Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice

About us

The Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice was established in 2004. It is a centre which specialises in inter-disciplinary research and knowledge exchange on gender, diversity and inclusion in organisations, the economy and society. Its work spans gender issues in the workplace, work-life balance, age discrimination and extending working lives, LGBT, religion or belief, social mobility and human rights.

Specific areas of expertise:

  • Women and leadership
  • Age diversity and working lives
  • Religion and belief
  • Public Sector Equality Duty
  • Work/life balance
  • Re-imagining equality

Main activities:

  • Interdisciplinary research linking legal and human resource management perspectives to inform equality policies and practices in the workplace
  • Knowledge transfer events to facilitate debate and discussion on equality and diversity issues between academics, policy makers, trade unions, senior managers and equality specialists
  • Consultancy and knowledge exchange to assist organisations to develop and implement equality programmes through reviews of equality policies and practices; development and implementation of action plans and training for public and private sector organisations.
  • Applied research which brings together academics and practitioners to take an evidence-based approach to developing policy best practice in managing workplace equalities
  • Fostering policy and research relationships with policy makers, trade unions, other agencies, and academic institutions to facilitate debate and discussion

two female scientists working in a lab

Related courses

Research impact

people in a meeting around a desk

The Centre brings together academic and management expertise from the University's Faculty of Business, School of Law and Social Sciences, and the Directorate of Human Resources. Its main activities include: interdisciplinary research linking legal and management perspectives to inform equality policies and practices in the workplace and around; events to facilitate debate and discussion on equality and diversity issues between academics, policy-makers, trade unions, senior managers and equality specialists; consultancy and knowledge exchange to assist organisations in developing and implementing equality programmes.

The impact of the Centre's research helps practitioners and policy-makers to take an evidence-based approach to develop policies and practices on equality and diversity. The Centre aims to create a virtuous circle between research, knowledge exchange and impact.

Leadership

Anne Laure Humbert

Professor Anne Laure Humbert

Professor

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Charikleia Charoula Tzanakou

Dr Charikleia (Charoula) Tzanakou

Co-Director of CDPRP and Reader in Human Resource Management

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Membership

Staff

Name Role Email
Dr Sola Adesola Senior Lecturer in Business and Management sadesola@brookes.ac.uk
Dr Catherine Dilnot Senior Lecturer cdilnot@brookes.ac.uk
Dr Karen Handley Reader in Work & Organisation khandley@brookes.ac.uk
Professor Nick Rumens Professor in Business and Management nrumens@brookes.ac.uk

Projects

Active projects

Project title and description Investigator(s) Funder(s) Dates

Women and Spinouts: A Case for Action

EPSRC From: November 2018
Until: August 2021

Educational Choices at 16-19 and Adverse Outcomes at University

Dr Catherine Dilnot Nuffield Foundation From: April 2019
Until: November 2021

Exploring women participation in Nigerian Universities

Dr Sola Adesola British Academy From: April 2020
Until: September 2022

UK-Brazil Gender Equality Partnerships

Dr Charikleia (Charoula) Tzanakou British Council From: October 2021
Until: October 2022

CASPER

Professor Anne Laure Humbert Horizon 2020 From: January 2020
Until: March 2022

GEARING-Roles

Professor Anne Laure Humbert Horizon 2020 From: January 2019
Until: December 2022

Violence Regimes

Professor Anne Laure Humbert Swedish Research Council From: March 2018
Until: June 2020

Virtually the same thing as in-person internships?

Dr Charikleia (Charoula) Tzanakou ESRC From: September 2021
Until: August 2023

UniSAFE

Professor Anne Laure Humbert From: February 2021
Until: January 2024

RESISTIRE

Dr Charikleia (Charoula) Tzanakou European Commission From: April 2021
Until: September 2023

Completed projects

Project title and description Investigator(s) Funder(s) Dates

COMBAT Human Trafficking

European Commission From: September 2014
Until: October 2016

Gender and Nursing as a Profession

Professor Anne Laure Humbert RCN From: January 2019
Until: December 2019

Gender Diversity Impact

Professor Anne Laure Humbert Horizon 2020 From: March 2018
Until: September 2018

Women’s Representation and Diversity in the Horseracing Industry

Dr Kate Clayton-Hathway The Racing Foundation, Kindred From: May 2016
Until: April 2021

Consultancy

Our research informs and helps to change policy and practice and shape debates in key areas including gender, diversity, work-life balance and age discrimination. Our interventions influence the way senior managers develop policies to manage their workforce, and shape legal thinking.

We provide consultancy services where we can act as independent partners, providing insight and advice based on our broad research-based experience and knowledge to help organisations to develop their gender and diversity strategies and manage potential risks related to gender and diversity issues.

woman smiling at a whiteboard