Amidst A Global Crackdown on Gender-Diversity, Keychange Leaders Announces 42 Selected Participants For the 2025 Talent Leadership Programme
A total of 42 new participants from 25 countries are joining the Keychange Leaders Talent Leadership Programme. The participants will be supported in progressing their careers through a rigorous education programme running from April to September 2025.
Led by RBX (DE, founder of the Reeperbahn Festival), Keychange ASBL (BE), Musikcentrum Öst (SE), and in partnership with PRS Foundation and FACTOR Canada, and Creative Europe. Keychange is proud to announce 42 brand new participants of the Talent Leadership programme who have been meticulously selected from 25 countries spanning Creative Europe, UK and Canada. The Talent Leadership Programme (TLP)is a Creative Europe-funded training programme, facilitated by Artist in Bloom to support underrepresented talents to lead collective actions and create a better, more inclusive music industry for present and future generations. The current participants have been selected from a total of 334 applications received from applicants in 31 countries across Europe and Canada. Among this exceptional cohort is an exciting mix of DEI&A trailblazers, Founders, artist activists and execs in senior roles at companies including The Orchard, Music Export Ukraine, Believe, Good Night Out Canada and SoundCloud.
Stacey Forrester (CAN), educator, researcher and creative strategist says:
"In the current political climate, I can often find myself feeling siloed in this work, which is a byproduct of oppressive systems. I am thrilled to be a part of the Keychange Talent Leadership Programme and for the opportunity to share space and thought-partner with others doing this important work."
In an attempt to bring together a diverse and influential group of future leaders , the jury-led selection carefully considered a unique pool of applicants who truly shine within their own fields and spheres of influence. After a comprehensive and competitive selection process, 12.6% of applicants were selected for the Year 1 programme. Nearly 67% have been working in music for 5-10 years while 33% have been working in music for over 10 years.
Diana Ezerex (GER) singer, songwriter, producer and activist:
"Being selected for the Keychange Talent Leadership Programme is an incredible opportunity to grow as an artist and advocate for a more inclusive music industry. Keychange is not just about representation—it’s about real change, creating pathways for underrepresented voices to thrive. Together, we can create a future where diversity, inclusion, and equity are the norm."
The selection also paid detailed attention to DEI&A experience and Keychange partners are pleased with intersectional representation among the selected cohort. From a gender identity perspective 83.3% of selected Participants identify as Women, with 16.7% of selected Participants identify as gender-diverse (including 7.1% Non-binary, 4.8% Gender queer, 2.4% Agender and 2.4% Gender fluid).
Looking into ethnicity, 35.1% of selected Participants who shared their ethnicity in forms identified as belonging to the Global Majority, including 10.8% Black Heritage (8.1%) or Mixed Heritage including Black (2.7%); 8.1% Asian Heritage (5.4% South Asian and 2.7% East and Southeast Asian Heritage); 2.7% SWANA Heritage (South West Asia and North Africa); 2.7% Arab Heritage; 5.4% Indigenous Heritage; 2.7% Hispanic or Latino/Latinx Heritage (including S. American heritage); and 2.7% Mixed Heritage (‘Other Mixed Heritage’). 51.4%of participants identify as coming from a White European Heritage, and 13.5% as having other White Heritage. When it comes to Disability and Access 16.7% of selected Participants identified as disabled or have an impairment, which impacts their day-to-day lives, with 8.1% of selected Participants said they have additional access requirements. And when it comes to childcare/caregiving 12.5% of selected Participants declared that they have caregiving responsibilities (e.g. parents in music) (vs. 13% of applicants).
This multiplicity of experiences, knowledges and backgrounds, is forecast to propel novel ways of thinking about how the music industry is operating, while further empowering participants who are set to be future leaders.
Keychange Executive Director Tiffany Fukuma said that:
“In this complex global context for diversity, equity, and inclusion, the Keychange Leadership Programme opens doors and creates opportunities for up and coming, outstanding leaders in our industry, and equips them with the necessary skills to shape a desirable future for the music sector worldwide.”
Lea Karwoth, Project lead for Keychange at RBX GmbH says:
“The Keychange Talent Leadership Programme is a vital step in empowering underrepresented voices to take the lead in shaping a more inclusive and equitable music industry. This year’s participants bring a wealth of experience, innovation, and determination, and we are excited to support them on their journey to becoming the change-makers our industry needs.”
The Keychange TLP six-month training programme is aimed at women and gender-diverse individuals who are future leaders and agents of change, and builds on the movements nearly decade of work in the music industries, galvanizing organisations, institutions and companies to make space for an intersectional gender approach that will achieve a more equitable and inclusive music ecosystem.
The programme will kick off at with a full network meet-up at Tallinn Music Week (a showcase festival and conference in Estonia) on the 2nd of April 2025, where participants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the innovative and invigorating programme, focusing on leadership, social change design, entrepreneurship, innovation, and DEIA best practices.
Selected Participants are:
Paulina Parvanov (Austria)
Claïs Lemmens Boon (Belgium)
Alexandra Astreou-Karides (Cyprus)
Lucie Janečková (Czech Republic)
Monica Vejgaard (Denmark)
Mariam Karalashvili-Laan (Estonia)
Salla Vallius (Finland)
Sacha TERRAT (France)
Naïma Bourgaut (France)
Salome Vardanashvili (Georgia)
Ruth MacMahon (Germany)
Diana Ezerex (Germany)
Natalia Oszko Jakab (Hungary)
Breffni Banks (Ireland)Rebecca Nannini (Italy)
Dorotėja Būdaitė (Lithuania)
Miriam Brenner (Netherlands)
Camilla Shoaei (Norway)
Eva Rowson (Norway)
Katarzyna Alexandrowitsch (Poland)
Magdalena Szuba (Poland)
Anita Pinto (Portugal)
Dorina Constantin (Romania)
Maša Pavoković (Slovenia)
Irina Aizencang (Spain)
Natalia Isabel Bieler Urrea (Spain)
Khadra Abdirashid (Sweden)
Dina Liberg (Sweden)
Tanya Stadnyk (Ukraine)
Hanna Dukhnivska (Ukraine)
Dina Amro (UK)
Diljeet Bhachu (UK)
Liza Bec (UK)
Janelle Mitchell (UK)
Keys (UK)
Karma Bertelsen (UK)
Elysse Cloma (Canada)
Andrea Collette Vincent (Canada)
Stacey Forrester (Canada)
Omega Mighty (Canada)
Elise Milani (Canada)
Phyllis Sinclair (Canada)
Find all Keychange talents here