At this roundtable we were delighted to showcase the inspiring practice from this year’s Aspiring Leaders Awards, highlighting how emerging leaders are driving inclusive cultural engagement, community‑centred physical activity, sustainable transformation and innovative wellbeing approaches across heritage, libraries, play and leisure.

The session was Chaired by Zsuzsi Lindsay CLOA’s EDI Champion and focused on transferable learning, featuring the following case studies:

Mehila Hussain‑Marchbank, Community Engagement Manager, Bath & North East Somerset Council. Winner of the Culture, Creativity & Heritage award Community engagement at The Roman Baths Roman Baths Museum.

Katie de Joux, Culture and Outreach Services Manager, Buckinghamshire Libraries – Buckinghamshire’s inclusive, community‑centred cultural programmes. The winner of the EDI award was Zoe Loake and you can hear her reflections in the recording of the session.

Abul Kashim, Digital Learning and Programme Manager, Camden Libraries. Winner of the Sustainability award Reimagining Camden’s Libraries for a sustainable future.

Nathania Minard, Senior Play Officer, Conwy County Borough Council.  Winner of the Leisure & Physical Activity award. Unfortunately Nat was unable to participate on the day, but has shared the presentation that she created which focuses on Playful Pathways – innovative, inclusive, community‑centred play and physical activity for children, young people and families.

Ryan Ansell, Health & Wellbeing Manager, Stevenage Borough Council. Highly commended for Collaborative leadership to tackle health inequalities.

Tom Oliver, Health and Activity Coordinator, Basildon Council. Highly commended for Data driven leadership.

You can watch a recording of the event here (1 hour 51 mins) and also access the transcript.