Membership Directory - Individual
Bob Smith-Thomas
Quality Control Specialist at AXA health
About
Bio: I am a CIS gay man of 60 years young. I have been married for 14 years having been together for 17 years, were initially civil partnered and won Surrey wedding of the year 2011! then we converted 5 years later to marriage. I have been a club dj for over 40 years and run a dance music radio station as well as running a food blog.
3 years ago I took a course at Bournemouth collage "LGBTQ+ Inclusion in the workplace". This gave me a better understanding of our community and how to bring more inclusion in the work space. I am now the inclusion and belonging lead in Bournemouth. I have hosted IDAHOBIT in Bournemouth since 2023, this year being on the Panel of the LGBT Great event. We have had our first Pride Roadshow in Bournemouth this year which was very well received. I have done a video blog for World AIDS day for AXA which is promoted every year where I talk about my experience of living the the AIDS epidemic of the 80s and 90s. I was so proud last year to be able to attend the Bristol Pride representing AXA with my husband, something I had never been able to do before.
A role model for me was Paul O'Grady. I knew him back in the 80's when I was a resident dj at a drag bar in London. We became friends and I was huge fan. He then went on to bring Lily Savage to the mass public on TV. before retiring her and carrying on as Paul. He has a prime time chat show but was always true to himself. This showed me that by being your true self you can do anything! I loved the way the public loved him either as Lily or Paul.
I believe the more role models there are the better the workplace becomes. If people are able to come to work and be their true self they are able to contribute 100% of them selves, their ideas and their energy. I have worked in an environment that I had to hide my sexuality and it was exhausting and meant I never gave 100% to my work. By being a role model you can be their to enable others to have that confidence to be their true selves.
I am here to help, support and guide to the best of my knowledge and experience and nothing makes me happier than to see someone be their true self and to flourish in their space.
Project 1000