Elizabeth Weingarten

Head of Behavioral Science Insights, Torch

Elizabeth Weingarten is the Head of Behavioral Science Insights for Torch. In this capacity, she works with the behavioral science team to identify and share with broad audiences what Torch is learning about the science of leadership development. Prior to Torch, Elizabeth was managing editor of Behavioral Scientist magazine, worked at the behavioral science design firm ideas42, directed the Global Gender Parity Initiative at the think tank New America and was a senior fellow in its Better Life Lab. She has also worked on the editorial staffs of Slate, The Atlantic, and Qatar Today Magazine. She graduated from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

Catherine Garrod

Founder, Compelling Culture

Catherine Garrod is the Founder of Compelling Culture and collaborates with organisations to boost the experience for colleagues, customers and communities.

She believes when employees can be themselves and influence how things are done, their lives are better, they're more creative and better problem solvers. And when consumers are authentically represented in media, products and services, organisations and the communities they serve thrive.

Catherine's superpower is absorbing an organisation's ambition, defining the approach and providing a compelling plan everyone can get behind with data to embed change and track progress in every team. One of her highlights is leading Sky to be the most inclusive employer with 80% of teams increasing diversity both on and off screen.

Catherine is straight talking, full of energy and empowers people, already passionate about what they do. Having collaborated with Executive teams, every business area and HR, she understands the complexity in embedding sustainable change. Catherine has been on the inside, know how organisations operate, and learnt tonnes about what works (and what doesn't).

Her expertise in culture change combines the power of employee engagement, communications, diversity and inclusion. And she makes the complex simple with practical action people can implement today, tomorrow and the day after.

Dr. Erin Thomas

Head of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, Upwork

Erin L. Thomas, PhD, is Head of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at Upwork. She is responsible for leading the company’s mission to create economic opportunities so people have better lives by driving the diversity, inclusion and belonging (DIBs) strategy, implementation and coaching. With a strong commitment of making the company a place where people bring their whole selves to work, she works to put dignity, purpose, community and fairness at the center of every working moment.

In 2020, Erin was named to Fortune’s 40 under 40 list as one of the most influential people in technology. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company and BBC, as well as recognized by Forbes, Human Rights Campaign, the National Association for Female Executives, and Equal Opportunity Magazine. Prior to Upwork, Erin was a Managing Director at Paradigm, a diversity and inclusion consultancy, and held DIBs positions at Grant Thornton LLP and Argonne National Laboratory. She holds a PhD in social psychology; a Master of Philosophy in social psychology; a Master of Science in social psychology; and Bachelors of Arts in psychology and international studies from Yale University.