Leslie Clarke

About

I’m Leslie Clarke (formerly Leslie Pumm) — design engineer, brand strategist, and political communicator. I lead The Pride Community Foundation as CEO, driving change for the LGBTQ+ communities through advocacy, funding, and bold projects.

I’m also the founder of Sea Brand, the creative studio for changemakers. We help political leaders, campaigners, and purpose-driven organisations stand out with brands, websites, and campaign design that inspire action.

Before that, I served as City Councillor and Cabinet Member for Communities, Equalities & Human Rights in Brighton & Hove, shaping policies to make the city fairer, safer, and more inclusive.

I work at the intersection of design, politics and community, using visual storytelling to build trust, inspire action and deliver change.

CV

CEO, Pride Community Foundation

04/2025 - Present

I lead our mission to champion LGBTQ+ communities through a whole range of initiatives. We are a dedicated to driving meaningful, lasting social change by redistributing resources, building partnerships, influencing legislation and strengthening community-led infrastructure.

Achievements

Built sustainable organisation and transparent governance from scratch.

Integrated Scene Magazine into CIC's portfolio.

Redeveloped Scene Magazine's business model and increased revenue by 60%.

Established PCF as a crucial stakeholder within the sphere of Brighton & Hove within the first six months.

Leslie in maroon blazer speaking with a microphone to a diverse group of people inside a glass-walled venue decorated with purple balloons and Pride On The Park banners.

Founder, Sea Brand

11/2021 - Present

In 2021, I founded Sea Brand, a design studio based in Brighton. We specialise in the design and development of websites, as well as the creation of branding and communication strategies for changemakers.

Councillor & Cabinet Member for Communities, Equalities & Human Rights, Brighton & Hove City Council

05/2023 - 03/2025

In my capacity as the Cabinet Member for Communities, Equalities & Human Rights at Brighton & Hove City Council, I spearheaded the Labour administration's initiatives to forge a city that is safe, equitable, dynamic, and open to all. My responsibilities included the strategic oversight of the communities and equalities team, the community safety department and library services, and directing public relations and communications for these sectors. Additionally, I was tasked with building and leading a team of Labour councillors who are charged with key policy areas, ensuring they align with our strategic vision, and offering daily guidance to the organisation's corporate directors.

Achievements

Established a TNBI Roundtable, improving the interface between trans and non-binary communities and the council.

Initiated the refresh of the EQuIP Partnership.

Signed Brighton & Hove City Council up to the Diverse Councils Declaration, making sure the council maintains its diversity among members.

Initiated a Civic Leadership Programme

Reformed third sector funding by introducing the Thriving Communities Investment Fund

Introduced socio-economic background as a protected characteristic.

Leslie, smiling in a dark plaid suit and red tie standing in a room with beige curtains, a British flag, a bust statue, and a lamp.

CEO, dopestudi0s

05/2017 - 01/2021

dopestudi0s, a diversity agency based in Berlin, specialised in engaging the LGBTQI* community and effectively positioning brands online. As founder, I was responsible for the development and management of the agency and the creation of client campaigns.

Achievements

Created DEINHANDY's Christmas campaign.

Our float at Berlin Pride in 2019 was a huge success, reaching over 500,000 people and building the agency's reputation within the community.

Rebranded, designed and executed Sozialliberale - Neue Liberale (Social Liberals - New Liberals) EU Parliament election campaign, helping the Party to reach thousands of new voters and impressions on social media.

Outdoor black banner on truck with a stencil portrait of a AfD politicians' face, green text saying 'ACH BERNDT TRINK NE MATE!', white text 'DU BIST SCHON WIEDER', logos for dopemate and Heile Welt, and the phrase 'EVERY RIOT STARTS WITH YOUR VOICE.'

Highlights

Leslie in a burgundy blazer speaking into a microphone to a diverse audience in a glass-enclosed space with Pride on the Park banners.

Pride VIP Breakfast

Brighton

PCF

2025

Pride Community Foundation had the honour to organise the annual Pride breakfast on the morning of the parade.

We were joined by the Lord-Lieutenant of East Sussex, the Mayor, the Council Leader Cllr Bella Sankey, Councillors, MPs and the Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle MP.

Meeting the Mayor of Santa Monica

Santa Monica

Politics

2024

Santa Monica and Brighton & Hove are sister cities. In my capacity as Cabinet Member for Communities, Equalities and Human Rights, I had the honour of meeting the Mayor of Santa Monica to exchange ideas and discuss common issues and challenges, as well as strengthening the relationship between the two cities.

Designing Labour's Election Campaign

Brighton

Sea Brand

2023

I designed the election manifesto, website, leaflets and other promotional materials for Brighton & Hove Labour. These materials helped secure a landslide victory in the 2023 election, with the number of seats increasing from 20 in 2019 to 38.

Sticker on a green pole with the text 'SOZIAL LIBERALE NEUE LIBERALE #EUreStimme' on a city street with parked cars and buildings in the background.

Running Social Liberals EU Parliament Election Campaign

Berlin

Design

2019

The Sozialliberale - Neue Liberale Party in Germany approached dopestudi0s for support with their EU election campaign. I was responsible for rebranding the party, creating the campaign concept and designing the campaign and election video, which was broadcast nationally on Germany's public broadcaster ARD. Our campaign gained thousands of likes and impressions online and helped the party reaching new voters.

dopestudi0s' Berlin Pride Float

Berlin

dopestudi0s

2019

Our float at Berlin Pride in 2019 was a huge success, reaching over 500,000 people and building the agency's reputation within the community. The float's campaign mocked far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) leaders and advocated for a welcoming and inclusive Germany.

DEINHANDY Christmas Campaign

Berlin

dopestudi0s

2019

DEINHANDY (DH) tasked dopetudi0s with creating a Christmas campaign to raise brand awareness. On Christmas Eve, a Santa dressed in the brand's colour, green, delivered a brand new smartphone to a few lucky winners across Germany. The winners were randomly selected from among those who followed and reposted the campaign post on DH's social media. I developed and executed the campaign, and also scripted and edited the video.