Michelle Sheppard

Michelle, or ‘Mama Mish’ as she is affectionately known, is a highly respected presenter, advocate, and trainer in the gender equity space.

As a transgender woman, she appreciates the difficulties within the grey created by the gender divide, traverses them herself, and willingly supports others.

Michelle brings her lived experience of being a trans woman into her work running diversity, equity, and inclusion training, mentoring colleagues, and providing extra support to anyone transitioning or affirming their gender.

Michelle doesn’t hide from the sobering statistics around violence and discrimination against transgender people, unemployment, financial troubles, and mental health issues but is able to share them with lighter anecdotes and stories from her own life.

She embodies dignity, grace, and the change needed to make a positive difference in others’ lives, empowers women and challenges barriers to inclusion, discrimination, and harassment.