Since 2025, the EPBN – WISE Awards Ceremony has become Europe’s flagship moment for recognizing the people and companies driving real change for LGBTQIA+ workplace inclusion. Over two editions — Warsaw in 2025 and Prague in 2026 — the ceremony has brought together policymakers, business leaders, and LGBTQIA+ advocates from across the continent to honor Role Models, Allies, and Inclusive Firms leading the way toward safer, more equal workplaces. Together, these two events mark the culmination of the EPBN – WISE (Workplace Inclusion for a Sustainable Europe) project, co-funded by the European Commission’s CERV programe.

Warsaw, 2025 — The Inaugural EPBN – WISE Role Models Award Ceremony

On Europe Day, May 9, 2025, Warsaw became the heart of European workplace inclusion as EPBN hosted its first-ever EPBN – WISE Role Models Award Ceremony at the Copernicus Science Centre. In a powerful display of unity, courage, and leadership, 25 LGBTQIA+ professionals and allies from Austria, Czechia, France, Germany, and Italy were honored for their work transforming workplaces and championing equality across the continent. Missed the Ceremony? Watch the full broadcast on LinkedIn, or on YouTube.

Held under the patronage of the European Parliament, the French and Canadian Embassies in Poland, Kampania Przeciw Homofobii (KPH), and the Polish Diversity Charter, the ceremony marked a historic first for Europe — bringing together around 220 guests representing roughly 40 companies and 24 NGOs from 15 countries, with hundreds more following via livestream.

“We are more than a business platform. We are a movement. These 25 Role Models show us what authentic leadership looks like. They remind us that visibility matters, that courage inspires change, and that inclusion is a source of strength for Europe,” said Matthias Weber, EPBN Chairman, in his opening remarks.

The 25 EPBN – WISE Leader Role Models

• Austria: Brigitte Bichler, Jasmina Metzke, Tamara Scheidl, Martina Bednar, Florian Klimscha
• Czechia: Katerina Nosek, Garrett Dibon-Smith, Martin Zelenka, Barbora Šikolová, Jan Kotik
• France: Xavier Vey, Aliette Mousnier-Lompré, Frédéric Xerri, Yoann Lacan, Alexandre Maymat
• Germany: Tanja Bauer-Glück, Liam Michelle Seifert, Robert Nessing, Carsten Gorray, Tabea Fesser
• Italy: Mario Di Carlo, Luca Condosta, Andrea Notarnicola Cociani, Ferdinando Poscio, Arianna Forzani

Within this cohort, two further categories were recognized:

Outstanding LGBTQIA+ Professionals — Martina Bednar (Austria); Garrett Dibon-Smith, Martin Zelenka, Jan Kotik (Czechia); Liam Michelle Seifert, Carsten Gorray (Germany)

Allies — Jasmina Metzke, Florian Klimscha (Austria); Katerina Nosek (Czechia); Frédéric Xerri (France)

Every awardee was selected by a high-level jury of DEI and business leaders from across Europe.

Speakers and voices

The evening featured keynote speeches from Katarzyna Kotula (Minister for Equality, Poland), Krzysztof Śmiszek (Member of European Parliament), Matthias Weber (EPBN Chairman), Justin Nelson (Co-Founder and President, NGLCC USA), and Christophe Margaine (EPBN – WISE Project Manager and CFO at AIDES), alongside executives from Orange, Legrand, Sephora, and Société Générale. Video messages of support came from Ana Carla Pereira (Director, Equality and Non-discrimination, DG Justice and Consumers, European Commission), Jean-Marc Berthon (French Ambassador for the rights of LGBT+ people), and Carolina Morace (MEP, Italy).

During the post-ceremony cocktail, guests experienced a moving exhibit from the Warsaw Queer Museum, honoring queer history in Poland and beyond.

“Today we are celebrating the very first European Role Models, we are celebrating diversity in the workplace. We are more than 220 persons present here today at the Warsaw’s Copernicus Science Centre auditorium, representing around 40 companies, 24 NGOs, from 15 countries, and dozens of people from across Europe are following us on livestream,” Christophe Margaine, EPBN-WISE Project Manager.

Partners and sponsors

The ceremony was made possible thanks to the generous support of Orange, Legrand, Société Générale, Sephora, and Label Paris Europe. The EPBN – WISE consortium behind the project brought together L’Autre Cercle (France), EDGE (Italy), Pride Biz Austria (Austria), Pride Business Forum (Czechia), and Völklinger Kreis (Germany) — with co-funding and support from the European Commission’s CERV programme (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values).

Prague, 2026 — EPBN – WISE Conference & Awards Ceremony: Protect Workplace Inclusion

A year later, the second EPBN – WISE Conference & Awards Ceremony concluded in Prague on June 2, 2026, bringing hundreds of European leaders together to safeguard workplace inclusion and turn it into a measurable economic advantage for nearly 40 million LGBTQIA+ workers across Europe. The event was presented by EPBN and the Pride Business Forum (Czech Republic), and welcomed a sold-out house of over 550 registered participants — professionals from the Czech Republic and delegates from 24 different European countries, representing more than 130 leading companies and organizations. Missed the Ceremony? Swipe through our amazing photos, or watch our EPBN – WISE video series featuring insights from celebrated Role Models and leading inclusive companies.

New research: microaggressions still shape daily workplace exclusion

At the heart of the Prague conference was a first-of-its-kind European survey, presented by Dr. Silvia Spinelli, revealing that 63% of LGBTQIA+ employees — 3 out of 5 — feel their workplace is not inclusive because of microaggressions they’ve experienced. The study, “European Survey Research on Microaggressions, Language and Overall Wellbeing in the Workplace for LGBTQIA+ People,” was conducted by Associazione EDGE on behalf of EPBN within the EPBN – WISE project, drawing on 3,100 respondents across Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, and Italy. The findings provide a missing link between corporate policy on paper and the daily reality of LGBTQIA+ employees.

Key speakers and thought leaders

The conference brought together institutional authorities, business visionaries, and advocacy leaders, including:

• Institutional experts: Hadja Lahbib (European Commissioner for Equality), Irena Moozová (Deputy Director General, DG JUST, European Commission), Miltos Pavlou (EU Agency for Fundamental Rights), and Aaron Giardina (Government of Malta and Chair of ADI-SOGIESC, Council of Europe)
• Ambassadors for Equality: Jean-Marc Berthon (French Ambassador for LGBT+ rights) and Jorge Noval (Ambassador at large for the Rights of LGBTI+ People, Spain)
• Business and advocacy leaders: Martine Roy (Co-Chair, LGBT Purge Fund), Vincent Lecerf (EVP HR and Transformation, Orange Group), Luca Condosta (ABB), Alexandre Maymat (Société Générale), and Maxime Legrand (President, CEC-European Managers)
• EPBN leadership: Matthias Weber (EPBN Chairman) and Christophe Margaine (EPBN Vice-Chair and EPBN – WISE Project Manager)

“When we look at the reality that over 60% of our LGBTIQ+ colleagues still experience daily exclusion, it breaks my heart, but it also steals our collective resolve,” said Matthias Weber, Chairman of EPBN. “Workplace inclusion is not just a moral imperative; it is the strategic bedrock of Europe’s economic resilience. True inclusion isn’t about checkboxes. It’s about creating a safe harbor where people can thrive without fear, which ultimately drives the innovation our entire Union desperately needs. I am profoundly moved by the momentum we are building together. We started with a vision, and today I am immensely proud to welcome REDI Portugal as our 28th member organization, expanding the EPBN family to span 24 European countries. We are no longer just a network. We are a united front turning the promise of equality into a lived, daily standard for tens of millions.”

Celebrating the frontlines: the 2026 awardees

Concluding two years of intensive cross-border work that began in Warsaw in May 2025, the Prague event culminated with an evening Awards Ceremony recognizing 14 Inclusive Firms, 25 Mentees, and 28 European Role Models.

The 28 European Role Models

Leader LGBTQIA+ Role Models: Inès Duckit (Legrand), Gabriele Schneider (International Corporate Activities SA), Joanna Pastor (Accenture), Loïc Choquet (Apex Group), Pierpaolo Astolfi (Propelis), Roberto D’Incau (Lang & Partners), Stefan Mönkediek (HRK Lunis AG), Angelo Caltagirone (Traductor Caltagirone GmbH), and Tatjana Quast (Federal Criminal Police Office)

Outstanding LGBTQIA+ Professional Role Models: Aleš Bernášek (Vodafone), Anna Geiger (IC Group of Companies), Antonio Stoichkov (Accenture), Delphine Racher Raulin (AXA), Erhan Erol (Novartis), Ken Goigner (Fachmittelschule Burggasse), Monika Malinowska-Błaszczak (Orange), Marian Kramarík (T-Mobile), Nikki Symmons (Philip Morris International), and Todor Totev (Progress Software)

Ally Role Models: Anna Karas (Linklaters), Annamaria De Franco (Sandoz GmbH), Beatriz Torres (LVMH), Esther De Gaspar (Hewlett Packard Enterprise), Gerlinde Offenmüller (Novartis), Laura Mather (Société Générale), Lionel Souque (Rewe Group), Pavlína Kalousová (Asahi Europe and International), and Raquel Flórez (Freshfields)

The 25 EPBN – WISE Mentoring Program Mentees: Abby Baheerathan, Anders Fuss, Anna Geiger, Antoine Bouilloux-Lafont, Daniel Weiss, Elena Neumann, Florian Niederseer, Jinkun Liu, Jules Bardelli, Konstantin Dunnzlaff, Lorenzo Berrini, Manon Olchowicz, Markéta Matějová, Massimo Livrieri, Matteo Di Maio, Martin Wagner, Lukáš Hradil, Nora Wenig, Quang Luong, Roberto Occhiuzzi, Samuele Appignanesi, Matúš Pravda, Swastika Bhattacharya, Thomas Steinbock, and Torben Tuinmann

The 14 Awarded Inclusive Firms: ABB, Sky, Orange, Société Générale, Legrand, MSD, Vodafone, IKEA, Deutsche Bank, Erste Group, Cuatrecasas, ÖBB, Airbus, and BBVA

“Following our inaugural gathering in Warsaw on May 9, 2025, this second annual EPBN – WISE event in Prague serves as powerful proof of the impact a united Europe can achieve. EPBN’s true strength lies in its ability to unite 28 member organizations across 24 countries to deliver tangible action. With over 130 companies and institutions represented here in Prague, we have sent a definitive signal to the business world and the public: supporting workplace inclusion is supporting democracy. Diversity and inclusion are not the problem; they are the solution. Europe will not back down. Let’s continue this vital, collective European work, and we look forward to seeing you all in May 2027 for our third event,” said Christophe Margaine, EPBN – WISE Project Manager.

Partners and sponsors

The Prague conference was made possible thanks to Legrand, Orange, Sephora, Société Générale, AV Media, Hilton Prague, and Paris Label Europe, and was held under the official patronage of the European Parliament and the French and Irish Embassies in the Czech Republic. The EPBN – WISE project was led by five national associations: L’Autre Cercle (France, as global coordinator), EDGE (Italy), Berufsverband VK (Germany), Pride Biz (Austria), and Pride Business Forum (Czech Republic), co-funded by the European Commission’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme.