Diversity executive sponsors appointed for Imperial’s staff networks
College networks Able@Imperial, Imperial As One and Imperial 600 have welcomed new diversity executive sponsors.
Professor Emma McCoy and Professor Francisco Veloso have been appointed Diversity Executive Sponsors for Imperial As One and Professor Nick Jennings for Imperial 600. College Secretary, John Neilson, has been re-appointed as the sponsor for Able@Imperial.
Each sponsor commits to using their connections and knowledge to support the network in delivering great events, widening membership and inspiring staff across Imperial. Sponsors also work together to feed in the views of the networks to the Provost’s Board.
Acting as a network champion and ally gives senior leaders the chance to meet and learn more about diverse groups of staff and postgraduate students across the College.
The diversity networks aim to represent different staff groups at Imperial. As well as acting as spaces to discuss issues, they organise events, raise awareness and help to inform and develop College policy and procedures. Each network is chaired by two or three members of staff who provide leadership for the networks, develop the strategy, and coordinate, inspire and influence individuals to take part.
Diversity executive sponsors and the network co-chairs receive support from the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Centre which is a dedicated team within Human Resources.
Able@Imperial
Able@Imperial supports and helps staff with disability in the workplace. Members include disabled staff, allies who are supportive of disability equality in the workplace, and managers. Members support each other with networking, events and an informal morning coffee session each Friday, currently on Teams.
Imperial As One
Imperial As One is the network for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff, postgraduate students and their allies. The network is active in engaging with the College on race equality. They run a vibrant Teams community, host regular activities, discussions, and coffee mornings. Belonging is a weekly webinar series by the network exploring the experiences of BAME staff and students, which is currently hosted online.
Imperial 600
Imperial 600 is the College's network for LGBTQ+ staff, postgraduate students and their allies (who currently make up a third of the membership base).
As well as welcoming Professor Nick Jennings as its Diversity Executive Sponsor, Imperial 600 has appointed a new co-chair, Maeve O’Sullivan from the Public Engagement team. The network runs regular member events, including for LGBT+ History Month in February and International Women’s Day in March. Other high-profile events have focused on innovation, technology and entrepreneurship which featured speakers like the Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, and STEM and climate change which featured leaders from the Grantham Institute and the Centre for Climate Finance. All event recordings are available on the Imperial 600 Teams Channel. Imperial 600 is currently developing a reference guide of LGBTQ+ resources available across the College, updating the network’s strategy and preparing for Pride celebrations.
Article text (excluding photos or graphics) © Imperial College London.
Photos and graphics subject to third party copyright used with permission or © Imperial College London.