Our Board
After our 2023 restructure, we're proud to welcome our largest and most skilled board of directors ever!
Team Blossom
50%
of our board identify as women or non-binary! Making us an organisation led by minority genders!
Demographics
33.3%
Of our board are neurodiverse or have 'additional access needs' which is why accessibility makes an ongoing part of our commitment.
Diversity
100%
Of our board have a personal link to the LGBTQ+ community with 83.3% identifying within the community themselves.
Demographics
We're beyond proud to call these people
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
We’re proud to have representation of people of faith, people with additional needs, trans people, women, and people from working socio economic classes within our board of directors. As part of our ongoing commitment to diversity, we’ll actively promote new board opportunities in locations that’ll help us increase the presence of under represented communities on our board.
Executive Team
The Directors provide an independent view on the running of our business, governance and boardroom best practice. They oversee, constructively challenge and hold to account, management & our CEO in their implementation of our operational strategy and alignment of actions with funding focuses.
Danielle Bekker
(She/Her)
Faried Chopdat
(He/Him)
An accomplished business leader and qualified chartered accountant with a background in finance, audit, risk management and strategic business transformation and change honed through 30 years of hands-on corporate experience. Transitioned to a multifaceted portfolio career encompassing roles as a Non-Executive Director on multiple boards, a consultant advising on cultural advancement, inclusion and belonging, and a dedicated business coach and mentor for professionals and entrepreneurs. With a wealth of global experience in multinational organisations, working with diverse cultures, and a strong background in Board and Audit Committee roles at international and market levels spanning over 60 countries, brings independent constructive challenge and support and unique and alternative perspectives to strategic decision-making.
Liam Chopdat
(He/Him)
Liam Keogh is a business leader, entrepreneur, investor, advisor and communications, marketing and PR specialist with nearly 20 years’ experience in the industry. In 2010 he Co-Founded a Public Relations and MarComms agency, following a career as a journalist. During his 13 year tenure at the business, he worked with the leadership team to grow the agency into an award-winning business, with an exceptional reputation in the industry.
Keogh has expertise across all comms disciplines, from PR, to influencer marketing, social media, copywriting, advertising and brand identity. He has led communications strategies for literally hundreds of businesses, from start-ups that went on to change their industry, to charitable enterprises and multinational conglomerates behind the biggest brands in the world. In 2023 he was named the “Outstanding Professional” of the PR industry by the PRCA and he has also been shortlisted as the “Consultancy Head of the Year” in the PRCA National Awards. Since exiting his agency, Keogh works as a Non-Executive Director, board advisor and consultant for multiple businesses, supporting them to fulfil their growth ambitions. He is particularly skilled in helping companies develop excellent work cultures, winning the PRCA “Workplace Champion” award for this work at his agency.
Oscar Hoyle
(They/Them)
Oscar Hoyle is Blossom LGBT’s CEO and is a nationally recognised LGBTQIA+ figure. Having attended their first trans rights protest at the age of 13, they have developed a passion for implementing positive change throughout our community. With experience working in some of the largest LGBT non-profit organisations around the world, Oscar has become an inspiration to a wide range of individuals.
As a driven individual, they have devoted their professional career to creating a better environment for the LGBT community. Respected for the powerful work they are completing; Oscar has partnered with some of the largest LGBT organisations globally and aims to educate audiences on issues the LGBT community continue to face daily. With experience delivering presentations to & projects for large-scale clients such as the Bank of England, the Environmental Agency, and Tesco’s, they are revered for their intersectional & accessible approach to LGBTQIA+ inclusion.
Sofia Kotlarz
(They/She)
Beyond this, Sofia is a passionate performing artist and has consistently demonstrated the ability to create collaborative, inclusive, and above all else engaging workshops for LGBTQ+ people to explore the arts whilst feeling safe.
