Alicia McDonnell | Manchester, UK
Head of Diversity and Inclusion

I am a senior Diversity & Inclusion leader whose work is defined by turning equity into everyday business practice, not as an add‑on, but as a core driver of organisational success.
EDI is not something I learned theoretically; it is intrinsically part of who I am. My lived experience of navigating systems that were not designed to be inclusive has shaped both my purpose and my approach. I understand, personally and professionally, the cost of exclusion and the power of environments where people are genuinely seen, heard and valued. I consciously leverage that perspective to make EDI practical, human and impactful, translating complexity into action that leaders and colleagues can own.
Across my career, and spanning multiple sectors, I have embedded EDI into how organisations do business, not just how they talk about it. This includes integrating inclusive principles into tender frameworks, procurement processes, supplier standards and commercial decision‑making, ensuring that supplier EDI, social value and workforce inclusion are aligned and mutually reinforcing. I have consistently worked at the intersection of people, policy and performance, demonstrating that inclusive practice strengthens resilience, reputation, compliance and long‑term value creation.
As Head of Diversity & Inclusion at MAG, I led the design and delivery of Every Journey Matters, the organisation’s enterprise‑wide EDI strategy, co‑created with colleagues, leaders, Trade Unions and external experts. Under my leadership, MAG became the first UK airport group to publicly publish its full EDI strategy and policy framework, setting a new standard for transparency and accountability within aviation.
I have transformed colleague networks into strategic Colleague Communities with clear governance, defined purpose and measurable impact; launched MAG’s Neurodiversity Hub to build inclusion capability at scale; strengthened disability inclusion through tangible environmental, policy and operational change; and created Aviation for All, the aviation sector’s first cross‑industry EDI forum, positioning MAG as a recognised leader for inclusive excellence.
What distinguishes my leadership is the ability to connect authenticity with rigour. I bring tangible data insights to challenge systems that no longer serve people, while building trust through collaboration, evidence‑led decision making and clear business value. I simplify EDI without diluting its importance, making it actionable, embedded and sustainable.
I am proud of the progress achieved, but I remain focused on accelerating systemic change. My work is driven by a single belief: when inclusion is designed into systems, leadership and commercial decisions, organisations perform better and people thrive. EDI is business 101.