Thirty champions of diversity, equity and inclusion have been named on the IPA iList 2026 for their incredible commitment to driving positive change within the advertising industry. The announcement was made at the IPA Talent & Diversity today (28 April).
Established in 2020 and run in partnership with Campaign, the IPA iList celebrates the individuals who have been catalysts for diversity, equity and inclusion across the industry – either through the creative work they produce or through their creation and deployment of some of the industry’s most impactful inclusion initiatives.
This year’s iList class are from all levels of seniority and represent a wide variety of disciplines, including strategy and planning, production, talent, new business, media and creative, and account handling. Between them, they have implemented programmes and initiatives driving inclusivity in all its forms, both at a wider intersectional level and those tackling specific issues including age, disability, ethnicity, gender and neurodiversity.
The 2026 finalists were chosen by a panel of diversity and inclusion icons and iList alumni, chaired by Xavier Rees.
The IPA iList 2026:
- Imy Brighty-Potts, Marketing & Content Executive, the7stars
- Josh Bullmore, Chief Strategy Officer, Creative Practice, Publicis Groupe UK
- Josh Chi, Managing Partner, Head of Media & Strategy, UNITE Omnicom Media
- Tori Cleland, Business Lead, BBH
- Henrietta Corley, Global Business Lead, AMV BBDO
- Sandy Downs, Associate Director & Head of DE&I, VCCP Roar
- Amina Folarin, CEO, OLIVER
- Tom Ghiden, Managing Director, adam&eve\TBWA
- Jordan Golding, Planning Business Director, MG OMD
- Trista Grant, Director HR Talent & Leadership, dentsu UK
- Kate Higham, Managing Director, Born Social
- Stuart Hogg, COO, dentsu UK
- Marina Logacheva, Disability Sport Lead, MATTA
- Lori Meakin, Planning Partner, adam&eve\TBWA
- Zoe Miller, Talent Manager, M+C Saatchi Group
- Olushola Olojo, Strategic Planner, CPM UK, Omnicom
- Michael Phillips, Head of Communications, Havas Media Network UK
- Ellie Reeves, Senior Effectiveness Executive, Talon
- Adele Rego, Senior Project Director, Ogilvy Health UK
- Charles Reid, Client Managing Director, dentsu UK (Carat)
- Veronique Rhys Evans, EMEA Creative Excellence Director, dentsu
- Jessica Richardson, Senior Talent Acquisition Business Partner, IPG Mediabrands
- Laura Rowe, Managing Partner, Head of Decisions Science, OMD UK
- Asad Shaykh, Head of Strategy, Grey London
- Martyn Sibley, CEO & Founder, Purple Goat
- Fleur Stoppani, Chief Operating Officer UK, Mindshare
- Laura Jayne Streets, Head of Biddable Operations, MG OMD
- Avelon Thompson, Head of Inclusion & Impact UK, WPP Media
- Manish Tiwari, Founder, HERE&NOW365
- Larisa Wong, Creative Strategist, Anomaly
Commenting on the IPA iList 2026, members of the judging panel said:
Xavier Rees, Group CEO, AMV BBDO and Chair of the IPA Talent Leadership Group:
“The iList judging experience is unique - the interviews and conversations are a rare blend of personal and professional ideas, experiences and action taken. I’ve been inspired, uplifted and entertained - and I also learnt a lot during the interviews. The conversations we had and stories shared really are a reflection of how our talent wants to be heard, what matters to them and how they are navigating their working lives to align with their personal values and that’s something for leaders to be aware of and to encourage. I also came away thinking about how important it is to for us as an industry to focus on the hiring and experience of entry-level talent.
"As Chair of the IPA Talent Leadership Group, I’d like to thank everyone who entered and congratulate the winners. I am genuinely overwhelmed by the astonishing passion and commitment shown by our winners to drive change and create a better, more inclusive industry for everyone. Delighted for you all and we can’t wait to see what you do next.”
Leila Siddiqi, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, IPA:
“The IPA iList is more important today than it has ever been given the challenging and chaotic political, social and economic global back drop of the last year. Our 2026 iList cohort comprises of individuals who are more committed and inspirational than ever - breaking barriers through intentional storytelling and showing the nation as we should, inclusive casting and by fostering cultural fluency and a true sense of belonging in the workplace and across the industry. What we love most is that this is the only list in our industry which comprises of junior, mid and senior level talent, from across the business, not any one particular department or role.”
Getting on the IPA iList itself is only the beginning. We are looking for individuals who will use this platform actively to help influence and shape the industry and come together as part of a movement. We hope that this list paves the way for many others to take up the baton and inspire further positive transformation in our industry.
Karen Martin, IPA President and CEO of BBH:
“The people celebrated in this year’s iList are proving that inclusive thinking is not separate from commercial thinking; it is the foundation of better creative work, stronger businesses, and a more sustainable industry. They show that progress is not achieved by a single initiative, but by momentum - small steps, bold decisions, and persistent commitment that add up to real, lasting impact.
I want to thank every entrant for the work they do, often quietly and without fanfare, to make our industry a better place. And to those featured in this year’s list: thank you for setting the pace. Your commitment to inclusion inspires others to raise their ambitions and build workplaces and brands that reflect the diversity and dynamism of modern Britain.
Gideon Spanier, UK editor-in-chief of Campaign:
“The IPA iListers of 2026 are an inspiring and eclectic mix of talent. They are a timely reminder that individuals can make a positive difference and drive this industry forward. The iList judging process is special because every shortlisted candidate has a live interview with the judges and it was a privilege to hear so many compelling, personal stories from all those who took part.”
Read more about the 2026 IPA iList and their incredible work
Last updated 28 April 2026