EDI Fellowship © Press Release – June 2024

Recognised for their contributions to equity, diversity & inclusion (EDI) in a range of areas including curriculum and organisational systems, across several UK protected characteristics, this cohort of EDI Fellows highlight the importance, breadth and relevance of effective leadership in EDI to tackling multiple challenges facing organisations and society today. Through reflective and academic practice routes, EDI Fellows have shown change impacts they have led in one or more organisational contexts. They are drawn from several professional backgrounds and disciplines including education, law, higher education and schools.

Director of the Institute for Educational & Social Equity, Professor Paul Miller said: “At a time when the importance of leadership in EDI to addressing many pressing issues cannot be overstated, it’s significant to admit these 5 EDI professionals to the prestigious EDI Fellowship ©. Their case study and work have enhanced our understanding in tackling a wide range of institutional and structural challenges associated with education, migration, refugees, the curriculum, home schooling, and the development of inclusive practices in education. We look forward to working with them to further promote the vital role EDI play in all areas of our lives.”

The EDI Fellowship © is the qualification for professionals working in or aspiring to work in the area of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) offered only by the Institute for Educational & Social Equity. It is a benchmark multidimensional and intersectional programme intended to bring and improve the criticality of EDI at organisational level through greater coherence and integrity of the work of EDI professionals. The EDI Fellowship requires participants and award holders to show deep knowledge and understanding of multiple areas of EDI work, which is a departure from the dominant single item EDI expertise present in organisations and institutions. All EDI Fellows must successfully complete a series of ‘taught’ modules and assessments and an impact case study.

The new Fellows have been elected from 5 UK organisations. We warmly welcome them to the Fellowship of the Institute and look forward to engaging with them to advance understanding of our contemporary EDI issues as we work together to shape and secure a better future.

Those awarded are:

• Dr James Lane, Executive Headteacher, St Francis de Sales Federation, and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary
• Lisa Lakey, Headteacher, St Francis’ CofE Aided Junior School
• Sima Heer, Academic Developer, University of East London
• Shupikai Chiwanza, Supervising Solicitor, and Co- Chair Staff Race Network, Sheffield Hallam University
• Dr Mohammed Ozemoya Dirisu, Lecturer in Law & Criminology, and Equality, Diversity & Inclusivity (EDI) Lead, Sheffield Hallam University

Download Press Release

Learn More About Our EDI Fellowship ©

Notes to Editors

For further information contact: Katie Morigi (Programmes Manager) at k.morigi@instituteforequity.ac.uk

About the Institute for Educational & Social Equity

Institute for Educational & Social Equity is a specialist Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Institute. We are the only independent Tertiary level institution of its kind in the UK.

We are a Google for Education institution, and a member of the UK Register of Learning Providers – Registration number: 10092202. WE deliver the UK’s first and only suite of EDI qualifications, including: the EDI Fellowship ©, Level & Certificate in EDI and the Level 7 Diploma in EDI.