Vice-Chancellor welcomes aspiring leaders from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities

A packed Roscoe Room of BAME professionals from public, private, HEIs and voluntary sector organisations were at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) last month to deliberate on the issue of the largely under-representation of people from BAME communities in top / senior level positions.

The event hosted in partnership with Parrett Laver, a recruitment company, National BAME Leadership Network and key members of the BAME community in Liverpool was opened by LJMU Vice Chancellor Professor Ian Campbell. Speakers at the event include key members of the BAME Community who have over the years campaigned for BAME representation in key positions such as Tracey Gore, Chief Executive of Steve Biko Housing, Michelle Charters, Chief Executive of Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre, Anna Rothery, the First Black Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Anthony Akaronye, one of LJMU Governors and Atif Waraich LJMU Head of Department of Computer Science. The speakers highlighted the issues and the need for the provision of inspiring career development focused networking events and workshops.

The event was a safe space for the range of professionals from different sectors and organisations to connect, and to hear about the career journeys of the varied and dynamic panel of speakers based in Liverpool, which really added a personal touch and made the event engaging and thought-provoking. Delegates also highlighted the need to support the building of a diverse pipeline for leadership opportunities. It was indeed a day full of ideas for the progression of BAME people in HEls and other organisations.

In opening, LJMU Vice Chancellor Ian Campbell acknowledged and praised organisations and individuals who worked in partnership with the University to put together such a timely event. The opening comments from LJMU’s Vice-Chancellor and closing remarks from Liverpool’s first Black Lord Mayor, Cllr Anna Rothery, were a great way to begin and end the event.

LJMU is presently working on applying for the Advance HE Race Charter Mark as a catalyst for change and if you would like to be involved in this activity or general race equality work of the university, please email: equality@ljmu.ac.uk

[ Image Left to Right: LJMU Vice-Chancellor & CEO Prof. Ian Campbell, Dr Atif Waraich (Head of Department - Computer Science LJMU), Anthony Akaraonye (Co-founder of Auckland College & LJMU Governor), Tracey Gore (Director of Steve Biko Housing Association), Michelle Charters (CEO of Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre) ]

[ Pictured: LJMU Vice-Chancellor & CEO Prof. Ian Campbell, Dr Atif Waraich (Head of Department - Computer Science at LJMU), Anthony Akaraonye (Co-founder of Auckland College & LJMU Governor), Tracey Gore (Director of Steve Biko Housing Association), Michelle Charters (CEO of Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre), Julie Lloyd (Executive Director Human Resources at LJMU, Dr Amy-Jo Lynch (Senior Consultant at Perrett Laver), Moni Akinsanya (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Manager at LJMU), Holly Nicholls (Equality & Diversity Project Support Officer at LJMU) ]