Australia-based consultants named to global Empower list

INvolve has released the first of its annual lists celebrating those who are helping to break down workplace barriers, with the consulting world once again prominent.

Based out of the UK, INvolve is one of the world’s most respected authorities on the subject of diversity & inclusion, and every year celebrates global role models leading the way on gender, racial, LGBT+ and ability grounds.

The institution has now dropped one of its four annual lists – ‘Empower’, which covers people of colour – with some familiar and new faces from Australia and the Asia Pacific recognised for their efforts to enhance workplace inclusion.

Rama Gollakota, an insurance partner at management consultancy Oliver Wyman since 2022, has once again been named on the ‘Empower’ list of 100 top global executives, and is joined this year by Boston Consulting Group senior talent specialist Thamasi Perera as a Future Leader together with Ngcebo Gwebu, who heads up the A/NZ economics & finance consulting practice at Jacobs.

Rama Gollakota
Based out of Sydney, Gollakota is heavily involved in driving Oliver Wyman’s inclusive culture, including as a member of the firm’s Asia Pacific Regional Belonging Council and as committee lead for its local RAP program. His efforts also extend beyond the workplace, such as in leading the The Happy Boxes social impact project to support remote indigenous communities.

“This recognition is of great importance to me, as it not only highlights the critical role of racial and ethnic diversity and inclusion in the workplace and beyond, but also validates our collective efforts in championing allyship and belonging,” Gollakota stated. “With this platform, I am committed to breaking down barriers and fostering inclusive workplaces and communities where everyone can thrive.”

Thamasi Perera
Perera has been with Boston Consulting Group in Melbourne for the past four and a half years, and was noted for her advocacy for recruiting underrepresented groups in her capacity as a senior talent acquisition specialist at the firm, along with creating early career pathways for First Nations students and delivering workshops in support of culturally and racially marginalised women in leadership.

Ngcebo Gwebu
Gwebu returns to the Future Leaders list from last year, having in the interim been promoted to capability leader for Jacobs A/NZ Economic & Finance consulting division. A Swazi migrant to Australia, Gwebu has been with Jacobs for the past decade in Melbourne and also leads the local chapter of the engineering consultancy’s Harambee network for Black employees and allies.