Staff Race Equality Forum launches

Posted on 2 February 2017

The University’s new Staff Race Equality Network was launched last week as part of a drive to create an inclusive and equitable environment for all employees.

The Forum aims to promote race equality and equality of opportunity between all staff groups and to celebrate and promote the successes of a diverse range of staff and students.

The launch event, held in Heslington Hall on January 31, was addressed by the guest speaker Professor Pratibha Gai. With early education in India and higher education in the UK, Pratibha held senior positions in the US before taking up her post in York as Co-Director of the York Nanocentre. She was the first Asian woman to receive to be made a Fellow of the Royal Society, and was awarded the L’Oreal-UNESCO International Women in Science Award as the 2013 Laureate for Europe.

Professor Koen Lamberts, Vice Chancellor and Chair of the University's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, said: "I am delighted that the Staff Race Equality Forum has been re-launched. The University is a diverse community that welcomes staff from all over the world, regardless of background or identity. I very much look forward to working with the Forum as we seek to promote the equality and diversity agenda on campus".

Membership of the forum is inclusive and open to all members of staff interested in celebrating and promoting progress and good practice in race equality matters.