DIVA Charitable Trust introduces the team and Board leading its next chapter of visibility, connection and collective power for LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people
BY LADY PHYLL OPOKU-GYIMAH
DIVA Charitable Trust is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to advancing the visibility, wellbeing and equality of LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people.
We know that invisibility costs lives. When people are missing from the media, absent from data, disconnected from community or excluded from the decisions that affect them, their experiences and needs are too easily overlooked.
We exist to change that.
Our vision is for LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people, in all our diversity, to be visible, valued, connected and able to shape the decisions, narratives and systems that affect our lives. Central to that vision is ensuring that those who experience the greatest marginalisation within our communities are not left behind.
DIVA has a unique history and an extraordinary platform. For more than three decades, DIVA magazine has created space for LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people to tell our stories, see ourselves reflected and find one another. Through the work of DIVA Charitable Trust, we are building on that powerful legacy and asking what more we can make possible together.
Our work will focus on making people, lives and experiences more visible; generating greater understanding; connecting communities and building solidarity; and strengthening our collective influence and power.
Above all, we want to turn visibility into meaningful opportunities for LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people to shape the narratives, decisions and systems that affect their lives.
There is a great deal happening behind the scenes as we build this next chapter for DIVA. We will share more about our strategy and plans over the coming months, and our work will continue to develop alongside the communities we exist to serve.
But before we tell you more about where we are going, we want to introduce the people helping us to get there.
I’m delighted to introduce the DIVA team and our Board.
Meet the team
LADY PHYLL OPOKU-GYIMAH (she/her)
Executive Director of DIVA Charitable Trust
Lady Phyll leads strategy, organisational development, partnerships and mission to advance the visibility, voice and power of LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people at DIVA Charitable Trust . She oversees its work across DIVA Magazine, Lesbian Visibility Week, research, partnerships and community programmes. An internationally respected human rights activist, community organiser and public speaker, she is Co-founder and Chief Executive of UK Black Pride and Pro Chancellor of the University of Northampton. Lady Phyll also serves on Sky’s Diversity Advisory Council and is a patron of Micro Rainbow. Her career spans the Civil Service, trade union movement, global LGBTQI+ rights, fundraising and organisational leadership.
ROXY BOURDILLON (she/her)
Editor-in-chief of DIVA Magazine at DIVA Charitable Trust
Roxy Bourdillon is Editor-in-chief of DIVA magazine at DIVA Charitable Trust.
Award-winning journalist Roxy has written for magazines including Cosmopolitan, Glamour and Grazia, and been featured by Autostraddle, Curve, Gaydio, Homo Sapiens and The FT. Since she became editor-in-chief, DIVA has had multiple sell-out issues and won the Trans In The City Trans Inclusive Organisation Award. Roxy also won Highly Commended New Editor Of The Year at the prestigious BSME Awards. Her groundbreaking work has earned her a place in The Guardian’s Pride Power List and The Attitude 101: LGBTQ+ Trailblazers Changing The World. Roxy’s debut book, What A Girl Wants: A (True) Story Of Sexuality And Self-Discovery, is out now.
NIC CROSARA (they/he)
Deputy Editor of DIVA Magazine at DIVA Charitable Trust
Nic is passionate about advocating for trans+ rights, as well as the wider LGBTQIA+ community. They were featured on Trans In The City’s inaugural Trans and Non-Binary Changemakers list. Nic writes about all things culture, lifestyle and wellbeing. They’ve interviewed a range of stars from Keanu Reeves and Sophia Bush to T’Nia Miller. With over a decade of professional writing experience, their words have appeared in publications such as Metro, HuffPost UK, Attitude, and more.
JO ATKINS-POTTS (she/they)
Strategic Lead at DIVA Charitable Trust
Jo is Strategic Lead at DIVA Charitable Trust, supporting the organisation’s strategy, partnerships, and development as it builds the next chapter of its work advancing the visibility and power of LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people. A campaign strategist, writer, and poet, Jo has spent her career working at the intersection of human rights and social change. She is co-founder of Leading on the Line, helping values-led organisations navigate political pressure, rising authoritarianism, and moments when their principles are tested. Jo’s work is rooted in solidarity and the belief that meaningful change requires both boldness and integrity. Alongside her work in activism and strategy, she writes widely about grief, power, love, and the strange, tender business of being human.
ELLA GAUCI (she/her)
Staff Writer & Social Media Manager of DIVA magazine at DIVA Charitable Trust
London-based journalist Ella uses her work to investigate pressing issues in the LGBTQIA+ community such as homophobic abuse in care homes and the experiences of queer refugees in the UK. She is also a keen arts and culture journalist, interviewing celebrities, new artists and filmmakers who are paving the way for queer stories to be told. Ella has spoken on panels about LGBTQIA+ representation in the media and bi+ advocacy. Alongside this, Ella manages DIVA magazine’s social media channels, working with key members of the community to amplify the incredible work being done in grassroots organisations.
TIMON
Administrator & PA to the Executive Director at DIVA Charitable Trust
At DIVA, Timon coordinates diaries, meetings, manages correspondence, supports Board and governance administration, and coordinates with stakeholders and partners across projects and events, ensuring the office runs smoothly and that the ED is well supported to focus on strategic leadership. Outside of work, Timon is also learning gardening, volunteering at Lloyd’s Park to keep the William Morris Gardens in tip-top condition, and is also an African Electronic Music DJ aspiring to be a studio-producer.
Meet our Board and Chair Emeritus
Our Board brings together a wealth of experience, knowledge and perspective, helping us to think ambitiously about DIVA’s future and stay accountable to the purpose at the heart of our work.
MOUD GOBA (she/her)
Chair at DIVA Charitable Trust
Moud provides strategic leadership and supports DIVA Charitable Trust’s governance, growth and mission. She is National Director of Micro Rainbow, the UK’s leading organisation supporting LGBTQI+ migrants, where she oversees programmes spanning safe housing, social inclusion and employability. Moud also chairs UK Black Pride and brings extensive experience in LGBTQI+ rights, migration, community leadership and movement-building. Recognised as one of the BBC’s 100 Women in 2022, her honours include the Kaleidoscope Lifetime Achievement Award, BET Global Good Award and DIVA Inspirational Role Model Award.
KIT MOREY (they/them)
Trustee at DIVA Charitable Trust
Kit Morey is a Trans+ non-binary VP Commissioning Editor at Paramount/C5 and passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion. As a Trustee of the DIVA Charitable Trust, and drawing on 30 years as an out and proud queer person, Kit champions lesbian and non-binary visibility, challenges inequality and helps create spaces where everyone belongs. A neurodivergent parent and cancer advocate, Kit brings an intersectional perspective to their activism. They believe that with visibility comes responsibility: to amplify unheard voices, support the next generation and turn representation into meaningful action. Kit’s mission is to open doors, build stronger communities and create lasting change.
FIONA MARSHALL (she/her)
Treasurer and Trustee at DIVA Charitable Trust
Fiona has more than 40 years’ experience in events, operations and project management and has worked within the LGBTQIA space since 2007. She has led the delivery of major diversity events and initiatives, including the British Diversity Awards, and has extensive experience managing complex projects, partnerships and stakeholder relationships. Fiona has a longstanding commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and is passionate about creating opportunities and greater visibility for LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people. As a trustee, she brings strong operational expertise, sound judgement and considerable experience of turning ambitious ideas into successful, sustainable projects.
LINDA RILEY (she/her)
Chair Emeritus at DIVA Charitable Trust
Linda is Chair Emeritus of DIVA Charitable Trust, recognising her longstanding leadership, vision and contribution to DIVA and LGBTQIA+ visibility. A journalist, publisher and campaigner, Linda became publisher of DIVA Magazine in 2016 and helped develop it into a global platform for LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people. She founded Lesbian Visibility Week and created initiatives including the European Diversity Awards, British Diversity Awards, Rainbow Honours and Pride Power List. A former board director of GLAAD, Linda brings decades of experience in publishing, advocacy, events and movement-building, alongside an enduring commitment to inclusive lesbian visibility and trans solidarity.
This is just the beginning
We have a lot to do, and we’re excited about what comes next.
There will be more opportunities to connect with DIVA, contribute to our work, support our communities and help us build a future in which LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people are not only seen, but valued, connected and able to shape the world around us.
If you’d like to work with us, collaborate, get involved or simply say hello, we’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch at editorial@diva-magazine.com
We’ll be sharing more soon.
Love media made by and for LGBTQIA+ women and gender diverse people? Then you’ll love DIVA. We’ve been spotlighting the community for over 30 years. Here’s how you can get behind queer media and keep us going for another generation: linkin.bio/ig-divamagazine
Did you know that DIVA has now become a charity? Our magazine is published by the DIVA Charitable Trust. You can find out more about the organisation and how you can offer your support here: divacharitabletrust.com
