Rachel Brown Email and Phone Number

Senior leader overseeing the institutional direction for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Development and delivery of strategic, integrated, and proactive equality diversity, and inclusion initiatives and programs of work. Leading a team of EDI specialists delivering core EDI activity across the University, strategically overseeing a range of portfolios. Working as the institutional Director of EDI with faculty EDI Directors to mainstream and align activity to develop and deliver strategic EDI priorities University wide.

Senior leader with responsibility for the development and oversight of the delivery of strategic, integrated, and proactive equality diversity, and inclusion initiatives and programs of work. Management of a team of EDI specialists delivering EDI activity across the university.Working with faculty EDI directors to mainstream and align activity to deliver strategic EDI priorities University wide.Review of policies, practices and processes to ensure fit for purpose, including the embedding of EDI considerations into everyday practice and decision making through an effective equality impact assessment process.

Head of the EDI team, developing and delivering integrated, and proactive equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and activities at one of the UK's leading academic institutions. Management of an EDI team delivering across the inclusion agenda within academia.Review of all EDI practices and processes to ensure fit for purpose. Review of the Equality Impact Assessment processes to support the embedding of EDI considerations into everyday practice.Supporting the staff engagement networks to review their effectiveness and inclusivity.Provision of advice to the network Chairs to further enhance their reach.

Senior Manager responsible for the strategic leadership, monitoring, and evaluation of diversity and inclusion programs in support of the wider business strategy and corporate objectives. Ensuring compliance with all mandatory requirements and best practices across the diversity and inclusion agenda. Providing strategic advice and guidance to the senior leadership team and heads of service on all aspects of inclusion and accessibility. Using evidence based practice and insight to produce and deliver a range of inclusion interventions and initiatives to increase participation and inclusion. Co-ordination of the Wellbeing and Inclusion Committee, supporting the Executive Wellbeing and Inclusion Champion as Chair. Development and implementation of diversity and inclusion policy, procedures, guidance, and systems that are consistent with national initiatives and the NHSBSA strategic direction. Development of a national pathways to work program creating work opportunities for people from minority groups and with additional/and / or complex needs.Representing the BSA in national and regional diversity and inclusion groups and forums and developing working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.Leading on national accreditations, benchmarking, and awards standards. Creation and delivery of action plans against national standards striving for excellence. Recent achieved standards include Stonewall top 100, Disability Confident Leader Status, and ENEI Gold award. Chair of the award winning national Diversity and Inclusion Network, member of the Regional Inclusion Leads Group, ALB D&I experts group and Wellbeing, and Mental Health Networks. Qualified Mental Health First Aid Instructor through Mental Health First Aid England. Licensed to teach both the full 2-day accredited course and refresher course.

Head of the Sensory Support Service at one of the largest FE providers in England.Providing advice, support, and guidance on the development of policy, strategy, and inclusion of learners with disabilities into a mainstream environment.Leadership and management of Specialist Disability Advisors who provided assessment and support plans for leaners with complex needs and high needs funded. Management of the Dyslexia provision with senior teaching and specialist staff and over 1000 learners engaging with the service. Supported from diagnostic through to on program and academic achievement.Leading on Risk Assessments, Personal Evacuation Plans, and transition plans in addition to managing specialist teaching and therapeutic staff and a support manager who engaged my frontline support team.Working with my team to deliver resolution of learner issues, enabling academic progress, and ensuring delivery of high-quality provision.Directorate lead for equality and inclusion, providing specialist guidance across the whole college on inclusive learning, accessibility and environments. Led on awards and recognition, bid writing, enrolment and recruitment and management of the Local Offer and SEND reform. As well as leading on the postive about disabled people charter and design and delivery of the strategic action plan.Provision of Wellbeing and Inclusion initiatives to engage young people including the provision of extra curricular activities and wellbeing resources.Award winning practice including Educate the North Access Award, Best College Provision Award, Student Engagement Award and the North East Equality and Diversity Award for 'Outstanding Educational Provision'.

Director of a Diversity and Inclusion Consultancy, supporting organisations accross private, public and voluntary sectors to create inclusive working practices and inclusive workplaces. Delivery of training, policy development, benchmarking and gap analysis. Making recommendations for improvements accross the breadth of the EDI agenda and improving HR practice. Delivery against national standards, targets and awards. Support with applications for Inclusion awards and best practice submissions and frameworks.Acting as a senior advisor and subject matter expert to leading training companies on courses including EDI, human rights, employment and HR and bias.

Advice and guidance on all aspects of equality, diversity and inclusion. Working with key stakeholders both internal and external accross the equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing agenda.Provision of specialist advice to staff and management on all aspects of equality, bullying and harassment, discipline and grievance, discrimination and wellbeing and making recommendations for best practice.Development and delivery of training to staff in the emergency services coupled with the writing and developing of policy on all aspects of HR, equality, diversity, inclusion and human rights.Working with the public and community engagement teams to engage minority groups and support and promote inclusion. Whilst in post I was audited as 'excellent' under the Fire and Rescue Service Equality Framework. One of only a small number of Fire services to achieve this status in the country. Improvement and development around staff inclusion, creation of the first employee networks recognising lived experience from minorities groups to be heard, enabled the winning numerous awards and accolades including achieving 8th place in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index. My work received a number of awards recognising the outstanding practice delivered in this area and I represented the service by being a key note speaker at LGBT events and conferences including the annual Stonewall Workplace Inclusion Conference. My inclusion and engagement work was also cited in a number of publications including Equal Opportunities Review.

Senior Officer responsible for the design and delivery of equality, diversity and inclusion training, initiatives, programmes and support mechanisms for organisations across public, private and third sector.Working with organisations, including SME's and micro organisations through to housing associations and Arms Length Management Organisations to improve policies and workplace practice and build knowledge and capacity around the wider inclusion agenda.Audit of workplace practice and making recommendations to improve engagement and best practice on policy. Development of recruitment processes and overseeing complex cases on behalf of SME's and where organisations had no in-house inclusion expert.Providing advice around workplace processes including discipline and grievance, change management and the provision of reasonable adjustments.Negotiation of contracts to meet budgets and targets, bid writing and tendering for opportunities to encourage business growth. Writing of award submissions to raise the public profile of organisations.

Management of the office and small team providing professional services, medical supplies and services to clients. Diary management of senior surgical staff, development of policies and processes to implement and streamline working practices. Implementation of HR processes and setting up a standards framework for all staff to adhere to. Investigation of complex complaints and making recommendations for improvement.Development of talent management and recruitment and selection pathways program. Led on embedding equality, diversity and inclusion.

Professional trainer and licensed facilitator in the L&OD team, then promoted to L&OD manager. Delivery of training, including equality and diversity in the workplace, communications skills, and customer centric behaviours. Management and development of training portfolios covering EDI and fair treatment. HR practice and general behaviour related training across all levels in the organisation. Providing advice and guidance on the development of policy, staff development, recruitment, and retention of staff. Advising on adjustments to roles and the workplace to improve inclusion in particular for people with disabilities.Graduated from the BT Management Academy, local lead for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. Trained as a certified technical trainer (CTT) and a licensed facilitator as well as achieving BA (hons) in Education and becoming a qualified teacher in learning and skills with (QTLS) status whilst in post.