Eva Echo (she/they) is an activist and TEDx speaker focusing on transgender rights, known for taking legal action against NHS England in the High Court, challenging unlawful waiting times for trans patients. Eva won the DIVA Award for Unsung Hero of the Year 2022 and Trans In The City's Community Champion award. She is named on the Pride Power List for 2023 and 2024, and the DIVA Power List for the last three consecutive years. In 2024, she featured in The British LGBT Awards’ top 12 for “Outstanding Contributors to LGBT+ Life” and became one of UN Women UK’s delegates to the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women. Eva’s also Director of Innovation at Birmingham Pride and sits on the Crown Prosecution Service’s hate crime panel. In 2023, her story was permanently included in the Science Museum’s permanent “Who Am I?” gallery, promoting diversity and education to all generations.

Saba is an advocate specialising in intersectionality, cultural abuse, and the challenges faced by marginalized communities. As a queer South Asian with lived experience of trauma, she brings nuanced insight to her work with institutions like the Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police Service, focusing on Hate Crime, Violence Against Women and Girls, and LGBT+ Black/Brown communities. Saba is a trustee for Building Bridges for Peace, a Community Ambassador for The Vavengers, and LGBTQIA+ Network Lead for the Royal Society of Arts. Her leadership spans sexual health, suicide prevention, and mentoring future changemakers for equity and justice.

CP is an award-winning activist and the driving force behind UK Pride 2025, hosted by Portsmouth. As Co-Chair of the Portsmouth Pride Trust and founder of an intersectional queer activism campaign, CP is a champion for inclusion and true collective progress. A writer, speaker, and relentless “do-er,” he collaborates with LGBTQ+, arts, community, and mental health charities, transforming their funding and development strategies. CP has been involved with the Queer Student Awards (QSAs) since day one and considers it a joy and honour to serve as a judge. Whether advocating for change or crafting visionary projects, CP brings his energy passion to everything he does.

Paul is a proud gay man, father, and advocate, dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ+ community and championing equitable healthcare. As a member of a same-sex couple, Paul has adopted two children, embracing the joys and challenges of parenthood while advocating for the rights of same-sex families. He works in trans healthcare , where he focuses on providing vital healthcare services to young people and uses his professional skills to be an ally for marginalised communities. Currently holding the title of Mr. Gay World, Paul is the first British winner in a decade. He leverages this platform to support the trans community and raise awareness for same-sex adoption, advocating for policies that ensure equality and visibility. Through his work and personal journey, Paul is committed to fostering inclusivity, understanding, and respect for all individuals, using his voice to amplify the needs and rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

I am part of the Supporter Development team at the NSPCC and I am also the Chair of our staff LGBTQ+ lived experience group, PINCC (Pride In NSPCC Colleagues and Children.) I help with delivering Ally training across the NSPCC to ensure all staff have the tools and knowledge to be allies inside and outside of work. I am passionate about making a difference, and pushing for change wherever I can.

My name is James, I’m 51 and live in North Wales. I am a proud trans man and work with the amazing charity Not a Phase, running an online peer support group for older transmasc people. 2 years ago I was honoured to be invited to take part in their national campaign for Trans Day of Visibility, the campaign included bill boards and posters across the country. It was an absolute honour to meet and work with all the people involved. I have delivered Trans awareness training to HousingTrusts across the Midlands and also the NSPCC. I was a brand ambassador for the beard growth company Copenhagen Grooming, one of only two trans men working for them, creating content that has been used on social media and in magazines worldwide. I am so proud and excited to be part of the panel for the Queer Student Awards this year!

Mel is a passionate voice for inclusion across Dorset working with and raising the voices of young people. A primary school teacher of 23 years and now a teacher trainer working with schools across the region helping them become more LGBT+ inclusive spaces. Head of Education and Training at Space Youth Project, Unicef Rights Respecting Schools Trainer and Head of Education at Pop'n'Olly, Mel's work aims to spark joy and empower change for the next generation. Mel is delighted to be part of the Queer Student Awards, celebrating the outstanding, innovative, thoughtful and pioneering work of young people across the country. “When I read about the wonderful people making a difference to LGBT+ visibility and inclusion in their schools, colleges and universities, I know the future is safe in their hands.”

Last year’s Rising Star of the Year, Benjamin is a Project Management Degree Apprentice at Bentley, and co-chair of the BeProud colleague network. He joined the network at its launch a few weeks into his time at Bentley, and was soon responsible for the Crewe campus’ first rainbow crossings giving LGBTQ+ visibility to the 4,500 colleagues onsite. Benjamin has gained experience in a number of areas at Bentley, including time abroad at Audi in Germany, and has worked on a wide range of projects from functional strategy to next-generation car development. Leading the BeProud network is Benjamin’s greatest privilege at work, and he is passionate to create a culture where everyone feels they belong at Bentley. Outside of work Benjamin serves as a trustee and director of a preservation charity, volunteer guard on a heritage railway, and is a keen walker and explorer.

My name is Sam, I’m a trans-masc illustrator and fine artist, originally from Northern Ireland but spending my days in Shropshire. Ive been a previous finalist of the QSA Queer Student Role Model, which was a huge honour, and I can't wait to see what extraordinary things this years nominees have been getting up to!

Last year's Queer of the Year and Unsung Hero winner, Luna is now training to be a teacher and continuing their work supporting LGBTQ+ students.

Rich Miles is the CEO and Founder of The Diversity Standards Collective (DSC), a leading cultural research network. Through its innovative Targeted Community Research Platform, DSC helps brands and agencies bridge the gap with diverse communities, ensuring campaigns are authentic and inclusive. Rich and his team have reviewed hundreds of major ads, collaborating with top brands like Virgin Atlantic, Netflix, Channel 4 & Addidas. They provide vital cultural insights, ensuring content resonates with diverse audiences. A Queer, Neurodiverse single dad, Rich’s lived experiences fuel his passion for inclusion. He is dedicated to amplifying voices from ethnic groups, LGBTQIA+, gender-diverse individuals, and other marginalized communities. His entrepreneurial journey began with selling BBQ grill mats, leading to the creation of The Right Pronoun, the first binary pronoun converter app. From there, DSC emerged, with Rich at the forefront of promoting positive representation in advertising worldwide.

Since leaving teaching in 2015, Emma has spent the last ten years working to better the lives of the LGBTQ+ community working and volunteering for various charities across the country. She is currently Partnership Manager for The Proud Trust.

Carley is a passionate and dedicated Student Experience Manager with over 15 years of experience in higher education (HE). Throughout her career, she has consistently championed inclusivity, striving to create environments where all students feel valued and supported. Carley’s commitment to the LGBTQ+ community has earned her recognition and many awards for her outstanding work in advancing equality and representation. As a trustee for a disability charity, and board member for many LGBTQ+ organisations she works to enhance accessibility and inclusion in both educational and community settings. Carley is also an active staff network chair, advocating for the well-being and professional development of her colleagues. After a recent ADHD diagnosis Carley brings a personal understanding of the challenges many students and staff face, which fuels her dedication to fostering a more inclusive and empathetic environment. Her work continues to leave a positive and lasting impact on the institutions and communities she serves.

Ajay Pabial is a celebrated social entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and the Founder and CEO of Art Clubbers CIC, a trailblazing arts organization championing inclusivity and equity. Committed to uplifting marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+, global majority, and working-class individuals, Ajay has designed and delivered impactful programs that amplify underrepresented voices in the arts. A passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility, Ajay actively creates platforms for queer artists and has spoken internationally on fostering representation and belonging within creative industries. His work has been recognized by prestigious institutions, including Christie’s London, Tate, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. A Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe nominee and a finalist for the UK’s Mission Possible Award, Ajay continues to drive systemic change by empowering communities and advocating for greater equity in arts and culture.

Siobhan is a Principal Data Analyst at E.ON Next. They have been part of the E.ON LGBTQ+ and friends network since attending their first pride with the company. A passionate advocate for queer inclusion Siobhan pushes for those in power to acknowledge the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ young people. Especially those with experience of being in the care system. Siobhan works tirelessly to advocate for queer young people through their charity work. Siobhan is a trustee at a UK wide charity supporting care experienced children and their families. Siobhan is Vice Chair of adoption panel for Adoption East Midlands championing the needs of LGBTQ parents and children. Siobhan also works in parliament as Chair to the steering committee for an All Party Parliamentary Group for care experienced children.

Rylee Spooner is a PhD candidate and Associate Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Chichester. Their PhD research explores the phenomena of Identity Abuse in Queer Romantic Relationships. They have previously published research on lesbian internalised homophobia and self-harming behaviours. Rylee has been named as one of Attitudes 101 future trailblazers for their LGBTQ+ work at the University of Chichester which they headed in 2021-2022, as well as their research which will have significant real-world implications in the field of domestic abuse. On the side, Rylee is a singer-songwriter who writes primarily about their experiences as a queer person and all that it comes with! Rylee is delighted to be on the judging panel for a second year as the Queer Student Awards encapsulates their passion for queer inclusion, advocacy, and activism in Education.

Naomi is passionate about the power of community, decolonisation, and systemic change. Naomi has been active in community organising and activism for over twenty years, working with various organisations across the UK. More recently, Naomi has supported local efforts to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion joining the planning group for Chesil Youth Pride and offering talks on LGBTQ+ history for cultural venues and schools. They are Co-chair for the Dorset Palestine Solidarity Campaign branch. Naomi loves to bring together creativity and activism, especially through poetry, and has organised several poetry events in her local area, including the first Proud Poems event during Pride month last year. They’ve worked in education for 17+ years, for the past ten years at educational charity, Teach First. Here she takes a lead on equity, diversity, and inclusion in the role of Employee Experience Manager, and actively supports the LGBTQ+ employee network where she was formerly Chair.