Justin Brett is a culture and inclusion leader known for turning insight into action. With experience spanning global football, criminal justice, housing, and refugee and asylum‑seeking communities, and currently working in the health sector within the UK’s largest NHS Trust, he has led programmes that connect workforce experience, community engagement and organisational performance.
His work focuses on identifying blind spots, shifting leadership behaviour and embedding practical change that people can feel. Justin also holds board and advisory roles across sectors and brings a grounded, evidence‑led approach to building inclusive cultures at scale.
At the IDN Annual Conference 2026, Justin will be presenting the case study: An Open Goal Missed: What Happens When Football Overlooks Its Own Community.
This keynote explores how a globally recognised football organisation was missing a critical connection with its local South Asian community, and the wider impact that disconnect created. From lost commercial opportunities to untapped talent and a workplace culture that didn’t reflect its community, the session highlights the cost of inaction.
Drawing on real-world experience as an EDI lead, it shares how these gaps were identified and addressed, challenging assumptions and driving change across fan engagement, academy pathways and organisational culture. The result: transforming an overlooked opportunity into a powerful example of inclusive practice in action.