The theme of this years conference is 'The sum of many parts: Embedding intersectionality in HE practice,.
"There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives. Each one of us here is a link in the connection between anti-poor legislation, gay shootings, the burning of synagogues, street harassment, attacks against women, and resurgent violence against Black people." Audre Lorde 1982.
It has been over 50 years since US lawyer, scholar and activist Kimberlé Crenshaw first used intersectionality to describe the concept of interlocking systems of oppression experienced by Black women and the impact of interwoven marginalised identities. Since then, higher education institutions have begun to use intersectionality as a lens that can be applied to understand and address inequity – but to what effect?
Sapna Marwaha will be co-presenting the session 'Diversifying influence for more effective decisions: the use of shadow committees to enhance inclusive participation in strategic decision-making' with client and colleague, Sophie Daniels of Durham University.
The talk will focus on the use of Shadow Committees (SCs) at Durham University. This novel, experimental intervention, highlights how SCs enable under-represented groups to influence strategic decision-making, and thereby address a sense of disenfranchisement within the research community. Specifically, we will share our carefully designed inclusive recruitment process, including the use of positive action to ensure a balance of skills and representation across protected and unprotected characteristics.
We will provide tips on:
engaging staff and leadership
enhancing participation
developing future leaders
The session will provide attendees with an understanding of an innovative intervention that, despite limited usage to date in HE, is easily translatable. Specifically, the value of shadow committees in:
Bringing new perspectives into governance
Driving more inclusive strategic decision making
Developing a pipeline of future leaders
Improving use of best practice across governance groups
Driving connectivity across staff and senior executive
How to practically establish shadow committees, including:
How to build relationships with and secure buy in from staff and senior executives
How to develop an inclusive recruitment process
The value of reflective approaches that allow for course correction
Shadow committees are often used to bring in earlier career representation. We have opted to address multiple axes of underrepresentation, adopting an approach that considers protected and unprotected characteristics, as well as their intersection. We believe a balance of perspectives are necessary for more inclusive governance and decision making.
Durham University’s Wellcome-funded Reimagining Governance for a Flourishing Research Culture is trialling the use of shadow committees to diversify participation and perspectives in governance settings. Whilst rarely used in higher education, shadow committees have been shown to demonstrably improve inclusivity, engagement, and innovation in decision-making, and, consequently, generate better decisions, an enhanced sense of agency, and improved culture. The session will provide attendees with an overview of this innovative intervention, how it has been used, the impact it has had thus far on enhancing inclusivity, and the tools to trial this impactful intervention in their own higher education settings.
As consultant to the project, Sapna draws on her passion for diversifying boards and her experience of board participation and recruitment to support the design, recruitment, and operations of the Shadow Committees.
The Advance HE: Equality Diversity and Inclusion Conference 2025 takes place at the Crowne Plaze in Newcastle on 2-3 April 2025. Register for your place here.
댓글