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MARTY DAVIES
Title Founder
Company Smarty Pants Consultancy
Pronouns She/they
MARTY DAVIES
Title Founder
Company Smarty Pants Consultancy
Pronouns She/they
What does D&I mean to you?
Investing in the wellbeing of others so they can feel safe and empowered to be their real self in every area of life – and to be valued and respected for doing so.
What’s your passion area in diversity?
Ad spend is funding an increase in transgender hate crime because the ad industry is maintaining an ecosystem where the growth of sensationalised pieces in news and opinion media are kept profitable. I’ve had friends affected. Brianna Ghey was murdered. This ever-intensifying campaign of hate is making simply existing as trans+ more dangerous – we’ve allowed the Overton window to shift around a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. Trans+ people deserve to see themselves in media. We belong in ads. We must exercise our commercial freedoms and remove the ‘dirty attention’ from our media plans.
What recent developments should we be celebrating in the diversity debate?
WPP have changed their private healthcare benefits so now coverage includes gender dysphoria treatment. This is a significant benchmark-raiser for the industry.
What is top of mind for 2024?
I am Campaign’s first transgender columnist. I will continue to use the platform to guide and hold the industry accountable on LGBTQIA+ representation in the work and inclusion in the workplace.
Which three words describe you best?
Proud attention seeker.
Who should be on the next iList?
Kendra Rogers (she/her). She is a powerhouse of an ally and a thoughtful voice of challenge within Outvertising.
D&I: MY STORY
In 2022, I co-founded Trans+ Adland along with Jax Kenrick. It is a grassroots community for trans and gender diverse people across the world of advertising to connect, share frustration and celebrate each other.
In 2023, I led Outvertising’s Pride Month statement encouraging brands to face down backlash of their campaigns. It was endorsed by 120+ organisations and included a substantive commitment from the top 10 media agencies to advocate for divestment from disinformation in the media.
What does D&I mean to you?
Investing in the wellbeing of others so they can feel safe and empowered to be their real self in every area of life – and to be valued and respected for doing so.
What’s your passion area in diversity?
Ad spend is funding an increase in transgender hate crime because the ad industry is maintaining an ecosystem where the growth of sensationalised pieces in news and opinion media are kept profitable. I’ve had friends affected. Brianna Ghey was murdered. This ever-intensifying campaign of hate is making simply existing as trans+ more dangerous – we’ve allowed the Overton window to shift around a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. Trans+ people deserve to see themselves in media. We belong in ads. We must exercise our commercial freedoms and remove the ‘dirty attention’ from our media plans.
What recent developments should we be celebrating in the diversity debate?
WPP have changed their private healthcare benefits so now coverage includes gender dysphoria treatment. This is a significant benchmark-raiser for the industry.
What is top of mind for 2024?
I am Campaign’s first transgender columnist. I will continue to use the platform to guide and hold the industry accountable on LGBTQIA+ representation in the work and inclusion in the workplace.
Which three words describe you best?
Proud attention seeker.
Who should be on the next iList?
Kendra Rogers (she/her). She is a powerhouse of an ally and a thoughtful voice of challenge within Outvertising.
D&I: MY STORY
In 2022, I co-founded Trans+ Adland along with Jax Kenrick. It is a grassroots community for trans and gender diverse people across the world of advertising to connect, share frustration and celebrate each other.
In 2023, I led Outvertising’s Pride Month statement encouraging brands to face down backlash of their campaigns. It was endorsed by 120+ organisations and included a substantive commitment from the top 10 media agencies to advocate for divestment from disinformation in the media.
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