When The Herald & GenAnalytics Diversity Awards were launched earlier this year, no-one was prepared for just how overwhelming the response to the call for nominations would be.

Entries flooded in, each one highlighting the exceptional work that is taking place in organisations of all kinds in order to make the world a fairer place for everyone.

However in one category in particular, the quality of entries was particularly outstanding. The search for this year’s Diversity Hero of the Year, sponsored by Diageo, has revealed a rich seam of outstanding efforts on the part of people in all kinds of roles and positions who have all made a significant contribution towards changing attitudes, improving opportunities and paving the way for others.

After the best attempts on the part of the judges to whittle down the contenders, the list of finalists is still 13-strong and behind each name is a story of effort and achievement. Amongst those who have made it onto the list is Caroline Diaz, a single mum who almost single-handedly saved Milngavie Football Club when it was threatened with closure, securing the future not just of her young son’s team but also opening up opportunities to play football for girls, people of all ages and for those with disabilities.

Then there is Cassandra McCunnie of EnableWorks, who has overcome the hurdles of being Trans and having multiple health conditions in order to champion diversity within Scottish Rowing. In response to their nomination Cassandra said: “I hope that this will be a chance to shine a light on the fantastic team at Scottish Rowing and their hard work in DEI which has created a safe and inclusive working environment, where I can be myself and work on projects I feel passionate about such as the LGBTQIA+ Forum.”

Meanwhile,  Dr Onyinye Igbokwe of  KnowVate Hub, who has fought for greater inclusion in the tech industries and works to support ethnic minority entrepreneurs, said on hearing of her inclusion on the shortlist: “This recognition highlights my commitment to fostering an inclusive culture in Scotland. At KnowVate Hub, we believe an inclusive ecosystem drives progress and innovation, motivating us to champion diversity and build a more inclusive Scotland".

Similar inspiring tales of dedication to equality appear throughout the list. For years, John Brannan of Morgan Stanley has been taking the STEM message into schools, helping to put young people from all backgrounds onto the course for a successful and rewarding careers, while Jule McElroy, who has cerebral palsy, has inspired countless people to flourish thanks not only to her athletic ambitions, which have included becoming the first female frame runner to complete the London Marathon, but also through her disability rights advocacy, which is backed up by her PhD in assistance technology.

Kieran Kelly, who joined the I Am Me Scotland learning platform as a trainee, has been using his own experiences of autism and learning difficulties to contribute to written material and classwork for primary pupils in similar situations, while Liam Fogarty, a Diversity, Equality and Inclusion consultant with the NatWest Group, has been involved in a wealth of initiatives that have shaped how the banking group treats staff and customers.

As a small boy, Myles Rasberry was obsessed with the bin lorry that passed his house. Now, with the  help of Fife Council’s employability team and the Waste Operations Waste Academy he has secured a full time position as a waste collector and is now a valued member of his team, proving to himself and others that self-belief can bring about inspiring results.

Someone who firmly believes in opening up the workplace to everyone is Nichola Kane, the editor of STV News, whose work on diversity has achieved tangible results and resulted in STV surpassing its own diversity targets.

On news of her nomination, Nichola said: “Changing the face of TV news to reflect the make up of modern Scotland is a priority for us and our onscreen diversity initiative has played a key role in helping us do that on Scotland’s most watched news programme.”

One inspiring young woman is making the news herself, by changing Scotland’s equality landscape while still at school. Ruby McDonald, a learning disabilities athlete and sixth-form pupil,  volunteers at a nearby sports centre and with her local football team to run classes for young people with complex disabilities.

The shortlist also includes Sadia Hussain-Savuk a diversity and inclusion education consultant who provides training for teachers and pupil groups in order to transform the school experiences of black and ethnic minority youngster, while Sarah Krasewitz from the Scottish Qualifications Authority has made the list because of their outstanding contribution  to the LGBT+ community through their role as the chair of the SQA’s Rainbow Network.

And finally, there is Dr Khadija Coll, who has already received an MBE for her work on combating female genital mutilation and who now, through One Community Scotland, supports hundreds of families who have arrived here from elsewhere and whose children are new young Scots.

Dr Coll is very conscious that the fight for equality for all is an ongoing battle, and on receiving her nomination she said: "I am thrilled and honoured to be shortlisted as a finalist for the Diversity Hero of the Year award. I am also delighted by the recognition of the efforts being made towards equality and diversity in Scotland. However, I believe that it's even more crucial to have diverse voices around the table for it to lead to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for all."

All of the finalists, and ultimate winner, will be celebrated when The Herald & GenAnalytics Diversity Awards, sponsored by abrdn, Arnold Clark, Crown Estate Scotland, Diageo, and sportscotland, take place on Friday, 13 September in Radisson Blu in Glasgow. A few tickets still remain available and details of how to buy these can be found at https://newsquestscotlandevents.com/events/the-diversity-awards/