Imperial As One
The Race Equality Network for Staff and Postgraduate Students
Launched in 2005, Imperial As One (IAO) is an advisory group made up of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and postgraduate students and allies. This group helps set priorities and advises the College, particularly by examining customs and practices, the traditions of the College, and identifying how these impact staff.
Imperial As One works to support and promote an inclusive workplace culture of respect, opportunity, unity, transparency, and equality, and will continually tackle and manage issues of racism, discrimination, fear, and prejudice. This was recognised in 2008 with IAO winning the Rector’s Award for Equality Excellence. In 2021 IAO won The President’s Medal for Excellence in Culture and Community and The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award for Culture and Community.
How to join Imperial As One
Imperial As One is also the network for staff and postgraduate students who identify as members of a minoritised ethnic community. Allies are also welcome!
To subscribe to the Imperial As One mailing list, please enter your Imperial email address on this web page.
Join the Imperial As One Team to access even more content
Imperial As One Committee
If you would like to get more involved with the group, please contact a Committee member listed below, or email Imperial-As-One
Imperial As One Committee
Wayne Mitchell
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Wayne Mitchell
Co-Chair
Moonlie Fong-Whittaker
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Moonlie Fong-Whittaker
Committee
Ada Mau
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Ada Mau
Committee
Margaret Lawrence
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Margaret Lawrence
Committee
Pei Lai
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Pei Lai
Committee
Kellianne Bartley
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Kellianne Bartley
Committee
Manjula Silva
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Manjula Silva
Committee
Cynthia So
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Cynthia So
EDIC Liaison
Kalpna Mistry
Kalpna Mistry
EDIC Liaison
Executive Sponsor
Professor Francisco Veloso
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Professor Francisco Veloso
Executive Sponsor
Belonging: Exploring our lived experiences
Enjoy the Present, Yesterday’s history, Tomorrow’s a Mystery
Yat and Christine Lau - Life can appear to spiral out of control without us even realising the extent or cause of the problem. Yat and Christine Lau, discuss living with mental health issues and the help that is available to us in our time of need.
Enjoy the Present, Yesterday’s history, Tomorrow’s a Mystery
Yat and Christine Lau, discuss living with a mental health issue.
Yat and Christine Lau - Life can appear to spiral out of control without us even realising the extent or cause of the problem. Yat and Christine Lau, discuss living with mental health issues and the help that is available to us in our time of need.
S.A.Y. it loud….We can change our narrative
Eric Sterling shares his motivations to set up the Sterling Academy
Life is unpredictable and the choices we make to the circumstances we encounter can alter the course of our lives. Eric Sterling shares how having to navigate unfamiliar territories has motivated him to start ‘Sterling Academy Youth’, to give back and help change the narrative for future generations.
Windrush Lives - You can’t throw us breadcrumbs
Glenda always thought she was British until Windrush.
Born in Dominica, and raised in the UK from the age of 3 months, Glenda Caesar thought she was British until the hostile governmental immigration policy denied her and her son a British passport. Glenda discusses the impact on her sense of Belonging and what she is doing to help others affected by the Windrush Scandal.
Mothering Dilemmas, Dr Tanweer Beleil
Dr Tanweer Beleil describes her journey of understanding.
Adverse events can make you stronger. Dr Tanweer Beleil describes her journey of understanding, triggered by life events, that have changed her perspective. How aspects of motherhood have influenced her sense of belonging.
Driving Force - Curiosity keeps us going - Xiao Yun Xu
Professor Xiao Yun Xu describes her passion for pursuing work-life balance in Academia.
Do you ever get bored? Professor Xiao Yun Xu describes how curiosity, mentorship, powerful words and setting realistic challenges have motivated her passion for pursuing work-life balance in Academia.
Resources
Imperial As One Reading List
Discover some of the fantastic books we have been reading or were recommended by our community for pleasure, research or interest.
This is a living list and we are happy to receive your suggestions for books, videos and other documents to add to the list.
Black Lives Matter Resource List
Resources to help you understand the Black Lives Matter movement in the context of both the UK and the US.
Included are resources of various media because let's face it, not everyone likes to read ;-)
Help keep this resource list growing and your contributions are welcome.
Black Lives Matter Resource List (Login)
Our Research
Staff Focus Groups Report
December 2020
Commissioned by Imperial As One, this report explores our members' experiences of racism as part of the Imperial community.
We also share suggestions for change put forward by members of staff at Imperial College London.
Download the report (pdf)
#BlackLivesMatter Statement
Racism is not a game it’s real, pervasive and takes away people’s lives. It’s everyone’s responsibility to examine their practice, check their behaviour and learn that there’s more that unites us than divides. No, it's not a chip on our shoulders, it's your knee on our necks. I can’t breathe."
Co-Chairs of Imperial As One
Yani King, Dr Sarah Essilfie-Quaye, Des Samuel and Dr Wayne Mitchell
Racism is real. In America, in the UK and around the world.
I can’t breathe.
To be witness to the televised murder of another person because of the colour of his skin.
To see the video spread out across the internet is heartbreakingly sad. It’s terrifying, brutal and dehumanising. This is not a film! This is one of life’s inequitable realities.
For years people of colour have spoken out against systemic racism that we live and breathe daily. We're told so often that we're just making it up. We're playing the race card.
Racism is not a game it’s real, pervasive and takes away people’s lives. It’s everyone’s responsibility to examine their practice, check their behaviour and learn that there’s more that unites us than divides.
No, it's not a chip on our shoulders, it's your knee on our necks.
I can’t breathe.
#BlackLivesMatter
Our full statement was also quoted in the article Imperial shows solidarity with protesters against racial injustice.
The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Centre team have created a resource page on How to be a White Ally.
The suggestions help to explain what it means to be a white ally and give examples of positive actions that can be taken to combat racism; in its explicit or subtle forms. They are drawn from many different sources. Although they focus on ways to support Black colleagues and students, equally they can help to support all people of colour within the Imperial community.