25 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leaders Shaping the Profession in 2026

Recognising the practitioners, researchers, educators, and advocates who led the global diversity, equity, and inclusion conversation between March 2025 and March 2026.

Diversity, equity and inclusion has rarely been more contested — or more necessary. The political backlash against DEI programmes across the US, the rollback of corporate commitments made in 2020, and the growing pressure on practitioners to defend the business case for work that should require no defence has made 2025-2026 one of the most difficult operating environments in the field's history. The DEI leaders on this list are the ones who, throughout the review period, held the line — continuing to do rigorous, evidence-based, practically impactful work in organisations and in public discourse at exactly the moment when it was least comfortable to do so. The Industry Leaders evaluates candidates on LinkedIn presence and engagement, thought leadership output in the past 12 months, professional reputation, media visibility, community impact, and industry recognition.

About This List

Every year, The Industry Leaders identifies 25 DEI and inclusion leaders who are actively shaping how organisations build workplaces where every person can contribute fully. Candidates are evaluated on current LinkedIn presence and engagement, thought leadership output in the past 12 months, media visibility, published work, community building, and the demonstrable impact of their frameworks and advocacy on how organisations and the profession approach equity and inclusion. This is a list about practitioners whose influence is built on rigour and results, not rhetoric.