A former police watchdog director and a facilities manager from Birmingham have taken centre stage in a compelling national portrait series launched to mark White Ribbon Day 2025.
Portraits of Allyship Unveiled in Milton Keynes
The exhibition, titled We Speak Up, was officially unveiled at the centre:mk shopping centre in Milton Keynes. It features Sal Nasseem, 49, a former Director of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), and Luke Deeley, 47, Head of Facilities Management for the Police & Crime Commissioner of West Mercia. They are two of sixteen White Ribbon UK Ambassadors participating in the nationwide initiative.
The project is a creative collaboration between charity White Ribbon UK and award-winning photographer Claudia Janke, sponsored by London Northwestern and West Midlands Railway. The portraits visually celebrate allyship for White Ribbon Day (25th November) and the UN's 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
Motivations for Speaking Up
Both men attended the launch to stand beside their portraits and discuss with the public the critical need to challenge everyday misogyny, harassment, and harmful stereotypes. Each portrait is accompanied by a short video where the ambassadors explain their personal motivations.
Sal Nasseem stated his involvement stemmed from noticing too few men like him speaking out. "I was once oblivious to these issues," he said, explaining that conversations with his wife and daughter served as a wake-up call to the realities women face, such as feeling unsafe in public. "Since then, I’ve been committed to playing my part in creating change."
Luke Deeley expressed that the very need for the White Ribbon organisation is remarkable and abhorrent. He highlighted his drive to set a positive example for his three children, emphasising that men must be part of the solution to end violence against women and girls.
A Campaign Built on Connection and Commitment
Photographer Claudia Janke, who has documented human rights and women's equality movements for over twenty years, used a traditional instant box camera for the series, fostering a process of patience and connection with each subject. "I created this project to call men in as allies," Claudia said at the launch. "Through this work, I finally met men willing to step up, who understood that it starts with them."
Lynne Elliot, Chief Executive of White Ribbon UK, praised the ambassadors: "It’s brilliant to see men speaking up... Our ambassadors help make speaking up the norm. This is so important in challenging and changing the culture that enables violence." The campaign underscores a stark statistic: 1 in 4 women will be the victim of sexual assault or attempted assault in their lifetime.
The We Speak Up portrait exhibition will remain on public display at centre:mk until 10th December 2025. All portraits and videos are also available online at the White Ribbon UK website, with a different ambassador featured daily throughout the 16 Days of Activism.
