January 29, 2026, London: The GSMA, which represents the mobile connectivity industry and ecosystem around the world, today announced that the #ChangeTheFace Alliance will formally join its portfolio of global programmes, marking an important milestone in the sector's collective journey towards greater diversity and inclusion.
Since its inception, the #ChangeTheFace Alliance has become a catalyst for industry-wide action on diversity and inclusion. The Alliance has brought together global technology companies, consulting firms, NGOs and industry bodies to collaborate on common initiatives, share knowledge through an open source portal with the broader technology industry and drive collective progress on diversity and inclusion. Its initiatives include groundbreaking research such as the Neurodiversity in Tech Report (2023), the largest workplace study of its kind, and ongoing advocacy at major global forums such as the United Nations General Assembly, the World Economic Forum, and the Mobile World Congress. The Alliance received the GLOMO Award for Diversity in Technology at MWC Barcelona 2022.
The integration of the #ChangeTheFace Alliance with GSMA's “Connectivity for Good” program brings together two movements with a shared mission: to build a technology and telecommunications sector that truly reflects the diversity of the world it serves. This builds on GSMA's existing work to promote inclusivity across the mobile ecosystem and will create a stronger global platform for collaboration, scale and lasting impact on the industry.
The #ChangeTheFace Alliance will continue as a member-led alliance, governed and strategically directed by its independent Board. The Board will maintain oversight and authority over the work of the Alliance, ensuring continuity of purpose and accountability to members. The GSMA will house the management of the Alliance and align with its broader diversity and inclusion initiatives to help accelerate impact and scale progress globally across the technology ecosystem.
Existing members will continue as part of the GSMA's integrated program, working together to shape the next phase of the Alliance, further expand global participation across the technology sector, and launch impactful new initiatives on an even larger scale. Progress and results will be shared at GSMA flagship events, including MWC Barcelona and the M360 series.
Lara Dewar, Marketing Director at GSMA, said: “The #ChangetheFace Alliance has already demonstrated the power of collective action to challenge stereotypes and drive inclusion in the technology sector. We are honored to build on this foundation, working with our partners to expand the Alliance's work and ensure our industry represents the rich diversity of the communities it connects and the people it serves. Building diversity is not only the right thing to do; it is essential for innovation, growth and trust in our digital age.”
The GSMA also paid tribute to Serpil Timuray, founding chair of the #ChangeTheFace Alliance, for her leadership in guiding the movement. “Serpil’s vision and leadership have been instrumental in establishing the Alliance as a catalyst for change in the industry.” Dewar added. “We are proud to continue this important work and thank Serpil for inspiring our sector to act with ambition and purpose.”
Serpil Timuray, founding president of the #ChangeTheFace Alliance, said: “The #ChangeTheFace Alliance was created to unite the global industry behind a shared mission to make the technology sector more inclusive for customers and employees. I am proud of how far we have come and deeply grateful to all our members for their invaluable commitment, collaboration and impact. The GSMA is the perfect home for the next chapter of the Alliance, with its shared purpose and global platform to further scale our impact. I am excited for this new phase of growth of the #ChangeTheFace Alliance and thank the GSMA for enabling this tremendous opportunity to enhance collaboration and drive lasting change across the global technology sector.”
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About #ChangeTheFace
Vodafone launched the #ChangeTheFace movement in 2020 as a commitment campaign to drive greater diversity and inclusion across the technology sector. In September 2021, it evolved into the #ChangeTheFace Alliance, bringing together leading global technology companies, consultancies, NGOs and industry bodies committed to accelerating change across the industry. Members of the alliance include organizations such as Colt, Cyta, Deloitte, Digital Boost, Founders4Schools, ITU, Korn Ferry, Nokia, UN Women and Vodafone. Through collective action, members collaborate on shared initiatives, exchange ideas and best practices, and work together to promote diversity and inclusion across the global technology ecosystem.
About the GSMA
The GSMA is a global organization that unifies the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver critical innovation for positive business environments and social change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organizations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA offers its members three broad pillars: connectivity for good, industry services and solutions, and outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, addressing today's biggest societal challenges, supporting the technology and interoperability that make mobile devices work, and providing the world's largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.
We invite you to learn more at gsma.com
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