In this Episode Amanda Currie brings over 20 years of distinguished service within the UK Prison Service, where she played a pivotal role in advancing equality and inclusion for LGBTQ+ staff and prisoners alike.

As an active member of GALIPS (Gay and Lesbians in the Prison Service), Amanda designed and delivered nationwide awareness sessions and talks aimed at enhancing senior management and staff understanding of LGBTQ+ issues and the unique challenges faced by the community within the prison environment.

Amanda Currie’s story reminds us that our queer elders have lived full, complex, and courageous lives, often in spaces where their very identity was unwelcome. From the prison system to positions of leadership, these voices carry lessons of resilience, inclusion, and authenticity that our workplaces and communities need to hear today.
This is not just about prisons. It’s about leading with courage in hostile environments, breaking barriers in male-dominated systems, and showing that our older queer community holds wisdom and strength that can inspire generations to come.

Management Lessons from Amanda Currie’s session.
Leading in a System Built on Control
Lead with Empathy, Even When the System Doesn’t
In spaces defined by rules and authority, empathy becomes a quiet act of rebellion.
Authenticity is Power, Not a Risk
Stepping into a male-dominated space as a queer woman requires courage but authenticity becomes the most powerful leadership tool.
Allyship Can Come from Unexpected Places
Even in harsh systems, moments of kindness and solidarity emerge. Great leaders recognise and nurture those sparks, they understand that cultural transformation often starts with one act of allyship at a time.
Inclusion is Not Policy - It’s Daily Practice
Navigating a workplace where identity shapes perception teaches that inclusion cannot be a checkbox exercise. It’s the daily choices; how we listen, respect difference, and create visibility for the marginalised, that build real equity.
Queer Leadership Brings a Unique Lens to Justice and Humanity
Being queer in a system that wasn’t built for you offers deep insights into resilience, fairness, and vulnerability. Those experiences shape a leadership style grounded in inclusion and justice; qualities every modern organisation needs to thrive.

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