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Profiles of the members of the Race Equality Steering Group
Co-Chairs of the RESG
Mike Sulu
I have been at UCL since 2013, but I also completed my undergraduate studies here, so have seen the institution change and evolve over nearly 2 decades. I am no the Co-Chair of the RESG, having taken up many EDI roles within the university prior to this, I am now able to focus more in race as well as bring in the consideration of multiple disadvantages. My current role is within the Department of Biochemical Engineering and is a hybrid role between Research Technician / Research Fellow and a Teaching Fellow. My overarching goals during my tenure as Co-Chair of the RESG include, supporting staff at lower grades, raising awareness of institutional problems and holding people accountable for them, as well as, highlighting the amazing work other members of the institution do, to promote equity for both staff and students.
Terrie Fiawoo
Members of the RESG
Jess Bharj
I have been at UCL for over 25 years and started working in the Department of Medical Physics as the IT Support Officer. I now work as Lead Software Tester in ISD. I joined the Race Equality Steering Group for a number of reasons but mainly because BME Staff were not recognised for their work and contribution and wondered how this could be promoted within our department and UCL as a whole. Being a member of this group, I have seen that progress is being made and with the dedication of all the members, I hope this will continue. It is also very enjoyable to be part of this group and the wider network. I am one of the events leads for the group.
Paulette Williams
I work in Student and Registry Services as Head of Student Success, leading a team of staff who deliver interventions to support marginalised students. This work builds on a major project that aims to improve outcomes for BAME students by addressing the BAME awarding gap and looks to create environments at UCL where all students thrive. I joined the RESG because I value equality in education and believe that Black and Asian students and staff at UCL should feel their contributions are valued, that they belong and that they are supported to excel here.
Maki Kimura
I'm Maki, Teaching Fellow in Gender and Politics. Before joining UCL, I undertook many projects as a researcher exploring the experience of black and minority ethnic students and staff in universities including, 'The experience of Black and Minority Ethnic Staff in Higher Education in England' funded by Equality Challenge Unit. Through these projects, I have learnt that it is important that universities acknowledge that some BME students and members of staff go through negative experiences in their institutions. While it poses a lot of challenges in the area of policy and practice, I still believe an intersectional approach to race equality is vital.
Prince Saprai
I am currently Professor of Law and Deputy Dean for Strategy in the Faculty of Laws. I work on philosophical puzzles in private law with a special focus on contract law. I am also interested in broader questions about the ethics of markets, transnational private law and the regulation of new technologies. Previously I was the first Vice Dean for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (2019-2022) and BAME Awarding Gap Lead (2018-2022) in Laws and I have been a member of the UCL Race Equality Steering Group since 2012. I am absolutely committed to working with all colleagues and students to promote race equality objectives at UCL.
Marcia Jacks
I have been at UCL for over 15 years, my current role is Institute Manager for Women's Health. I have been part of the RESG Group since its inception and feel I can offer my own experience into the group. As a senior manager I can influence my colleagues both junior and senior and can help to bring about awareness of issues that affect ethnic minorities and make suggestions on how inequalities can be addressed at work, not just for BME staff but other groups too.
Xine Yao
I joined RESG because as a scholar of race, gender, sexuality, and disability I believe that my praxis has to involve a commitment to intersectional social justice in the spaces and institutions I inhabit. Research, teaching, and institutional citizenship are intertwined: to this end, I am also on the Advisory Board of the Sarah Parker Remond Centre and the co-director of qUCL, the queer studies network.
Toyin Agbetu
I am a lecturer of social and political anthropology at University College London and a community educator at Ligali, a Pan African, human-rights based organisation. I have been with UCL since 2016 and use a scholar-activist approach to challenging Afriphobia and the misrepresentation of African people, culture and history in the media, public spaces and public services.
Before joining UCL I was a community educator delivering formal and informal education that combined a liberatory, museological and critical pedagogical approach. I now teach modules on topics such as Decolonising, Nationalism, Ethnicity and Racialisation, all of which are grounded by my expertise on reparatory and social justice approaches to tackling cultural and structural violence.
I joined the Race Equality Steering Group as eradicating racism in an institution as large as UCL requires a creative, collaborative, interdisciplinary approach. I am not 'neutral' on ethical matters and contribute a form of engaged praxis to the group that synthesises grassroots and institutional forms of activism for meaningful, sustainable change.
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