Pride for Progress: Shaping Today's Inclusive Workplace – Baltic Pride 2025 Conference

6 June 2025 marked a pivotal moment for equality and diversity in the workplace as the international Baltic Pride 2025 Conference took place at the Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva in Vilnius. The conference, which attracted over 100 participants, successfully united business leaders, policymakers, and LGBTI+ advocates to address challenges and innovations in inclusive employment practices.

Organized by the National LGBTI Rights Organization LGL, the event was part of the broader Baltic Pride 2025 celebrations and came at a time of political shifts and renewed focus on local DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) efforts.

First Day of the Conference

Second Day of the Conference

Distinguished Speakers and Program

The program featured a wide range of distinguished speakers and experts. Marie Šafář Postma from Tilburg University opened with a compelling keynote on the impact of AI on LGBTIQ+ workplace inclusion. Austėja Račaitė, Security Training and Awareness Consultant and DE&I Council Member at Danske Bank, addressed evolving gender identities and corporate inclusivity.

A major panel on corporate DEI leadership brought together Mariano Andrade Gonzales (JM), Cindy Pasky (Strategic Staffing Solutions), Christophe Margaine (European Pride Business Network), and Mindaugas Šestilo (Swedbank), who discussed practical strategies for moving from commitment to measurable action.

A critical session on inclusive education and workplace culture featured Dr. Dainius Žalimas (Member of the European Parliament), Chloe Lenaerts (Cavaria, Belgium), and Taj Donville-Outerbridge (IGLYO), focusing on the impact of recent legal changes and the path to rebuilding inclusive frameworks.

Nordic-Baltic Collaboration

The event included a valuable Nordic-Baltic dialogue on youth experiences in the workplace. Jukka Lehtonen from the University of Helsinki delivered an insightful keynote on experiences of non-heterosexual youth at the workplace, followed by a discussion with regional experts Jektaterina Tumule (Latvian Centre for Human Rights) and Kelly Grossthal (Estonian Centre for Human Rights).

Additional insights were shared by Monika Antanaitytė (LGL) on new opportunities for LGBTIQ employers and communities, while Arvydas Makselis (Moody’s Lietuva) spoke on leadership with pride and authenticity in professional settings.

High-Level Support

The conference opened with welcome remarks from several high-level officials, demonstrating strong institutional support for LGBTI+ workplace inclusion. Speakers included Laura Rissanen, State Secretary to the Minister of Social Security of Finland; Anne Lindboe, Mayor of Oslo; Vytautas Mitalas, Vice-Mayor of Vilnius; Dr. Erika Leonaitė, Head of the Seimas Ombudsmen’s Office of the Republic of Lithuania and Thorsten Afflerbach, Head of the Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Programmes Division at the Council of Europe.

Moving Forward

The event concluded with networking sessions, refreshments, and a shared commitment among all participants to transform symbolic gestures into concrete progress toward inclusive and equitable workplaces. The conference successfully demonstrated that meaningful change in workplace inclusion requires collaboration between corporate leaders, policymakers, and advocacy organizations.

The overwhelming participation of over 100 attendees and the quality of discussions throughout the day highlighted the growing momentum behind LGBTI+ workplace inclusion efforts across the Baltic region.