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Communications expert and tourism leader to discuss gender inequality at URI fall Honors Colloquium Oct. 17

Presenting expertise in LGBTQ+ and DEI communications

Hilina Ajakaiye, executive vice president at Meet Boston and president and founder of R.I.S.E. Women’s Leadership Conference

KINGSTON, R.I. – Oct. 3, 2023 – New England tourism leader Hilina Ajakaiye and LGBTQ+ communications expert Lauren Gray will tackle the topic of gender inequality when they lead a panel discussion at the 2023 University of Rhode Island Honors Colloquium Tuesday, Oct 17.

Ajakaiye is the executive vice president at Meet Boston (formerly Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau) and president and founder of R.I.S.E. Women’s Leadership Conference, for which she was named “Rhode Islander of the Year” by Rhode Island Monthly. Gray is senior vice president on the crisis and reputation risk leadership team at the global communications firm Edelman, bringing 15 years of experience in crisis management, policy and social issues to help clients manage complex reputational issues, including around LGBTQ+ issues.

LGBTQ+ communications expert Lauren Gray, senior vice president at the global communications firm Edelman

Ajakaiye and Gray will speak at 7 p.m. at Edwards Hall on the Kingston Campus, as part of the University’s fall Honors Colloquium, “Not Business As Usual: Business for the Common Good.” The talk will also be streamed live (video links are available the day of each event, at the link above).

A native of Ethiopia, Ajakaiye immigrated to the U.S. in 1987, perfected English as a second language, and graduated with her high school diploma and an associate degree at age 17. She went on to pursue undergraduate studies at the University of Massachusetts and later her MBA at Northeastern University. At Meet Boston, Ajakaiye spearheads a partnership with Tourism Diversity Matters that aims to diversify the travel and hospitality workforce. The model that Ajakaiye has advanced is now recognized and endorsed by the U.S. Travel Association as the leading model for destination marketing organizations to emulate. 

Gray helps clients manage complex reputational issues and is a member of the societal issues and LGBTQ+ task forces at Edelman. Previously, Lauren provided crisis communications support to the City of New York and Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She has trained survivors of military sexual assault to share their stories with members of Congress and the media and led communications for the first lawsuit filed against former President Trump’s now-repealed transgender military ban. Gray was recently honored in New York’s City & State Political PR Power 50. PR Week also named Gray to its Pride in PR list featuring 30 leading LGBTQ+ professionals and has named her as a Champion of PR.

The URI Honors Colloquium is free and open to the public. Hosted by URI’s Honors Program, this is the 60th edition of the University’s premier lecture series, and it marks the centennial of the College of Business. Lectures will be held most Tuesday evenings through Dec. 5, and will also be available online. Learn more about the fall colloquium. Register for updates and reminders here or email urihonors@etal.uri.edu.