INTRODUCING

The Proud Wellness Team

Sarah Taylor
(she/her)

I think I always knew I was a lesbian, and yet growing up in the 80s at the height of the AIDS crisis and Section 28, I was so afraid of judgement and rejection from others, that I ended up repressing my sexuality for over three decades of my life!
Living a lie took it’s toll on my mental health and although I've been out now for over 20 years it's taken me a long time to feel genuinely proud of all that I am, not just including, but especially my queerness!
My professional career spans over 25 years in senior HR and leadership roles at some of the biggest corporate organisations in the UK, doing what I love - helping people achieve their potential.
Five years ago I’d had enough of the corporate bs and started my own life coaching and training business!
That's when I started to build the most incredible community of business owners with a collective passion for LGBTQIA+ inclusive and affirming mental health and wellness services.
And it grew into a Vision where all LGBTQIA+ people have equal access to the wellness services they need so they can live happier, healthier, and more fulfilled lives.
That Vision is Proud Wellness…
Welcome to the LGBTQIA+ Wellness Inclusion Movement!

Amit Chowdhury
(he/him)

Hi I'm Amit, and I'm excited to be joining Proud Wellness as a Director.
I studied Pharmacy and began my working life at Boots initially as a Pharmacist moving into a career in Store Management and then into HR.
This was followed by a spell as an Senior HR Leader with a national retail fashion company and then working as an HR Consultant and Executive Coach supporting the Third Sector.
I was a trustee of a Children's charity for parents and carers who have worked in Fashion, supporting innovation and good practice in inclusivity.
LGBTQIA+ inclusivity and wellness matters hugely to me. Everyone should feel equally included, affirmed and welcome when accessing wellness services.
Sadly, at the moment this is not the case and in joining as a Director of Proud Wellness, I’m looking forward to helping to drive this change.
Not only will we be helping our LGBTQIA+ community but we will strengthen the support of our allies to provide vital wellness services and understand the benefits and positive impact of LGBTQIA+ inclusivity.

Musa Francis
(he/him)

I’m a wellness coach, writer, and trainer devoted to helping independent LGBTQIA+ artists and creative professionals bloom into calmer, more joyful, and more resilient versions of themselves—in both business and life.
As a queer trans man and founder of BLOOMING QUEER, my work is rooted in the belief that resilience begins with tending to our wellbeing, both as individuals and as a community. I’m deeply passionate about supporting LGBTQIA+ people to live boldly, love themselves fiercely, and care for themselves radically, so they can feel their best while doing the work they love.
With experience as a trainer, consultant, speaker, and graphic designer, I love exploring how inclusive branding and culture, regenerative self-care practices, and a positive mental health culture in the workplace can create spaces where people feel seen, supported, and able to thrive.
Alongside working 1:1 with private clients, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with organisations such as the NHS, Papier, and SKY, supporting them in cultivating more inclusive, affirming, and supportive work environments for LGBTQIA+ people.

Gem Kennedy
(they/them)

As a coach and facilitator with a background in alternative education and recruitment, I'm passionate about creating and supporting spaces that allow people to feel affirmed and able to live in alignment with their abilities and needs.
Since 2019, I have been running my own practice with 1:1 clients, as well as developing and delivering training on neurodiversity, gender, sexuality and sustainable activism. I also work closely with Thriving Autistic, an Autistic-run community-driven organisation, where I run programmes and post-diagnosis sessions for late-identified Autistic adults.
Since 2020, I have been a Co-Lead at The Cabin & a Facilitator at The Lodge; two pioneering settings for home educated young people, where consent and self-direction are at the forefront of our practice and way of being in community with each other. The guiding principles deeply inform my work and are a helpful counter-balance to what is so often missing in wellness spaces, where power-over dynamics are common and informed consent is absent.
I am also a podcaster and am about to start recording the next series of my podcast Queers & Co., which shares the stories of queer and neurodivergent people working for social change.
Social change is something I spend a lot of time thinking about and working towards, which is one of the reasons Proud Wellness' cause is so close to my heart. As a neurodivergent, queer and trans person myself, I've experienced first-hand how frustrating and at times damaging the wellness industry can be for marginalised people. I'm always thinking about ways I can collaborate with others to affect change and this feels like an excellent chance to do just that.

Maria brings a wealth of experience across funding, governance, and policy within the charity and non-profit sector — insight that will be incredibly valuable as Proud Wellness continues to grow and deepen its impact.
She brings 14 years of experience supporting TNBI and LGBTQIA+ communities, having worked for organisations such as the LGBTQ+ Consortium and Brighton & Hove Switchboard.
We’re grateful to have Maria on board, and looking forward to the role she’ll play in helping shape the future of Proud Wellness.

Leo Collins
(he/him)

I am a qualified Transactional Life Coach working with primary members of the disabled and queer communities. I have Cerebral Palsy which affects my speech and movements.
I have two main focuses which underpin my work as a coach and speaker:
1. To raise awareness by speaking and training about intersectionality, discrimination and lack of understanding that members of these communities face.
2. To empower by coaching and mentoring people in these communities to feel their value, find their voice and improve their self care.

Brinny
(they/them)

Brinny is a proudly Queer, Non-binary and Neurodivergent Mind and Movement Coach, Facilitator and Trainer. Their work centres trans people while holding space for the full diversity of LGBTQIA+ lives, and they bring a joyful, affirming approach to everything they do - from inclusive fitness and mindfulness sessions to mental health training and wellbeing workshops.
They’re passionate about transforming wellness spaces into places that are accessible, safe and fun, and helping people reconnect with their bodies, identities and communities in affirming ways.
We’re so grateful to have Brinny on board and looking forward to the impact they’ll have in shaping the future of Proud Wellness.