6th Pride Business Forum Voices

Kylie is a trainer and instructional designer working in L&D in the tech and localisation space, driven by a strong belief that good workplaces are built around people. She has been an active advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion for over three decades, with a long history of volunteering for community organisations, beginning with the AIDS Council of South Australia in the early 1990s.

She spent many years at the British Council as a DEI Coordinator, where she collaborated with Prague Pride and the Pride Business Forum, hosting inclusive language workshops, supporting Pride events, and bringing people together across organisations. Since joining Phrase three years ago, Kylie has founded and chairs the company’s first DEI Employee Resource Group, combining education, community-building, and advocacy.

Outside of work, she actively supports and enjoys Prague’s queer arts and cultural community. For Kylie, diversity and inclusion are not just professional priorities, but personal values that guide how she shows up at work and in the wider community.

Marita Kelbl is an illustrator who focuses on poetic and playful illustrations for children’s books, comics, and original publications. Her work has been featured in books, exhibitions, and independent projects, spanning collaborations with publishers and a diversity of institutions for which she creates illustrations, visual concepts, and bonus materials. Besides original artistic work, she conducts workshops for children and adults and has for two years now been a member of the team behind Pilsen Pride.

Nele is a committed advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is currently on maternity leave – trading conference calls for cuddles and spreadsheets for sleep schedules – , while continuing to champion the values she’s passionate about.

Nele is dedicated to creating safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community, leveraging mentorship, education, and advocacy to bridge gaps and strengthen allyship. Through her leadership, she aims to integrate DEI principles into business strategies, ensuring a positive and lasting impact in both the corporate environment and in wider society.

An international FIFA futsal referee selected for the first ever Women’s Futsal World Cup in the Philippines. She has experience in strategic consulting at Deloitte and has long been involved in developing her own sports and leadership projects. In her work and on stage, she speaks openly about what it is like to be a queer woman in a male-dominated environment, about pressure, stereotypes, and how to earn respect step by step—regardless of the expectations of those around you.

Valentýna is a university professor affiliated with Czech Technical University in Prague and Brno University of Technology. Her work focuses on applying artificial intelligence in healthcare and bridging cutting-edge technology with real clinical needs. She has international experience, including a Fulbright scholarship. She has held academic leadership roles as a vice-dean and head of an institute. As a transgender woman, she brings a grounded perspective to conversations about workplace culture – rooted in professionalism, dignity, and practical systemic change. She is committed to advancing equal opportunities and representation for women in academia and has also served in local government as a member of the city council.