Lady Phyll has been apppointed as executive director of Kaleidoscope Trust

Words: Steve Brown

Lady Phyll has been appointed as the executive director of the UK’s leading charity for human rights advocating for LGBTQ people worldwide.

Phyll Opoku-Gyimah – who is better known as Lady Phyll – is set to replace outgoing Paul Dillane as of August 5 as the executive director of Kaleidoscope Trust.

The former Attitude Pride Award winner has strong ties with the LGBTQ movements around the world and is the co-founder of UK Black Pride – Europe’s largest celebration for LGBTQ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Latin American descent.

Speaking about her new role, Lady Phyll said: “With more than 20 years of experience as an LGBTQ rights activist and anti-racism campaigner, I’m thrilled to embark on the next chapter of my professional life with Kaleidoscope Trust.

“The charity’s work continues to be an important and necessary intervention across the Commonwealth and my  on-the-ground work in the region has provided immeasurably valuable insight, not only into the lives of  the LGBTQ civil society and their particular hurdles, but into the shared structures that continue to stifle liberation for people across the global south.

“I’m excited to work alongside an incredibly impassioned team to translate Kaleidoscope Trust’s mission, vision and strategy into measurable and lasting action.”   

Sir Stephen Wall, chair of the board at Kaleidoscope Trust, added: “From her work advocating for the rights of workers to leading one of the most impressive and  effective pride organisations in the world, Lady Phyll has demonstrated that she has the personal qualities and professional skills to ensure our increased impact across the Commonwealth.

“She brings to Kaleidoscope Trust a perspective, passion and set of skills that an organisation like ours needs to help address and redress the oppressive colonial legacies from which many across the Commonwealth are trying to break free.”