University Equality Champions

In 2009, the University approved the establishment of Equality Champions to demonstrate senior leadership and support for equality, diversity and inclusion matters and initiatives. They current Champions are: 

LGBTQ+

• Vacant

Gender Equality

• Professor Sarah Colvin, AHSSBL (Arts & Humanities)
• Vacant

Race & Inclusion Champions

• Dr Ali Meghji
• Professor Esra Özyürek

Disability and Wellbeing Champion

• Professor Alison Dunning

Role Overview:

Advocacy and Reporting:

• Attend relevant governance and decision-making bodies to contribute to reviewing and progressing policies, procedures, and practices related to ED&I. Shared representation can be agreed across University ED&I Champions.
• Participate in the ED&I Intersectional Delivery Group to coordinate intersectional approaches to equality and ensure integrated solutions across various equality domains.
• Respond to enquiries from the University community and provide appropriate signposting.

Promotion of ED&I Best Practices:

• Support the communication of ED&I best practices within the University.
• Liaise with the University’s Communications Team to ensure the promotion of EDI&I inititiatives, as and when required and in collaboration with the ED&I Team.

School Equality Champions

Schools and Institutions each have two Champion, one male and one female; one of these is a member of GESG (terms of office are 2 years), formally linking the Schools to gender equality governance and decision making.

Role of the School Equality Champions (as approved by ED&I Committee):

To provide visible leadership and promote good practice on gender equality, beyond compliance, for the University, by:

•             Playing an active role in championing the University’s commitment to progress gender equality across the institution

•             Facilitating increased awareness of gender matters within Schools/NSI’s, ensuring gender equality is a key consideration within the business of the institution being represented; this will require membership of a local governance body of influence (if possible)

•             Providing a local focus, encouraging good practice, influencing cultural change and ensuring relevance of gender equality to the different institutions across the University

•             Providing a link between the Gender Equality Champions, GEG, and the Schools/NSI’s in the progression of this objective

•             Advocating for gender equality matters locally and within the University

•             Providing a School/NSI-based link to women students via the CUSU Women’s Forum