BAME Staff Network

    • BAME staff network

  • Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Staff Network

    We are the Oxford Brookes Black, Asian, and Other Minorities Ethnic (BAME) Staff Network. Our network was launched to support the concerns and needs of both academic and professional staff from diverse groups within the university. Our aim is to provide a forum for us to connect, socialise and support one another on all issues relevant to our communities. Working closely with Brookes' EDI team, we actively promote issues of race equality and diversity across the university, offering a forum for consultation amongst our members while acting as a respected conduit, communicating all BAME-related issues to the university.

    Our network meets approximately once a month, giving members a chance to network with one another and voice their opinions. Our committee meets at regular intervals to develop the network and to act on issues raised by its members. Ultimately, we're here to Inspire, Inform and Influence all of our members to Be Ambitious and Model Excellence.

    For more information contact info-bamestaff@brookes.ac.uk

  • Our objectives

    • To create a culturally diverse and inclusive university across all faculties and professional services
    • To promote race equality through active involvement and consultation, with members from across the university, providing opportunities to inform and influence the university's policies and practices about BAME staff
    • To provide a safe environment for BAME members to let their voices be heard and share their experiences
    • To help create opportunities across the university for our members, supporting our members in their career development goals while providing pathways to encourage our members to apply for higher grades.

    Get Involved

    If you are interested in getting involved with the Brookes BAME Staff Network:

    Upcoming events

    Minutes from network meetings

    Read our minutes
    (available for Brookes staff only)


  • Roles within the network

    Lydiah Igweh

    Lydiah Igweh

    Director of Enterprise Support

    Chair, BAME Staff Network





    About

    Experienced in senior management including at Board Level with a demonstrated history of working in enterprise, employability, entrepreneurship development, and integrated marketing communications.

    Lydiah has extensive experience working within the private sector, public sector and education.

    As the Brookes Enterprise Support Manager, Lydiah leads on University-wide initiatives which support students, graduates and staff to take their entrepreneurial ideas forward. In addition, she is undertaking a PhD with Brookes Business School focused on Digital Leadership.

    She is a passionate advocate for social justice and as Chair of Brookes BAME Network, she is committed to inspiring and celebrating the excellence of BAME staff across the University and within the sector. In addition, to consider any issues important to the group, provide an opportunity to comment on a range of policies and to feed ideas into event and policy planning. She hopes the network will provide a platform for improving representation, progression and success of minority ethnic groups within higher education.

    Nina Epellé

    Nina Epellé

    HSS Faculty Marketing Officer

    Deputy Co-Chair, BAME Staff Network
    Communications and Community Engagement



    About

    Nina is a senior marketing consultant with a wealth of experience working in both private and non-profit industries. Prior to joining Brookes, Nina led numerous teams at a London-based creative marketing agency, helping global clients connect with their audiences through top-performing, multi-channel digital marketing campaigns.

    With a strong focus on maximising business profitability, Nina holds master’s degrees in Ecommerce (UCL) and Major Programme Management (Oxon). She is a powerful digital technologies champion and has a sustained interest in helping people and organisations achieve their greatest potential through mentoring and business coaching.

    Nina brings her extensive communications experience and digital marketing passions to the BAME Network. She is committed to helping the network improve its profile, extend its reach, and exercise the power of its collective voice. She hopes the network will continue to be a powerful beacon that shines a light on the accomplishments and successes of our BAME colleagues.

    Sola Adesola

    Dr Sola Adesola PhD, FHEA, MRes, LLM, LLB (Hons)

    Senior Lecturer & OBBS Athena SWAN/EDI Champion

    Deputy Co-Chair, BAME Staff Network
    Academic Development


    About

    Cranfield University alumnus Dr Sola Adesola is an international management and law specialist, researcher and director of studies with research interests in entrepreneurial role model, entrepreneurship development, energy policy, and university-industry collaboration, particularly university spinout. Sola has produced five successful PhDs and currently supervises four PhD researchers. She leads PG and UG modules in international organisations and corporate and business law respectively. She is currently a Visiting Professor at Kigali Business School, Rwanda and previiously a Visiting Associate Professor at Kwara State University, Ilorin, Nigeria

    She won grant awards from Oxford Brookes University and British Council and has published in leading international journals, participated in national and international conferences and co-organised a number of conferences including the COSINUS 2018 International Conference and the 1st Africa Enterprise Education Conference 2013.

    Myles Catley

    Myles Catley

    Administrator for Finance and Legal Services

    Secretary/Treasurer


    About

    Myles has been the Administrator for the Finance and Legal services since November 2019, gaining experience with events, finance and admin. He graduated from Oxford Brookes in 2020 with a 2.1 in Accounting and Finance.

    He has had three years of treasury experience through the Oxford Brookes University Drama and Improv society whilst also being the President for one year of it.

    In his role of Administrator for the Finance and Legal services in Brookes Enterprise Support he has helped process payments for external guests involved in programmes for Business start-ups. He has been working closely with Lydiah Igweh on the BAME staff network from early 2020 as the secretary/treasurer. He is an open contact for all members of the BSN and is a committed ally.







    Amanda Selormey

    Amanda Selormey

    Project Coordinator

    Events and Branding Officer



    About

    Amanda has worked as a project coordinator for the Enterprise Support team since July 2019. Her contribution to events and management started in her role as President of the African and Caribbean Society 2018/19 where she held an array of events to increase the representation and innovation of black students in higher education alongside the local Oxford community. She graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a second class honours in BA (Hons) Interior Architecture.

    Working closely alongside her manager and Director of Enterprise Support, Lydiah Igweh, Amanda has contributed but not limited to Freshers fair, Black History Month 2020 and the establishment of the BEHive Coworking Space in Headington. Through her voluntary role as events and branding officer, Amanda has enhanced branding assets to increase engagement and interaction to attract a diversity of backgrounds with Jude Perera, marketing specialist for the Enterprise Support Team and BAME Staff Network.


    Jude Perera

    Jude Perera

    Marketing Specialist

    Marketing and Communications Officer



    About

    Jude has been working for Brookes Enterprise Support as their in-house Marketing Specialist since January 2019. He conceptualizes the marketing strategy for Enterprise Support and initiates marketing and communications plans with his team in order to advertise the many programmes and events offered by Enterprise Support. Working with Lydiah Igweh, Director of Enterprise Support, he has conducted numerous campaigns to recruit student businesses to Enterprise Support as well as showcase their efforts to the University and the wider community.

    Jude has over six years of experience in Marketing in various sectors and is currently completing his MSc in Digital Marketing at Brookes.

    A member of the BAME Staff Network since May 2019, Jude has been working with Lydiah Igweh, Chair of the BAME Staff Network, to recruit new members, craft communications, expand the network and organize events. He is very passionate about diversity and is committed to expanding the BAME Staff Network.

  • Black History Month

    Events for Black History Month

    Join the Black History Month planning committee by emailing info-bamestaff@brookes.ac.uk

    Wall of BAME

    Hear from some of our staff