Rachel Padilla

Rachel Padilla is a Jewish Chicana trans and queer activist, writer and community builder whose work centres on identity, inclusion and lasting social change. Drawing on her working-class upbringing in the USA and Mexico borderlands, Rachel explores the complex intersections of gender, sexuality, race, class and culture through both her professional work and lived experience. Her career has been dedicated to creating more equitable communities through education, advocacy and policy, making her one of the most insightful voices on LGBTQ+ inclusion today. As a keynote speaker, Rachel delivers thought-provoking and practical talks that challenge organisations to build genuinely inclusive cultures where everyone can thrive.

Rachel’s career reflects a longstanding commitment to social justice and transformational change. Early professional roles took her to China and Japan, where she lived, studied and worked as a Chinese to English translator and educator, gaining valuable international experience before relocating to France to complete a Master’s in Social Policy at Sciences Po Paris. She later returned to the United States to work with the National Education Association of New Mexico, where she spent three years advancing education policy through grant management and strategic policy development. Bringing this expertise to the UK, Rachel became Strategic Partnerships Manager at Mosaic LGBT+ Young Persons’ Trust, leading collaborations that strengthened support for LGBTQ+ young people. She now serves as Policy Officer at TransActual, influencing policy that improves the lives of trans communities across Britain.

Alongside her leadership roles, Rachel has established herself as a respected policy writer, campaigner and public speaker. Her work bridges grassroots activism with strategic policy, enabling her to communicate complex social issues in ways that resonate with audiences from charities, businesses and the public sector alike. Her international background, combined with experience across education, government relations and the charity sector, has given her a distinctive perspective on inclusion, decolonisation and sustainable culture change. Rachel is widely recognised for combining evidence-based policy expertise with authentic personal storytelling that inspires meaningful action.

Rachel is hired as an LGBT speaker because she offers a rare combination of professional credibility and deeply personal insight. As a Jewish Chicana trans and queer woman, she speaks openly about navigating multiple intersecting identities while addressing the systemic barriers faced by LGBTQ+ communities. Rather than focusing solely on awareness, Rachel equips audiences with practical strategies for creating inclusive workplaces, challenging discrimination and embedding equality into organisational culture. Her thoughtful, intersectional approach encourages honest conversations about belonging, allyship and leadership, leaving audiences better prepared to foster environments where every individual feels respected, represented and empowered.