Anj Handa

Anj Handa is a highly regarded racial equality speaker, inclusion strategist, and advocate for social change. She is the Founder of Inspiring Women Changemakers, a dynamic community of changemakers committed to advancing equity and justice. Anj’s work is deeply informed by her lived experience as a woman of colour navigating professional spaces that often fail to reflect the diversity of society. Her ability to articulate the nuances of systemic barriers gives her talks both authenticity and impact. Anj speaks on topics such as Navigating the Labyrinth: Shattering the Myth of the Glass Ceiling, How to Win Supporters and Influence People in a World of Digital Noise, and Social Impact and Inclusion, drawing on her global campaigning and leadership journey.

Anj began her career in International Business Development in Germany in the IT and telecoms sector in 1998. Her path into advocacy and inclusion was shaped over years of professional experience in corporate and policy environments. By 2003, she had become Regional Director, Employer Coalitions at Working Ventures UK, followed by her role as Head of Employment & Skills Partnerships at Leeds, York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce in 2009. These roles allowed her to bridge sectors, develop inclusive strategies, and build partnerships that supported underrepresented groups. In 2011, she founded Anj Handa Associates, marking the beginning of her journey as a thought leader and consultant in diversity and inclusion.

Over the past decade, Anj has earned national and international recognition for her work. In 2016, she created the Igniting Inspiration Awards to celebrate the achievements of everyday women changemakers, and that same year, she launched Inspiring Women Changemakers. Her advocacy work has been recognised with the AFSA Positive Action Award in 2017. In 2019, she was named by Forbes as one of their 10 Diversity & Inclusion Trailblazers You Need to Get Familiar With. In 2020, she took on the role of Course Director for the Getting on Board Charity Leadership Programme, helping to diversify charity governance and open boardrooms to marginalised voices.

Anj’s talks delve into the complexities of leadership, identity, and influence. Her keynote, Navigating the Labyrinth reframes conversations around the so-called glass ceiling, offering deeper insights into the layered challenges faced by women of colour. Her campaigning experience adds depth to her session on digital influence, while her Social Impact and Inclusion talks challenge organisations to move beyond tokenism. Anj is hired because she combines strategic expertise with personal insight, creating talks that are engaging, emotionally resonant and rooted in practical change. She empowers audiences to think differently, act courageously, and create genuinely inclusive cultures.