Canary Wharf announces line up of LGBTQ+ speakers for Pride Month. Including live talks, poetry and a colourful art installation new to the Wharf this June.

Canary Wharf Group, in partnership with Brookfield, is hosting a series of talks during Pride month in June. These talks aim to explore the importance of queer spaces and the significance of allyship within them. Taking place in the leafy amphitheatre of Crossrail Place Roof Garden, the talks will feature a diverse range of LGBTQ+ individuals representing various experiences across the corporate, creative, and political landscape.

In addition to the talks, visitors to the Crossrail Place Roof Garden will have the opportunity to print free poems from the Short Story Station. They can also explore other Short Story Stations located in Canada Place and Jubilee Place. Written by queer artist Adam Nathaniel Furman, these six poems delve into the context of their highly anticipated new artwork, Click Your Heels Together Three Times, which will be unveiled as a permanent piece on the Wharf at the end of June. The installation will join the existing work of queer artist Lothar Götz, whose vibrant mural was installed for Pride month 2022 and can be found at Crossrail Place.

As part of their commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ youth, Canary Wharf Group has rekindled its partnership with akt, a charity dedicated to addressing LGBTQ+ youth homelessness. Through this partnership, they aim to provide safer homes and better futures for LGBTQ+ young people aged 16-25 in the UK. Pride Month, celebrated annually to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, serves as a time to promote acceptance, equality, and raise awareness of issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community.

The Talks

Matt Lindley

Matt Lindley is a serving airline pilot and former RAF pilot who applies his experiences in leadership, accountability, and culture to the business world. He is a born speaker – his style is effortless and engaging and offers a unique approach to both human error in the workplace, and diversity. Matt was one of the first openly gay pilots in the service; his story is unique and leaves a lasting impression on any audience. 

Date: Thursday 1 June 2023. Time: 1pm. Location: Crossrail Place Roof Garden,Crossrail Pl, London E14 5AB.

Ruth Hunt

Ruth Hunt is a crossbench peer and former CEO of Stonewall, Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ organisation. Director of Deeds and Words at the age of 34, Ruth Hunt became one of the youngest CEOs in the country. Along with her partner, Caroline Ellis, she works with individuals, organisations, businesses, social movements, and communities to help create a shared sense of purpose.

Date: Thursday 8 June 2023. Time: 1pm. Location: Crossrail Place Roof Garden,Crossrail Pl, London E14 5AB.

Charlie Smith

Charlie Smith is a queer, non-binary professional working in the built environment as a Chartered RICS Surveyor. With a master’s degree in real estate from the University College of Estate Management, they actively champion inclusive spaces for the queer community. Passionate about LGBTQ+ rights and equality, Charlie participated in the Stonewall Young Campaigners programme in 2019 and most recently shared their perspective on ‘The Evolution of Queer Spaces’ as a guest on the RICS Modus podcast in 2023. As a speaker, Charlie highlights the vital role of queer spaces in fostering a more equitable society. Their work aims to inspire others to prioritise inclusivity in urban development.

Date: Thursday 22 June 2023. Time: 1pm. Location: Crossrail Place Roof Garden,Crossrail Pl, London E14 5AB.

Adam Nathaniel Furman
In conversation with the charity akt, Adam Nathaniel Furman will be discussing the importance of queer spaces. Adam is a British artist and designer of Argentine and Japanese heritage, trained in architecture. Their recently published book ‘Queer Spaces: An Atlas of LGBTQIA+ Places and Stories’ explores the ways in which queer people have carved out places and spaces that reflect queer identities, and where they feel safe to be themselves. Adam brings this idea into their own practice, often layering or infusing queer coded artwork into the public realm. Launching in Pride Month, and then forming part of the Canary Wharf permanent art collection, Adam has designed the large-scale installation ‘Click Your Heels Together Three Times’ which can be found on Adams Plaza from Thursday 29 June.

Date: Wednesday 28 June 2023. Time: 1pm. Location: Location: Crossrail Place Roof Garden,Crossrail Pl, London E14 5AB. Website: canarywharf.com