the smallest of changes can make the biggest difference to the people around you and in our community. This is a fight we must all be in together, and you could be the one to help make that change.”

CP Robinson is Chair of the Portsmouth Pride Trust, and founder of the Queer intersectional activism campaign; Queer.All.Year. As a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising with a background in further education and partnerships, CP is a regular writer and speaker on intra-inclusion within the LGBTQ+ community and ethics of charity-corporate partnership engagement. Adding to an eclectic calendar of engagements, CP hosts a popular musical theatre radio show and is also a member of a worldwide Samba-Reggae drumming band.

Amanda is the BBC Gladiators 2025 Champion and owner of Momentum Collective Gym in Warrington. A coach, strength athlete and lifelong sport enthusiast, she is passionate about representation in fitness, particularly for those who have felt excluded or left behind by traditional sport. After winning the UK’s biggest fitness show, Amanda realised her purpose wasn’t fame, but impact. Her work now focuses on helping the next generation find joy in movement and redefining what strength really means. Through coaching, school talks and her TEDx presentation, she champions accessible fitness over performance-driven sport, advocating for environments that prioritise confidence, health and belonging before winning. Amanda believes true strength isn’t about appearance, it’s about heart, resilience and the courage to keep moving forward. Her mission is simple: to show that fitness is for everyone.