The boss of Qantas has topped a list of the world’s top LGBT executives in recognition of his support for legalising same-sex marriage in Australia.
Alan Joyce, who joined the airline in 2000, was described as a “passionate advocate for LGBT+ rights” in the leading 100 LGBT+ executives list compiled by networking group OUTstanding and the Financial Times.
Also included in the list were Inga Beale, the chief executive of Lloyd’s of London; the Bupa UK boss, David Hynam; and Stacey Friedman, general counsel at JPMorgan Chase.
Joyce, 51, has been a vocal supporter of the campaign to legalise same-sex marriage in Australia, where the result of a controversial postal ballot is expected on 15 November.
He was on the receiving end of a pie protest in May by a 67-year-old man who claimed that companies such as Qantas that support marriage equality were guilty of “corporate bullying aimed at social engineering”.
In response, Joyce said: “Qantas has always spoken up on gender issues, on LGBTI issues, on indigenous issues and we will continue to do so and no attempt at bullying us into suppressing our voice will work.”
He said more than 1,300 companies in Australia had backed the yes campaign in the ballot, with even Sir Richard Branson – who owns a stake in Qantas’s archrival Virgin Australia – endorsing the airline’s support for a yes vote.
Speaking about the postal ballot, Joyce told the BBC: “As an openly gay man and being the leader of this organisation and a high-profile business leader in Australia, I felt it was very important that I led by example and was out there promoting the case.”
The one-time Aer Lingus executive has run Qantas since 2008 and returned the airline to robust financial health. Joyce praised Australia for being a “great meritocracy”, adding: “Where else in the world would you have an openly gay Irish man coming to this country to run probably the most iconic Australian brand in the world?”
Joyce’s citation on the OUTstanding list added: “He has … taken a very public stance in campaigning in favour of marriage equality as a fundamental human rights issue.
“This has attracted a range of reactions and sparked a broader debate about the role of business when it comes to social issues. His involvement has also resulted in a great deal of international media coverage, providing an even bigger platform to the fight for diversity and equality.”
Last month it emerged that Joyce’s pay package nearly doubled to A$24.6m (£14.3m) for 2016-17.
The big jump reflected a surge in the Qantas share price in the past financial year, the company’s annual report said, which meant his performance-based incentives rose from about A$3m to more than A$18m.
