Rachel Reese

Bio:

Rachel is an experienced and engaging (and often humorous) facilitator and consultant who specialises in helping companies create a trans and non-binary inclusive workplace.

She supports organisations through a number of ways, from coaching senior level decision makers, to delivering general training sessions, to supporting HR teams. She can adapt her material to suit the needs of any organisation.

Rachel has spoken in front of audiences all over the UK, US and Canada and has worked with many large and small businesses in regard to their trans and non-binary initiatives.

Having started her career in avionics as a software engineer, Rachel later moved into the legal sector after retraining as a lawyer. She passed The Law Society Solicitors Final Exams in the 90s. During this time she was diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria, and later while she was working at The College of Law, she transitioned her gender expression from male to female; this at a time when it was difficult to be out and trans in the City. She worked in a number of senior operational roles, eventually rising up to Production Director.

In 2015, Rachel founded Global Butterflies, a trans and non-binary inclusion training company that comprises of trans only staff. Global Butterflies donates profits to LGBT+ causes.

Rachel gives up much of her free time as a trans and non-binary inclusion advocate to many orgainations which include:

• Vice-chair of the Law Society’s LGBT Lawyers Division Committee and works alongside organisations such as The Solicitors Regulation Authority and Aspiring Solicitors on their trans and non-binary campaigns and initiatives.
• Trustee for GiveOut, a charity which aims to support the global LGBT+ movement, funding activists and their organisations around the world to promote and protect the rights of LGBT+ people.
• Member of the InterComms LGBT committee.
• Judging the HR In Law Awards each year.

In 2017, she was shortlisted for the Coca-Cola Hero Of The Year Award as part of the European Diversity Awards.

In 2018, Rachel addressed the Pride In London Gala Dinner in regard to trans and non-binary rights in the UK and in 2019 the Pride In London breakfast for CMS (Pride In London sponsor).