LAKS MANN MBE
South Asian Heritage Month
Laks Mann MBE is a dynamic Creative Strategist, award-winning DEI expert, and an accomplished public speaker. With a 25-year career spanning the corporate, charitable, and public sectors, Laks is celebrated for his expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion. He is particularly recognised for his ground-breaking contributions to LGBTQ+ advocacy and community integration. Known for his ability to inspire and lead through powerful storytelling, Laks brings a unique perspective to every stage, making him a sought-after speaker at national and international events.
Laks’s journey to prominence began with an impressive early career as a Chartered Accountant at PwC, where he specialised in international real estate and cross-border tax planning. He went on to excel in global finance roles at JLL and Deutsche Bank before transitioning into the charity sector, where he worked on sustainability and climate change initiatives. Laks later embarked on a 15-year career in policing, where he was instrumental in roles ranging from 999 response to organised crime and gang diversion. As a leader at the College of Policing, he secured the endorsement of policing’s first-ever National Talent Development Strategy. Most notably, Laks became the UK’s first openly gay South Asian and Sikh police officer, breaking barriers and championing inclusivity within law enforcement.
In recent years, Laks’s contributions have been widely recognised. Awarded an MBE in 2024 for services to charity, integration, and LGBTQ+ communities, he was also named LGBT+ Trailblazer 2024 at the British LGBTQIA+ Awards. Other accolades include being listed in the Diversity Power List 2022/23 and winning LGBT+ Positive Role Model 2020 at the National Diversity Awards. He is a Mayor of London-appointed EDI Advisor, a Trustee for South Asian Heritage Month, and Founder of Gaysians UK, amplifying the voices of the South Asian queer community. Laks’s influence extends to roles as a judge for the Inclusive Awards and Fellow of the RSA.
Laks is hired for his unparalleled ability to blend lived experience with professional insight, offering an intersectional approach to diversity and inclusion. His collaborations with leading organisations like PwC, KPMG, and City Hall showcase his expertise in fostering meaningful conversations and driving actionable change.
