This month, we were delighted to hear that Christon Mallett, Marketing Manager, Fire TV App Store, was named one of 50 LGBT+ Future Leaders in the FT OUTstanding Role Model awards. Christon is a passionate diversity champion, serving on the board of LGBT+ employee affinity group, glamazon, and was previously a committee member of Lesbians Who Tech London, a community working together to promote the visibility and inclusion of women, LGBT+ people and people from other backgrounds under-represented in technology. They play an instrumental role bringing the LGBT+ community working in tech together, as well as working tirelessly to generate awareness amongst the wider organisation and general public.

“Christon is an inspiring, thoughtful and impactful leader who generates the right type of debate by challenging the stereotypes and set ways,” said Luca Sale who chairs glamazon in the UK. “From a professional side, I have seen them bring positive changes in the way we interact in our group, always keen to solicit feedback instead of assuming that everyone is on board. Christon’s support for all glamazon initiatives has helped us step up our game and better support the LBT communities.”

Christon’s recognition followed a week after a night of celebration at the Pink News Awards, where we sponsored the Third Sector Award, which celebrates the contributions of community groups that campaign for LGBT+ equality around the world.

Now in its sixth successful year, the Pink News Awards were presented by several celebrities, athletes and politicians, including 2018 UK Eurovision entrant SuRie, world champion swimmer Mark Foster, Gogglebox’s Stephen Webb, former Prime Minister Tony Blair and Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn.

The National Trust won the Third Sector Equality award for its efforts in ensuring that LGBT+ heritage continues to be acknowledged and recognised across the country and worldwide.

“I would like to congratulate the National Trust, who were announced as the winners of the Third Sector Equality award at the PinkNews Awards this year,” said Michael Roberts, Software Development Manager in the Amazon Development Centre Scotland and chair of glamazon Scotland. “We were so proud to sponsor the Third Sector Equality Award and were delighted to be able to share in celebrating the invaluable efforts of those organisations working hard to help ensure that the LGBT+ community is supported and recognised globally. As socially diverse communities continue to grow and develop, it is important that all these groups properly reflect these changes by acknowledging equality, diversity and inclusion.”

The other nominees shortlisted in the category were human rights charity Amnesty International, homeless charity St Mungo’s and Victim Support who provide support to victims of crime.