On 15 October, the University of Westminster held an event titled Westminster Conversations: Celebrating Agitation and Allyship, to celebrate the seventh anniversary of the University’s Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Network.
Mediated by Samir Pandya, Reader in Architecture and Director of Global Engagement in the School of Architecture and Cities, the session brought together the two founding Co-Chairs of the University of Westminster’s BME Network: Professor Dibyesh Anand, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement and Employability, and Dr Deborah Husbands, Reader in Race and Sociocultural Psychology. Together they reflected on the contextual factors that led to the inception of the Network, key milestones and challenges during its evolution, and their thoughts on current urgencies and future trajectories.
Their conversation touched on milestones and achievements such as the Black History Year programme and the crucial networks and student programmes that came from the initiative. Challenges and important turning points were also covered, in particular, the University’s Black Lives Matter Commitment Plan in 2020 and its yearly report on progress. They acknowledged the importance of strong allyship from various students and colleagues including those who are senior such as the Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Bonfield.
Although both speakers said they hoped for a more inclusive environment and stronger partnership with other institutions in the coming decade, they emphasised that agitation and allyship within the University will remain crucial to driving lasting change.
From left to right: Samir Pandya, Dibyesh Anand and Deborah Husbands
The event concluded with a celebration of Professional Anand’s foundational term as Co-Chair, recognising the progress made under his and Dr Husbands' leadership. Professor Anand stepped down as a co-chair in 2023-24 as he joined the Senior Leadership Team as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement and Employability. Stephen Bunbury, Reader in the School of Law, has now replaced him as the Co-Chair of the Network.
The Westminster Conversations series is part of the University’s Quintin Hogg Trust-sponsored Westminster for All: Equity, Inclusion and Belonging programme.
About the event Professor Anand said: “We have come a long way from when many individual Black, Asian and other minority colleagues felt they were on their own in navigating the institution. The BME Network has been integral to transforming our processes and culture where Equality, Diversity and Inclusion are our key values. Personally for me, the event was a renewal of resolve to continue challenging prejudices, celebrating diversities through agitation, allyship and now partnership with other institutions.”
Dr Deborah Husbands added: “The BME Network has been a journey of challenges and triumphs as we bravely surf a world that is, at times, racially turbulent. Such experiences have given us the courage and drive to continue moving forward as a community of colleagues, united in the fight against social and racial inequalities.”
Samir Pandya added: "This has been an excellent reflection on the achievements of the BME Network, and more specifically the ground-breaking partnership between Dibyesh and Deborah as founding Co-Chairs. Although there is much work left to be done, I’d suggest we are now able to deliver EDI thought leadership in the sector.”
The BME Network directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
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Find out more about the University’s colleague networks and upcoming Equality, Diversity and Inclusion events at the University of Westminster.
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