AWEI Fireside Chat: Sapphire Inspire Award 2025

Join Pride in Diversity for the next in our series of AWEI Fireside Chats: Winners of the LGBTQ+ Inclusion Awards!

There is an array of Awards given at the annual Australian LGBTQ+ Inclusion Awards, based on the results of the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Submissions and additional nominated categories. This series will focus on the winners in these categories, where each award nomination recognises outstanding advocacy, support and/or contribution to LGBTQ+ inclusion within the workplace by leaders, role models, allies and more.

The joint winners of the 2025 Sapphire Inspire Award were:

·       Reah Saunders, Medibank

·       Marie Stella, KPMG Australia

This submission acknowledges the dual impacts or “double glass ceiling” that LGBTQ+ people who are or may be perceived as women deal with in the workplace.

This is most apparent when looking at people in senior leadership roles, where those in the Sapphire cohort are half as likely to be in these roles than both LGBTQ+ men and non-LGBTQ+ women. Year after year, we continue to see differences in AWEI data between the Sapphire cohort (those who are, or are perceived as, LGBTQ+ women, and therefore face many of the same barriers), other LGBTQ+ populations, and the general population. In particular, the Sapphire cohort is less likely to be out in the workforce than LGBTQ+ men, which has an impact on the health and wellbeing, and productivity and engagement of individuals in the workplace.

We often hear “you can’t be what you can’t see.” Year after year, the AWEI Employee Survey and other data shows that LGBTQ+ employees are working in organisation that have improved their workplace inclusion outcomes, including increased sense of safety, health and wellbeing, feelings of belonging, and ability to see a career path for themselves in their organisation, and more. LGBTQ+ employees are seeing other LGBTQ+ people being accepted within their organisation and being successful in their career path – particularly when they see them in senior leadership positions – at growing rates.

Having visible role models is even more important for people where they have multiple intersecting under-represented facets of their identities, for example we see LGBTQ+ women in particular value having role models, but they are not seeing them. This is also true for other under-represented LGBTQ+ populations.

This nominee is active and highly visible as an LGBTQ+ employee, but has also made an outstanding contribution to raising awareness, advocating for, and promoting inclusion for LGBTQ+ women and under-represented genders within the organisation.

About the Winners:

Reah Saunders (she/they), Medibank

Reah never leaves a room — physical or virtual — without making an impact. They are a fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion, helping people from all walks of life understand why this work matters and how it drives meaningful change. Their leadership has made an immeasurable contribution to the safety, growth, and celebration of the Sapphire Cohort.

Reah has also spearheaded advocacy initiatives advancing under-represented genders — from leading the rollout of menopause support for employees with female reproductive anatomy, to driving the procurement and installation of gender-diverse bathroom signage. They consistently show up in the right conversations to influence systemic and structural change at Medibank.

Beyond the workplace, Reah’s advocacy extends into the community, where they work to raise awareness and promote inclusion for LGBTQ+ women and under-represented genders through their involvement with Dykes on Bikes.

Reah changes lives at Medibank — for employees and customers alike — through their refusal to accept exclusion and their unwavering commitment to advancing LGBTQ+ communities and under-represented populations.

Marie Stella (she/her), KPMG Australia

Marie has amplified the voices of LGBTQ+ women through her role as Parea Network Lead, creating a space where LGBTQ+ women and gender diverse people can connect — regardless of whether they are out in the workplace.

A natural community builder, Marie consistently looks for ways to foster inclusion and belonging not only within the LGBTQ+ community, but across KPMG more broadly. This year, she led a series of LGBTQ+ speaking events, coordinated an employee-led network fair, and facilitated regular Parea Network meetings and in-person meetups. Her energy and enthusiasm for building community are truly boundless.

Marie is a visible role model and leader who creates opportunities for queer women to both be seen and see themselves reflected in others. At the same time, she actively educates allies about the lived experiences and barriers LGBTQ+ women may face in the workplace.

She inspires those around her through her passion and genuine commitment to creating a workplace — and a world — where everyone feels they belong.

About this Session:

Join Pride in Diversity and our guest panellists as we discuss how leaders cab successfully contribute to LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts for LGBTQ+ people who are or may be perceived as women across the organisation; and the impact the impacts this has on employees and organisational culture.

Pride in Diversity Co-hosts:

·       Nita Mannering (she/her), Senior Relationship Manager

·       Will Reilly (he/him), Index Project Manager

Guest Panellists:

·       Reah Saunders (she/they), Senior Procurement Delivery Manager, Medibank

·       Marie Stella (she/her), Manager - Technology Advisory, KPMG Australia

This session will be virtual.

Registration links will be sent out the morning of the event.

About the Australian Workplace Equality Index:

The AWEI now stands as the definitive national benchmark on LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion and comprises the largest and only national employee survey designed to gauge the overall impact of inclusion initiatives on organisational culture.

To learn more about the AWEI Submissions, head to our website.

Your organisation can also register for participation in:

·       The 2026 - 2027 AWEI Submissions

·       The AWEI Employee Survey

To learn more about nominating a colleague or campaign for outstanding contributions to LGBTQ+ inclusion within your organisation, check out our Award Nomination categories.