MOBO Awards founder Kanya King OBE was awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement honour at this year’s British Diversity Awards, in recognition of her pioneering work championing diversity in the music and entertainment industries.
The glitzy ceremony took place on Wednesday 19th March at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London and was hosted by broadcaster Charlene White and Dr Ranj Singh. The night brought together an inspiring mix of changemakers, celebrities and business leaders to celebrate individuals and organisations driving real change in the fields of equality, diversity and inclusion.
Among the high-profile attendees were June Sarpong, JJ Chalmers, Tasha Ghouri, Eddie Marsan, Duncan James, Rosie Jones, Brenda Emmanus OBE, and Dawn Butler MP.
The awards opened with a powerful keynote from June Sarpong OBE, before disco legends Boney M lit up the ballroom with their classic hits Daddy Cool, Rasputin and Sunny. The atmosphere was electric as the awards began to roll out, highlighting the impact of campaigners, companies and communities across the country.
Kanya King, who revolutionised the UK music scene with the launch of the MOBO Awards in 1996, received the Lifetime Achievement Award to a standing ovation. Her work in amplifying Black British music and creating platforms for underrepresented artists has earned her international recognition.
Speaking after the ceremony, King said:
“It’s an incredible honour to receive this award. When I started MOBO, I never imagined the journey it would take or the conversations it would spark. This award is not just for me—it’s for every person who’s dared to challenge the status quo and carve out space where there was none before.”
Other major winners on the night included Monzo, who were named Company of the Year, and Christine McGuinness, who won Media Champion of the Year for her powerful advocacy around autism and ADHD. McGuinness was praised for sharing her personal journey, including being a mother of three autistic children and receiving her own autism diagnosis, in the BBC documentary Unmasking My Autism.
In her moving acceptance speech, McGuinness said:
“My dream was to be a mum, and I was blessed with three incredible earth angels, who all just happen to be neurodivergent. It’s because of them that I got my diagnosis. I’m so proud to have my voice and be able to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves.”
Boxer Cindy Ngamba made history as the first Refugee Olympic Team member to receive a British Diversity Award, winning the Athlete Powering Positive Change category. Ngamba, who fights for refugee rights through her sport, continues to inspire young people from displaced and marginalised backgrounds.
Other standout wins included:
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Inspirational Role Model of the Year: Kat Parsons (Centrica)
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Diversity Team of the Year: Sky UK LTD
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Outstanding LGBTQIA Network: LGBT+ and Friends (E.ON)
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Outstanding Ethnicity Network: MOSAIC-UK (UBS)
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Diversity Champion of the Year: Prasad Hattikudur (Deutsche Bank)
The British Diversity Awards, now in their fourth year, were founded by Linda Riley and have quickly become one of the UK’s most impactful celebrations of inclusion. Riley said:
“I’m so proud of what the British Diversity Awards represents. Diversity and inclusion are the foundations of a stronger, more successful society. The awards shine a spotlight on those going above and beyond to create a fairer, more equal world.”
The 2025 ceremony was headline sponsored by LSEG, with support from over 25 other leading organisations including Sky, Paramount, National Grid, Amazon, HSBC Innovation Banking, and BT Group.
For the full list of winners and photos from the evening, visit: www.britishdiversityawards.com