What Can We Do About It?

In a world on fire, this panel brings together activists, writers, and thinkers committed to equity and justice to explore tangible ways we can all take action. Whether you’re new to activism or deep in the work, join us for a grounded, energising conversation about how the world will get better — and how you can help make it happen.

Lucy Webster is an anti-ableism campaigner working across journalism, publishing, events, community organising and social media to create a more accessible and more inclusive world for disabled people. She covers disability issues for leading publications like the Guardian, the Sunday Times and the FT. Her journalism aims to demystify disability and challenge ableist assumptions, while fairly and accurately representing disabled people and their stories.Her first book, The View From Down Here, is a memoir of life lived at the intersection of ableism and sexism, and a rallying call for disabled women to be fully included in a new feminism. Alongside her writing and campaigning work, Lucy is a community organiser. She is the co-founder of Every Body Queer, an events initiative providing spaces for disabled LGBTQ+ people to meet, share experiences and create change within the queer community and beyond

Ian Henzel is a man who loves challenges. His 42-year career in technology marketing, product management, project management, and quality assurance, spanning Asia and Europe, was just the beginning. After retiring in 2019, he co-founded Rattling Good Yarns Press, LLC, a press that is dedicated to highlighting overlooked LGBTQ+ voices. As a lifelong LGBTQ+ activist, Ian’s mission is to give voice to the community. His podcast, “Bold Voices/Good Yarns,” is a platform that explores how authors’ lives shape their work. He resides in Cathedral City, California, with his husband of 38 years, and at 70, he’s embracing the challenges of his “second life” with Rattling Good Yarns Press, committed to producing quality work and treating people right.

Hafsa Qureshi (any pronouns) is an openly bisexual and genderqueer Muslim from Birmingham (UK). They are a multi-award winning LGBTQ+ activist, writer and public speaker. His work has been featured in: VICE, Sky News, Channel 4, Metro, BBC News, Pink News and more. They have worked with numerous public, private and third sector organisations across their career. Hafsa currently works with LGBTQ+ charities within the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) sector.

Dr Senthorun (Sen) Raj is a Reader of Human Rights Law at Manchester Law School, Manchester Metropolitan University. Sen’s academic and advocacy work take an intersectional approach to examining the relationship between emotion, culture, race, gender, sexuality, and law across different jurisdictions. His most recent book, The Emotions of LGBT Rights and Reforms: Repairing Law (Edinburgh University Press, 2025), explores how emotions structure socio-legal conflicts relating to LGBT people in Australia, the United Kingdom, and United States with a focus on religious exemptions to equality laws, legal gender recognition, bans on conversion practices, and sex education in schools.

(Chair) Ellen Jones is a trailblazing author, strategist, and award-winning campaigner, renowned for her work in fostering inclusion and advocating for LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent communities. Ellen’s highly anticipated debut book, Outrage: Why the Fight for LGBTQ+ Equality Is Not Yet Won and What You Can Do About It, was published by Bluebird Pan Macmillan in January 2025. Ellen’s achievements are as impressive as they are impactful. She has been recognised as one of London’s most influential people by the Evening Standard, included in Attitude Magazine’s 101 LGBTQ Trailblazers. In 2024, Ellen was selected for WACL’s Represent Me campaign, where she collaborated with Snap, YouTube, and Pinterest to elevate conversations about representation. These accolades underscore her expertise and commitment to creating inclusive spaces that empower marginalised voices.