Uwern Jong

Uwern Jong is a British Asian entrepreneur, journalist, editor and inclusive-tourism advocate.
Jong co-founded OutThere (magazine) in 2010. 
Jong is also founder of Southeast Asia’s first LGBTQ+ travel symposium for the Tourism Authority of Thailand and developed Thailand's “Go Thai Be Free” LGBT travel|LGBTQ travel campaign, as part as the government’s strategy to attract more diverse tourists to the country.
Jong is credited as an Editor who has been a "material player in the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights.”
== Early life ==
Jong was born in Portsmouth, United Kingdom. 
He attended the University of Warwick and completed his MA at London Metropolitan University|The University of North London.
== Career ==
=== Marketing and communications ===
Jong was one of the original founders of integrated marketing and communications agency, Intelligent Marketing where he created early digital marketing projects for both the government and private sector with a focus on accessibility (including the first website for the then Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) and contributed to the first-draft regulation of online-gaming and its marketing codes. There he pioneered marketing campaigns targeting the LGBT|LGBTQ+ market.
He was Managing Director of LGBTQ+ marketing agency Boutique Marketing where he helped launched Emerald Life, the UK's first LGBTQ+ insurance specialist and campaigned for greater LGBTQ+ diversity and inclusion in the workplace as marketing lead on the UK LGBTQ+ job-seekers event, the Diversity Careers Show.
=== Travel and tourism ===
In 2010, Jong co-founded inclusive publisher, OutThere Publishing Ltd and became Editor-in-Chief of OutThere (magazine), a "leading luxury and experiential travel magazine for gay men." He also developed and leads Go Thai Be Free, The Tourism Authority of Thailand's LGBTQ+ outreach programme.
Jong is a spokesperson for LGBTQ+ travel, campaigns for inclusive tourism for the LGBTQ+ community and is board-member of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, the travel trade association for LGBTQ+ tourism.
In 2018, Jong created Southeast Asia's first LGBT+ Travel Symposium event to educate travel brands to embrace diversity and be more welcoming of LGBTQ+ audiences. The event is annual and also runs in South Africa; and Sweden where Jong co-founded LGBT+ destination marketing organisation Stockholm LGBT.
Jong is an inclusive tourism advocate, promoting more diverse marketing and better recruitment and representation in the travel industry.
== Personal life ==
Jong is openly gay. He is trustee of the charity Sport Allies that works to combat homophobia in sport.
== Awards and recognitions ==
Jong is the recipient of a number of industry awards, including:
* Campaign (magazine)|Campaign Magazine's "Campaign Publishing Awards" for Editorial Leader of the Year – Consumer Publishing, 2020
* GNETWORK360 Masterclass Award for Excellence in Journalism 2020 that recognises the contribution of international journalists for their work in promoting Argentina as an inclusive destination for travellers.
* The United States Travel and Tourism Administration's IPW Award 2017 that recognises travel journalists who have made a significant contribution to the promotion of the United States of America as a travel destination, worldwide.
Jong also led the magazine to win: 
* The Professional Publishers Association|Professional Publisher's Association "Independent Publisher's Award" (the magazine Oscars) 2020 for Diversity Initiative of the Year alongside Vogue (magazine). 
* The Travel Media Awards for Consumer Publication of the Year – Online 2018. 
Jong is also a notable content creator in the LGBTQ+ travel space: 
* Everyqueer Magazine's LGBTQ Influencers that are Changing the Internet. 
* Passion Passport LGBTQ Travellers Changing the Face of the Travel Industry.
 
Category:British businesspeople
Category:British journalists
Category:British editors