Meet The Speakers

Professor David Mba
Professor Mba is the Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham City University and Co-Chair of the Black Leaders in Higher Education network. He studied Aerospace Engineering at the University of Hertfordshire and completed a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Cranfield University. Always committed to improving representation and opportunities for Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic individuals in higher education.

Shauna Roper
Shauna Roper serves as the Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion at HSBC UK. She has been a speaker at events such as the Black Women Business Talks, sharing insights on fostering inclusive workplaces and her personal journey in overcoming societal expectations.

Bernadette Thompson OBE
A senior civil servant and passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion. She has co-chaired the Race to the Top G6/7 network, supporting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) staff in the civil service. She was awarded an OBE for her contributions to diversity and inclusion.
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Viviennce Artz OBE
​Vivienne is the CEO of the FTSE Women Leaders Review, the UK's business-led voluntary framework, supported by Government to improve the representation of women on the Boards and Leadership teams of the FTSE 350 and 50 of the UK's largest private companies.

Dianne Greyson
Dianne Greyson is the founder of the #EthnicityPayGap campaign, advocating for pay equity across ethnic groups. She is also the Managing Partner of Synergised Solutions and Director of Equilibrium Mediation Consulting, focusing on equality and fairness in the workplace.

Professor Denise Hawkes
Professor Denise Hawkes is an academic economist at King's Business School. Her research is centred on higher education transitions, equality, diversity, and inclusion, with a significant focus on pay and progression gaps, including ethnicity pay gaps. Professor Hawkes investigates the disparities in pay and career progression among different ethnic groups within higher education and the broader labour market. Her work aims to identify the underlying causes of these gaps and develop strategies to address them, promoting a more equitable and inclusive environment.
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Professor Jason Arday
Jason Arday is Professor of Sociology of Education at the University of Cambridge, Faculty of Education, and a Professorial Fellow at Jesus College, Cambridge. He was formerly a Guest Editor on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme and listed fourth on the prestigious Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 in 2023. Professor Arday has previously held the position of Professor of Sociology of Education at the University of Glasgow, School of Education; Associate Professor in Sociology at Durham University in the Department of Sociology; and Deputy Executive Dean for People and Culture in the Faculty of Social Science and Health. Jason is a Trustee of the British Sociological Association (BSA) and sits on the ITV Cultural Advisory Council.

Anthony Horrigan
Anthony Horrigan is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Spktral, a consultancy specialising in pay gap analysis. After leaving university during a computing science degree, he served for 25 years in the Royal Air Force as a navigator and fighter pilot. Transitioning to the corporate sector, Anthony now leads efforts to promote pay equity and transparency in organisations.
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Helen Reardon-Bond OBE
A distinguished equality and diversity professional with a long career in the UK Civil Service. She has held senior positions, including Director for Equality at the Government Equalities Office. She was awarded an OBE for her contributions to equality and public service.

Pauline Miller
Pauline is Chief Equity Officer, EMEA for dentsu international. Pauline is responsible for shaping and leading its DEI strategy and execution across the region, reports to the CEO and is a member of the EMEA Executive committee. Pauline has held a number of senior positions responsible for organisational culture, diversity and inclusion, employee engagement, leadership and talent development.

Dr. Nero Ughwujabo
A former Special Adviser to Prime Minister Theresa May on Social Justice, Young People, and Opportunities. He has a strong background in community development and has been instrumental in shaping policies on social mobility and inclusion.