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Meet the teams

Four circles with the text The Centre for Societal Engagement plays a key role in meeting Imperial's Science for Humanity strategic initiatives. Several teams contribute to this mission along with colleagues from across Imperial. Together we engage wider audiences with Imperial's work and support our staff, students and partners to do so too.

Public and Community Engagement team - Engaging diverse audiences with Imperial’s work through exchanging ideas and experiences. Responsible for delivering Imperial Lates and the Great Exhibition Road festival, coordinating training and funding opportunities, and building relationships with the local community at White City through programmes such as What the Tech?! and Agents of Change. See below to meet this team.
Schools Outreach team - Working with schools, teachers, students and their networks to inspire young people to study STEM through programmes such as STEM Potential and Outreach STEM Ambassadors.
Patient Experience Research Centre - Involving patients and the public with health research through programmes such as People's Research Cafes and an online platform - VOICE.

If you're not sure which team is best placed to help you with your engagement endeavours, contact the Centre for Societal Engagement and your query will be directed to the best person.

Public and Community Engagement Team

The Public and Community Engagement team is committed to embedding Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the heart of our work and we strive to foster an inclusive environment both internally and in the communities we engage with. Our team is diverse across a number of areas and in our individual lived experiences. Several of us are active members of Imperial’s EDI networks, including Imperial 600, Imperial As One, and Able to ensure ongoing opportunities for collaboration, evaluation and learning.

Vicky Brightman

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Vicky Brightman Director of Public Engagement
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Responsibilities

Vicky leads the Public and Community Engagement teams at Imperial College London, who deliver public events and programmes in White City, based out of The Invention Rooms, and in South Kensington, which includes the Great Exhibition Road Festival. She overseas training for Imperial's staff and students on public engagement and works to help connect Imperial’s teams with external community groups as required.
Lara Mistry (she/her)

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Lara Mistry (she/her) Head of Public Engagement Programmes
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Responsibilities

Lara leads the Public Programmes team, who deliver a wide range of programmes, projects, events and activities for adults, families and young people aged 13 and over. Their work includes flagship initiatives such as Imperial Lates, Great Exhibition Road Festival, our Youth Programme and the White City Public Programme.
Farial Missi

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Farial Missi Senior Community Partnerships and Engagement Manager
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Responsibilities

Farial leads the Community Engagement team, building meaningful partnerships between Imperial’s White City Campus and neighbouring communities. Her team's work focuses on convening, capacity building and co-creating initiatives that strengthen connections between the university and the wider community.
Amy Seakins (she/her)

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Amy Seakins (she/her) Head of Engagement (Evaluation and Capacity Building)
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Responsibilities

Amy heads the Capacity Building team, who deliver training opportunities to support Imperial staff and students in developing high quality engagement activities. This includes Engagement Masterclasses, Engagement Academy and Engagement Day, and they also provide guidance on evaluating engagement and applying for funding opportunities.
Joanna Childs (she/her)

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Joanna Childs (she/her) Senior Marketing and Communications Manager (Public Engagement)
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Responsibilities

The Marketing and Communications team, under Joanna's leadership, deliver all communications for the Great Exhibition Road Festival, Imperial Lates and Public and Community Engagement programmes at The Invention Rooms.