Panel members

Dr Tori Sprung 

She/her 

Role

Chair of EDI Panel

EDI Aspirations

Why is EDI important?

Deliberate consideration of EDI builds a culture and environment that ensures everyone can realise their full potential. 

Aspirations for the Panel:

To be an agent of change that encourages consideration of EDI issues in all that we do. 

Dr Francesca Champ

She/her 

Role

EDI Panel Member and Lead for Working Group E. Representation and Role Models in RISES

EDI Aspirations

Why is EDI important?

To promote collaboration, creativity and ensure that people are treated as equals, with dignity and respect.

Aspirations for the Panel:

To contribute to positive change within the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences across a number of key areas.

Dr Lee Graves

him/he

Role

EEDI Panel Member Working Group F: Awareness and Engagement

EDI Aspirations

Why is EDI important?

Awareness of, respect of and action on EDI issues can enhance safety and a sense of belonging.

Aspirations for the Panel:

To help everyone feel safe, equal and part of something they truly believe in.

Professor Zoe Knowles

She/her

Role

EDI Panel member

EDI Aspirations

Why is EDI important?

EDI is important as it should inform inclusive decision making by challenging our thinking to appreciate different perspectives, characteristics and experiences.

Aspirations for the Panel 

To demonstrate sector leading work for the sport and exercise sciences.

Dr Danny Cullinane

him/he

Role

EDI Panel Member Working Group A: Students

EDI Aspirations

Why is EDI important?

Making EDI an active part of everyday conversations, actions and change gives us all the chance to contribute fully to their society, which means everyone benefits.

Aspirations for the Panel:

That we continue to champion an approach that encourages challenge and compassion within our communities.

Vicci Boyd

She/her 

Role

EDI Panel Member Working Group A: Students

EDI Aspirations

Why is EDI important?

All individuals should have the opportunity to utilise and harness their individual differences to make a change in the world. It is essential that we remove the barriers to achieving this.

Aspirations for the Panel:

To raise awareness of EDI and why it is important to embrace and support all individuals. To facilitate all opportunities for all individuals to shine and make a difference in the World.

Dr Colin Lewis

him/he

Role

EDI Panel Member Working Group F: Awareness and Engagement

EDI Aspirations

Why is EDI important?

EDI should be a priority for any organisation and thoughtful consideration will ensure that the working and/or learning environment here at LJMU is a fair and accessible setting for everyone. Encouraging EDI will help to empower people to bring out their best, within a welcoming and inclusive workplace.

Aspirations for the Panel:

To promote awareness and engagement in EDI related issues. To challenge and fight back against all forms of discrimination.

Prof Lynne Boddy 

She/her 

Role

EDI Panel member

Working Group A: Students

EDI Aspirations

Why is EDI important?

I believe all people should have equal opportunities to succeed, in whatever way that means to them. We know that this isn’t the case. The EDI work is key to helping us build an equitable workplace that purposefully addresses inequalities and allows everyone to succeed.

Aspirations for the Panel:

To make a meaningful difference in the working practices of the school and beyond, embedding EDI in everything we do.

Dr Amy Whitehead

She/her

Role

EDI Panel Member Working Group E: Representation in RISES

EDI Aspirations

Why is EDI important?

EDI allows for all people to feel important, heard and that everyone has a seat at the table. The more diverse we are, the more diverse our thinking and ideas, which in turn leads to a better functioning environment for everyone.

Aspirations for the Panel:

To keep doing the good work we are doing and to support the school in become the best version it can be.

Dr Tom O’Brien

him/he

Role

Co-Chair of EDI Panel  

Why is EDI important?

Everybody in entitled to respect, equality and fairness. Active efforts to achieve this allow us to become greater than the sum of our parts.

Aspirations for the Panel:

University is a place of hope and opportunity, the EDI panel works to ensure that this is experienced by all. 

Emily Wharton

She/her 

Role

EDI Panel member

EDI Aspirations

Why is EDI important?

Equity, diversity and inclusivity are essential to the development of a welcoming, educational environment where all students and staff can flourish.

Aspirations for the Panel:

To discuss how we progress, engage, and collaborate with staff and students to create a safe space to learn, discuss, and support marginalised groups.

Dr David Low

him/he

Role

EDI Panel Member Working Group C: Promotion and Professional Development

EDI Aspirations

Why is EDI important?

EDI is critical in order to facilitate equitable access, opportunities, and development of everyone in society and at work.

Aspirations for the Panel:

To advocate for and contribute to the implementation of EDI in the University’s vision and values across education, research and civic engagement. 

Dr Sigrid Olthof

She/her

Role

Working Group B Lead: Staff Member of the Data Team

EDI Aspirations

Why is EDI important?

Attention for EDI issues assures that staff and students feel valued and confident to develop and grow, regardless of their background.

Aspirations for the Panel:

Gradually building an EDI culture in the School with the ambition in being the frontrunner in all EDI related issues.

Dr Karl C Gibbon

Him/he

Role

EDI Panel Member Working Group C: Promotion and Professional Development Member of the Data Team

EDI Aspirations

Why is EDI important?

Regardless of one’s sex, gender, race, religion, sexuality, or disability, we all deserve an opportunity to succeed.

Aspirations for the Panel:

To be a small part in a programme of positive change. Leading to EDI being an integral part of the fabric of our community.

Professor Mark Hollands

him/he

Role

EDI Panel Member Working Group E: Representation in RISES

EDI Aspirations

Why is EDI important?

Our school is committed to produce world-leading research in all areas of activity. To achieve this, we need to attract the largest possible pool of researchers from all backgrounds and allow scholars to reach their full potential. This will result in in research that is stronger, more relevant, and more widely applicable.

Aspirations for the Panel:

To encourage EDI practices in all aspects of research activity e.g. recruitment of research staff and postgraduate students, design of research studies with EDI in mind, dissemination of findings to the widest demographic possible.

Dr Katie Hesketh

She/her

Role

Working Group C Lead: Promotion and Professional Development

EDI Aspirations

Why is EDI important?

It’s important that every person at LJMU feels supported, respected and valued regardless of who they are. By promote ng EDI within LJMU, it allows us to bring people together with different experiences and backgrounds, which creates an innovative working environment filled with people who feel needed and appreciated.

Aspirations for the Panel:

I hope that the panel can develop a culture whereby all staff and students feel safe, supported and celebrated within the School of Sport and Exercise Science. I would like to increase the amount of support provided to those who are from a minority within Sport and Exercise Science so we can increase representation and encourage future generations. 

Dr Allistair McRobert

him/he

Role

EDI Panel Member Working Group B: Staff

EDI Aspirations

Why is EDI important?

Nelson Mandela said it best… “Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mine worker can become the head of the mine; that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation”. As a son of a miner myself, higher education has afforded me social mobility and opportunities for me and my family, therefore in higher education we need to strive for equality, diversity, and inclusion so the many can benefit rather than a few.

Aspirations for the Panel:

To act as a conscience that encourages conversations and supports any actions that lead to change.

Bex Walker

She/her

Role

Student EDI Panel Member 

EDI Aspirations

Why is EDI important?

Open discussion and sharing of EDI encourages a culture of respect among all.

Aspirations for the Panel:

Why is EDI important?

Encourage supportive conversations to promote EDI between staff, students and across the SES community.

Dr Rebecca Murphy

She/her

Role

EDI Panel Member Working Group F: Awareness and Engagement

EDI Aspirations

Why is EDI important?

We, as human beings, are interdependent upon each other for pursuing happiness and in striving to reach our full potential in life – the EDI agenda has a role to play in promoting this philosophy amongst all stakeholders of our school.

Aspirations for the Panel:

To create a foundation from which all stakeholders and colleagues can approach work with a sense of cohesiveness and mutual respect.

Dr Ian Sadler

He/him

Role

EDI Panel Member Working Group A: Students

EDI Aspirations

Why is EDI important?

Creation of a positive staff culture and to enhance the student experience.

Aspirations for the Panel?

Embed EDI knowledge, skills and understanding within the curriculum in sport and exercise science.