Membership Directory - Individual
Bob Smith-Thomas
Quality Control Specialist at AXA Health
About
Bio: I am a CIS gay man who has been married to my husband for 15 years.
I am the inclusion & Belonging lead for the AXA Health Bournemouth office. I have been part of the Pride Network for 4 years and during that time I have written blogs, and also done an World AIDS day video where I talk about my experience living through the late 80's and 90's which has been used by AXA for the past 3 years. Last year I was one of the panellists for IDAHOBIT with LGBT Great and AXA XL. I have a qualification "LGBT Inclusion in the workplace". Last year I represented AXA at their first pride in Bristol with my husband. I am part of the AXA Pride committee which helps organise Pride events.
I am the inclusion & Belonging lead for the AXA Health Bournemouth office. I have been part of the Pride Network for 4 years and during that time I have written blogs, and also done an World AIDS day video where I talk about my experience living through the late 80's and 90's which has been used by AXA for the past 3 years. Last year I was one of the panellists for IDAHOBIT with LGBT Great and AXA XL. I have a qualification "LGBT Inclusion in the workplace". Last year I represented AXA at their first pride in Bristol with my husband. I am part of the AXA Pride committee which helps organise Pride events.
A role model for me was the most fabulous Paul O'Grady. Back in the 90's I worked with Paul as Lily Savage when I was a London DJ. He was a shinning star on the LGBTQ+ scene as well as a lovely person. To then see him take Lily onto TV and become a national prime time TV star was amazing. The to take this and retire Lily and still be a national treasure as Paul was spectacular.
For me this showed that you can be your true self and be respected and loved by everyone, initially as Lily but then as Paul showed you can shine no matter what. This was shown when he passed away and the nation went into shock.
I took such inspiration from Paul as a role model, and I came out at work for the first time. I worked at BMW at the time and never felt it I could. However seeing how Paul transitioned and was still loved and respected gave me to strength to do the same, and guess what the same happened for me.
As an inclusion lead I have set up support groups in the Bournemouth office and runs awareness events. last year we had our first Pride roadshow which was so well attended, playing games and eating rainbow cake! I am extremely proud of the World Aids Day video, which I can send if you would like to view it and the fact that AXA use it every year. It causes strong emotion reactions as it came from a very personal prospective and I shared things I hadn't spoken about before. One of my other successes in Bournemouth is the menopause meet up group I started. It is a once a month lunchtime meet up to discuss and share experiences. I have received some wonderful emails saying that the sharing of knowledge and experience has actually changed peoples lives which I am very humbled about.
I have been told I am very approachable and open, I think having people in the workplace that others can approach to either talk about any issues they are having or just to sign post is so important. If you feel you can come to work and be your true self and feel safe then you are going to give 100% and want to be there, rather than having to hide yourself which takes so much energy.
"you setting up this group has changed my life, thank you" - Kirsty F
"I wish I had know Bob before as he is such a positive person, everyone needs a Bob around them" - Abi K
Project 1000