Lee Chambers recognised by the UN for services to gender equality

The Lancashire businessman and psychologist has received the HeForShe Changemaker Award from UN Women.

Lee Chambers, the Lancashire-based founder of Essentialise and Male Allies UK, has recently been recognised by the United Nations for services to gender equality in the workplace. He received the Changemaker award in a ceremony in London, hosted by UN Women UK, and was featured alongside five other award winners, including Zelda Perkins, cofounder of Can't Buy My Silence, and Dianne Gregson, founder of the Ethnicity Pay Gap Day.

He was recognised for his groundbreaking work on male allyship and gender equity within organisations and his research into the barriers that stopped men from engaging in inclusion and wellbeing. The judges also highlighted his work with Male Allies UK and the setting up of Black STEM Futures, as well as his menopause campaigning.

This has followed recognition earlier this year for Chambers, receiving the Kavli Fellowship for his work on mental health during the pandemic, and being the winner of the Agent of Change category at this year's Northern Power Women Awards.

On receiving recognition from the UN, Chambers said, "It's not every day you get global institutions praising the work that you are doing and feeling it is worthy of being awarded. It's not easy running a business and trying to make more impact beyond that, but moments like this remind me why I'm committed to making sure the world becomes a more equitable place. There's a long way to go, and I'm just one of thousands of amazing individuals in this space doing groundbreaking things. But I am proud to bring global recognition to my home county and continue to represent us on the international stage."

This award comes at the end of a breakthrough year for Chambers, with Male Allies UK due to launch a range of services, including allyship training, in the first quarter of 2024.