Kiran Trehan

Who am I? 

My name and who I am says so much and yet says so little about who I am – so who am I?

I am Professor Kiran Trehan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise, Partnerships and Engagement and chair of the RECG. 

I am the daughter of a first-generation migrant who grew up in the East End of London – why is this important?

The backdrop to my interests in race and ED&I needs to be explored within the context of our personal histories. Our modus vivendi can be traced back partially to our backgrounds. What this means for me is how passionate scholarship and the emotions that underpin the work of RECG provide new opportunities for us to engage collectively from where we stand in relation to what we care about. 

For me this group is an important catalyst because each and everyone of us has a desire and responsibility to make a tangible difference to Race Equality. This diversity is an essential ingredient in making our University a contemporary global institution and an exciting, inspiring place to be, but this requires intentionality.

I would like to see the work of this group be an exemplar for organisational changes with respect to anti-racism – to make a difference for our students, staff and with partners across the city to focus on how anti-racism can be embedded in the fabric of our region and beyond. I would like us to shape, influence, and transform the way we do Race Equality work to create an inclusive society for all.

'Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing will change unless it is faced.' James Baldwin