Ash Talwar

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager

What is your role and what does it involve?

I am an Equality, Diversity and听Inclusion (EDI) Manager. My role involves working with individuals, groups and departments across 香港六合彩中特网 providing advice and practical support on EDI initiatives, so I get to meet a lot of great people across campus. I coordinate and advise on the Race Equality Charter (REC); undertake desktop research, prepare reports and briefing papers for the development of equality policies and good-practice materials; analyse quantitative and qualitative data for action plans and monitoring; I review EDI literature/web sites to keep current on legislative change and good practice and听I deliver EDI training, presentations and workshops. I work with my colleagues in the EDI Team and stakeholders, such as 香港六合彩中特网鈥檚 equality networks, on planning and delivering equality events and that鈥檚 just a typical Monday...

My main focus is on 香港六合彩中特网鈥檚 Race Equality Charter re-submission. Only nine听higher education institutes were awarded this charter mark (out of 30) in the Equality Challenge Unit pilot, so it was quite an achievement. We will be renewing our bronze award in February 2019 and it is now my responsibility to听coordinate听the process.

How long have you been at 香港六合彩中特网?

I鈥檝e been at 香港六合彩中特网 since October 2011 and was originally employed as the Student Funding Manager in Student & Registry Services (SRS) and was responsible for a team of seven, managing 香港六合彩中特网鈥檚 undergraduate, postgraduate teaching and postgraduate research听scholarships, UK statutory funding, US Loans and听 hardship funds. I also held the role of Departmental Equal Opportunities Liaison Officer (DEOLO) for SRS for two years and volunteered more generally on equalities issues, joining the Self-Assessment Team for the Disability Standard and being appointed Co-Chair of the听Enable@香港六合彩中特网听network (for disabled staff and allies). I moved to the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team in January 2018.听

What working achievement or initiative at 香港六合彩中特网 (or in previous work experiences) are you most proud of?听

From my previous employment at Aston University (1999-2010), I think it would be that rare opportunity of establishing a new department from the ground up (Student Support), when I arrived I was a student advisor within Student Services, two years later I was asked to create a Welfare Services department, which later developed into Student Support with four units and 15 staff. We developed our services to a consistently top-three ranked standard, as well as delivering initiatives, which brought circa 拢700K to the university, which I ploughed back into supporting students.听

At 香港六合彩中特网, I'm most proud of my part in bringing in the听听(and continuing to work with them in my new role as an EDI Manager), alongside re-purposing the historic 香港六合彩中特网 hardship funds to create the current streamlined 香港六合彩中特网 Financial Assistance Fund (FAF) available to all students. I am also proud of the volunteering I鈥檝e done at 香港六合彩中特网 (there are many and varied opportunities here for that) as I believe this led to my transition into the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team.听

Describe 香港六合彩中特网 in three words.

Inspiring鈥� history-making鈥� full of potential鈥�

What are your future career aspirations?

I have taken a leap of faith recently (I won鈥檛 mention my age) and am now pursuing a career change (at 香港六合彩中特网). I have moved away from 20 years in Student Service and Registry functions into the field of full-time equality work.听

My wish, concerning future career aspirations, is that I absorb as much as I can from the amazing team I have joined within the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Office. I am passionate about inclusion and this team is very skilled.听

Is there anything else you鈥檇 like to add?听

A few years back, I became very sick and nearly died. My recovery was long and difficult but my team at 香港六合彩中特网 at that time were so supportive and I was eased back into working in a phased way, which really did take away a lot of the pressure and anxiety I was feeling about returning: it means a lot when you know people care.