Making Diversity Interventions Count Annual Conference (MDICAC) 2025

Farrah Qureshi is a globally respected pioneer in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and the visionary force behind both Global Diversity Practice (GDP) and Inclusion Intelligence Practice (IIP). As a strategic leader, consultant, keynote speaker, and executive coach, she has transformed the global DEI landscape, working with multinational corporations, governments, and international organisations to embed inclusive practices into the heart of leadership, culture, and strategy.

With over 28 years of experience, Farrah has led transformative DEI initiatives across 180+ countries, working with global powerhouses such as Walmart, Shell, Facebook, the World Bank, and the London Olympics Delivery Authority. Her work seamlessly bridges the public and private sectors, aligning commercial excellence with societal progress. Her methodologies are grounded in behavioural economics, neuroscience, and cutting-edge leadership research, and she is especially known for helping organisations uncover and overcome deep-rooted blind spots.

As Founder of IIP, Farrah has evolved her global impact by building a dedicated platform for advancing DEI in the UAE and wider MENA region. IIP reflects Farrah’s forward-thinking response to regional aspirations like Vision 2030, offering tailored DEI strategies that foster inclusive growth, nationalisation, innovation, and sustainable development. Through this work, she is helping to unlock new frontiers in inclusion—positioning Inclusion Intelligence as a core capability for 21st-century leadership.

Farrah is also a proud resident of Bradford, UK. She has led GDP from this northern city to the world stage, creating opportunities for local talent and regional businesses to thrive in global consulting, learning design, and digital inclusion solutions. GDP remains rooted in inclusive growth, starting at home, scaling worldwide.

Farrah's leadership has been recognised through numerous accolades, including:

• Kindness & Leadership: 50 Leading Lights,
• Top 50 Influential Muslims in Europe,
• A portfolio of 30+ global awards and recognitions for her thought leadership, business excellence, and social impact.

A charismatic and trusted advisor to CEOs and C-Suites, Farrah is a futurist who blends commercial acumen with moral leadership. Her impact is seen not just in strategies delivered, but in cultures transformed, and in the diverse leaders empowered to create a better future for all.

Pascal Matthias is the Associate Vice President for EDI and Social Justice at the University of Southampton. Pascal is a fierce advocate for educational and organisational awareness and accountability for all. He is a Tedx and public speaker, a strategic thinker, consultant and has published numerous articles papers on EDI.

Pascal has a focus on organisational awareness as well as individual and collective accountability, Pascal vigorously seeks to reimagine and restructure current frameworks and metrics in the workplace. He strives towards making Higher Education more inclusive, unified, and equal. Pascal believes education cannot be a barrier because of race, colour, ethnicity or protected characteristics, it must be a opportunity for societal change.

Pascal is an independent NHS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion consultant and co-founded FACE (Fashion Academics Creating Equality) in 2020. Pascal has run a series of  Compassionate Conversations on language with guests such as Nihal Arthanayake, David Harewood OBE, Alisson Lapper MBE, and Dr Kobna Holdbrook-Smith MBE.

Nazanin is an Assistant Professor of Psychology with a research focus on the intersection of culture, cognition, and behaviour. Her work explores how cultural norms and practices, particularly those considered taboo or socially unacceptable across different societies, such as honour-based violence and female genital mutilation, shape human thought and action. In 2024, her BRAD-ATTAIN proposal was successfully accepted, enabling her to lead a research project on honour crimes alongside two research interns.

Nazanin is dedicated to advancing research on culturally sensitive issues and enhancing our understanding of how cultural contexts influence psychological processes. Through her work, she aims to challenge assumptions, spark critical conversations, and deepen global awareness of culturally rooted forms of violence and their psychological implications.

Dr Jabin is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Health Studies at the University of Bradford and acts as an EDI Facilitator within the Faculty. He is a highly skilled Medical Engineer and digital health expert, specialising in Medical Imaging Devices and Health Information Technology (HIT) systems. He is also qualified in Cognitive System Engineering, Root Cause Analysis, Medical Incident Coding of adverse healthcare events, Healthcare Quality Improvement, Patient Safety, and various types of Systematic Reviews.

His research interest is mainly in Health Informatics, which aims to improve the existing HIT systems/solutions/interventions and the care delivery around them by solving the clinical problems we encounter in our day-to-day clinical practice, rather than building new technologies. His extensive experience in international collaboration in Digital Health, Health Informatics, and Public Health has led to a number of high-quality scientific publications.

Dr Louise Bryant is currently Deputy Dean for the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Leeds and lead for EDI. She has led on work to tackle student experiences of sexual harassment and misconduct since 2015.

As an information skills trainer, Carl provides a range of specialist support for healthcare professionals.

He is also a health promotion specialist and has a particular interest in modes of communication, information accessibility and organizational health literacy.

Carl works collaboratively and creatively with therapists supporting adults with serious mental illness.

Dr Iwi Ugiagbe-Green has over 20 years experience of working in higher education and nearly 15 years experience of supporting students in higher education.

She joined Manchester Metropolitan University Business School in November 2021.

She describes herself as an academic activist, anti-racism scholar and anti-colonial. She has published widely on race equity issues in higher education and delivered a TEDx in 2020 on ‘Being Black in the Academy.’  Her research is rooted in social justice.  It is inter-disciplinary and collaborative and informs her intentional inclusive leadership, led by the Ubuntu philosophy.

She has won several institutional awards for equity, inclusion and belonging. She was most recently was awarded the ‘Outstanding contribution’ award at the Student Union Teaching Excellence Awards (2024).

Wayne’s passion and flexible working approach has positively impacted many staff and students’ academic and personal experience. He received the President's Medal for Excellence in Supporting the Student Experience in 2018. Whilst completing his MEd he joined the Imperial’s Race Equality Charter-Self Assessment Team in 2019 to evaluate the effects on the sense of belonging and identity on minoritized group.

As Co-Chair of 'Imperial As One' he hosts the weekly interview series, Belonging, which explores the lived experience of individuals from minoritized groups. In 2021, along with IAO Co-chairs he received the President's Medal for Excellence for Community and Culture.

Dr LaTonia ‘Toni’ Siler-Holloman is an Education Consultant who has worked with private, public, and voluntary sector organisations. At the universities of NC A&T (US), Essex (UK), and Leeds (UK), Toni used Phenomenology and Critical Race Theory to interrogate real-world challenges and lived experiences of those who create and implement diversity policies.

Toni is Cofounder and Director of Bside Professional Services and Research Director at Same Skies Think Tank. Based on her knowledge of racialised labour management practices and radical counter strategies of the 19th century professional class, her ethos encompasses self-reflection, intentionality, collaboration, and passion when engaging with emerging and contemporary scholars.

C-J Foster (SFHEA) is an Experiential Learning Tutor and the Internationalisation & EDI Innovation Lead within the Rise team at Manchester Metropolitan University.

She co-authored the ‘Becoming Culturally Competent’ self-study pack and delivers staff and student workshops that promote belonging, inclusion, and cultural awareness across the university. C-J specialises in co-creating experiential learning opportunities with students, staff, and external partners.

She trains others in facilitation skills that build connection and enhance group learning. Originally from Australia, C-J brings a global perspective shaped by her work across four continents in education and the NGO sector. Her background includes projects in the performing arts, cross-cultural and interfaith engagement, leadership training, youth participation, and peacebuilding.

Dr Amy Stevens is a Public Health Consultant in Yorkshire. She works as the Public Health Lead at Bevan, a social enterprise providing health and wellbeing services to Inclusion Health populations, and has previously worked with Doctors of the World UK Policy and Advocacy Team and Save the Children Global Humanitarian team.

She has recently been supporting WHO Europe in developing their new Child and Adolescent Health Strategy in which an inclusive approach to addressing the needs of forcibly displaced children is a key area of concern.

Dr Katherine Deane is Associate Professor in the School of Health Sciences at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich and is also a wheelchair user with a variety of long-term conditions. She conducts research on the co-created management of long-term conditions and disabilities.

She is also the University’s Access Ambassador and has improved the accessibility of their campus substantially in the last 10 years. She has provided access advice to a wide variety of institutions, funders, manufacturers, and event organisers. She conducted a survey of lab access in 2023 and created a suite of lab access guidelines.

She is currently working on a range of projects to increase the evidence base for what works to improve research culture and the inclusivity of research in general.

Gurpreet has worked mostly in the areas of communications, public relations, broadcasting, and community development. Her interests are combining textiles and different forms of arts to engage with communities and to use these resources for positive mental health and well-being.

Roxanne is a researcher and educator in communication design with expertise in fostering inclusivity through creative practice. Her work bridges qualitative research, participatory design, and interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly focusing on addressing structural inequalities in cultural contexts.

Roxanne is currently working at the University of York as a Research Associate. The project she is currently working on aims to co-produce EDI interventions with industry partners working in Virtual Production.

Roshni Marath Jairaj is a PhD student at the University of Leeds, where her research explores themes of migration, identity, and belonging as a Non-resident Indian.

She also serves on the Postgraduate Researcher Diversity Steering Committee, working to promote equity and inclusion across the university's research community. Roshni is keen to take on more university roles that serve students and looks forward to working collaboratively to enhance the student experience.

Lizzie Wright (she/they) is a PhD student in English Literature at the University of Leeds. Her research explores the 'good for her' subgenre in contemporary film.

Lizzie is a Student Trustee at Leeds University Union and she is particularly passionate about LGBTQ+ and disabled inclusion, having worked supporting disabled university students for the past 5 years.

Her presentation forms part of her work on the Postgraduate Researcher Diversity Steering Committee.

With over 20 years of cross-sector experience spanning academia, healthcare, government, and NGOs, Barbara is a dedicated advocate for equity, inclusion, and meaningful public engagement. Her work has consistently focused on championing inclusive approaches in health, research, and community development, particularly by amplifying the voices of underrepresented and marginalised groups.

Professionally rooted in public engagement, health equity, and community inclusion, she brings extensive expertise in strategy development, stakeholder collaboration, and inclusive policy design. Over the past decade, Barbara has worked with a wide range of organisations, including universities, the NHS, local and national authorities, and third-sector organisations, leading initiatives on public dialogue, engagement frameworks, and training in equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Her passion lies in creating participatory spaces where diverse voices can inform and shape decision-making, ensuring that systems are more just, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of all communities. Driven by a passion for inclusive science engagement, Barbara was selected as the British Science Association (BSA) Community Leader for the 2023/24 cohort, supported by UKRI. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), an international network of changemakers committed to socially impactful innovation.

Ana Maia is 2^nd Year Cyber Security Student/International Rise Champion at Manchester Metropolitan University. As a Cyber Security student, she is very passionate about educating others especially when it comes to the accessibility of information and how that looks like from an EDI and International perspective.

Ana has been working on Cultural Competency and Internationalisation for around a year and as an immigrant she believes that more people should be taught about cultural competency from a variety of lenses. Despite focusing on Cyber, Ana has worked on a variety of projects across the university that enhance EDI and Internationalisation, with Cultural Competency being one of the main ones.

She is currently building her facilitating skills around cultural competency and preparing to deliver the first student-to-student training.

Uduak Archibong PhD MBE is the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion). She directs the Centre for Inclusion and Diversity (CfID) and provides strategic oversight for equality, diversity and inclusion [EDI] across the institution. She is a Fellow of the West African College of Nursing and a Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing. She was listed in the New Year Honours list 2015 and was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for her contributions to higher education and equality.

Recognised as a foremost authority with a sustained, distinguished presence in the field of diversity management, she is currently leading in setting agenda to drive research, learning and knowledge exchange activities internationally. She has published extensively on inclusion and diversity, informed by over 30 years experience of working in the health and higher education sectors. Her academic and professional work has major impacts locally, nationally and globally. Key among these impacts is that the body of her research work has provided the evidence base for, and a robust understanding of, the development and application of cultural solutions and diversity interventions in public, private and third sector organisations.

Kellie Barnes

Email

K.A.Young1@bradford.ac.uk

Dave has 30 years’ experience of working in a range of public sector organisations, with expertise in organisational development and systems working.

He is passionate about putting people and relationships at the centre of everything and sees his role as being to help the University of Bradford be a place where each person can be the best that they can be.

He has an MA (Hons) in Classics and an MSc in Innovation and Improvement Science, is a qualified coach/mentor and mediator, and alongside completing his doctorate, occasionally lectures and speaks at conferences on how we can thrive in a complex, messy world.