Final conference of the Transcending Barriers project, 25 November 2026, European Economic and Social Committee, Brussels
Many employers across Europe now say they’re committed to workplace inclusion. For many trans people, though, the barriers are still there: in hiring, at work every day and when trying to move up. So how do we turn commitment into real change?
That question is at the centre of Transcending Barriers: Building Inclusive Workplaces, the final conference of the Transcending Barriers project. On 25 November 2026, HR professionals, employers, policymakers, trans employees and project partners will meet at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels to look at what has been learned and what needs to happen next.
24 months of work, one shared goal
The Transcending Barriers project is co-funded by the European Union and coordinated by ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy. For the past 24 months, partners from across Europe have worked together to understand and reduce the obstacles trans people face in employment. LGL is proud to be one of them. The work has had three main parts:
- Research and needs assessment. Surveys and interviews looked at how trans people experience the labour market and what employers need to become more inclusive.
- A training programme for HR professionals. Learning modules give the people who shape workplace policies practical tools to make inclusion part of everyday practice.
- The TransMentor programme. This mentoring path links trans people with mentors who offer career guidance and support.
The final conference will present the results of all three and open a dialogue with policymakers and stakeholders on the future of trans workplace inclusion policies in Europe.
What’s on the programme
The day will move from evidence to practice, and then to policy:
- Keynote on EU perspectives on LGBTIQ+ inclusion and trans rights at work
- Research findings, presented by the University of Brescia
- Panel discussion on building inclusive workplaces, with HR professionals, employers and trans employees
- Training for HR professionals, covering what the programme achieved and what was learned
- TransMentor testimonials, with mentors and mentees talking about its impact
- Interactive workshop where participants work in small groups to co-design inclusive workplace policies
- Closing roundtable on policy recommendations and how to keep the project’s results going, with policymakers and project partners
- Call to action and networking to end the day
Why it matters
An inclusive workplace isn’t just a policy on paper. It shows in whether trans people get hired, feel safe at work and can build a career. The conference is a chance to take what the project has learned and turn it into lasting changes that employers and decision-makers across Europe can act on.
Practical information
Date: 25 November 2026
Time: 09:00–17:00
Venue: European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Brussels
Registration: details will be announced soon. Follow LGL’s website and social media for updates.
Mark your calendar and stay tuned!
The Transcending Barriers project is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Project partners: ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy, Fondazione Human Age Institute ETS, Universitat de Girona, Università di Brescia, GLAS Foundation, Vytautas Magnus University, LGL, UnitelmaSapienza – University of Rome, and ADL Zavidovići.
