Imperial As One Diversithon event image

The Race Equality Network for Staff and Postgraduate Students

Imperial as One Launched in 2005, Imperial As One (IAO) is an advisory group made up of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and postgraduate students and allies. This group helps set priorities and advises the College, particularly by examining customs and practices, the traditions of the College, and identifying how these impact staff. 

Imperial As One works to support and promote an inclusive workplace culture of respect, opportunity, unity, transparency, and equality, and will continually tackle and manage issues of racism, discrimination, fear, and prejudice. This was recognised in 2008 with IAO winning the Rector’s Award for Equality Excellence. In 2021 IAO won The President’s Medal for Excellence in Culture and Community and The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award for Culture and Community.


How to join Imperial As One

Imperial As One is also the network for staff and postgraduate students who identify as members of a minoritised ethnic community. Allies are also welcome!
To subscribe to the Imperial As One mailing list, please enter your Imperial email address on this web page.

Join the Imperial As One Team to access even more content 


Imperial As One Committee

If you would like to get more involved with the group, please contact a Committee member listed below, or email Imperial-As-One


Imperial As One Committee

Ada Mau

Ada Mau

Des Samuel

Des Samuel

Judith Cherni

Judith Cherni

Kellianne Bartley

Kellianne Bartley

Lou Lee

Lou Lee

Manjula Silva

Manjula Silva

Margaret Lawrence

Margaret Lawrence

Pei Lai

Pei Lai

Rebecca Smith

Rebecca Smith

Ruth Ntumba

Ruth Ntumba

Sarah Essilfie-Quaye

Sarah Essilfie-Quaye

Sharon Datt

Sharon Datt

Wayne Mitchell

Wayne Mitchell

Executive Sponsor

Belonging: Exploring our lived experiences

You have mastered your craft. - Marcia Philbin

Marking the incredible achievements of so many women on International Women’s Day, Dr Marcia Philbin discusses her inspirational journey to overcome illness, teachers' low expectations and workplace challenges to strategically navigate her way to be the Chief Executive of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine.

You have mastered your craft. - Marcia Philbin

You have mastered your craft. - Marcia Philbin

Dr Marcia Philbin discusses her inspirational journey to become a CEO

Marking the incredible achievements of so many women on International Women’s Day, Dr Marcia Philbin discusses her inspirational journey to overcome illness, teachers' low expectations and workplace challenges to strategically navigate her way to be the Chief Executive of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine.

Remember Your Dreams - Charlotte Prendergast

Remember Your Dreams - Charlotte Prendergast

Charlotte Prendergast describes her dreams of becoming a Headteacher from the age of 8 years old.

What’s your calling? Charlotte Prendergast describes her dreams of becoming a Headteacher from the age of 8 years old. Her tenacity and passionate beliefs enabled her to fulfil that dream at the age of just 36 when she became the Headteacher of an international school in Ghana. In her many years of teaching, she recognised the importance of connecting with young people and empowering them to believe and achieve more.

Mother was right - Dayne Beccano Kelly














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Mother was right - Dayne Beccano Kelly

Dayne recalls his journey in Parkinson's disease research

We all have problems that we want to solve. Dayne Beccano-Kelly recalls how his desire to fix his grandfather’s arthritic knee led to a lifelong fascination with Parkinson's disease research.

A Life Lived with Purpose - Debra Babalola

A Life Lived with Purpose - Debra Babalola

Debra Babalola shares her journey of finding purpose through the fulfilment of her vision.

Sometimes, life is more than just pass and move on. Debra Babalola shares her journey of finding her purpose through the challenge of the interdisciplinary program that saw the genesis of DotPlot.

Your mindset that makes the difference - Sheena Shah

Your mindset that makes the difference - Sheena Shah

How overcoming childhood cancer helps Sheena appreciate the gift of life

Overcoming childhood cancer makes you appreciate the gift of life. Sheena describes her journey from diagnosis, through chemotherapy, and bone marrow transplantation to recovery and how these circumstances have given her the passion to help others value how their contribution can have a great impact on other people's lives.

Resources

Library User

Imperial As One Reading List

Discover some of the fantastic books we have been reading or were recommended by our community for pleasure, research or interest.

This is a living list and we are happy to receive your suggestions for books, videos and other documents to add to the list.

View the reading list

Two women in conversation

Black Lives Matter Resource List

Resources to help you understand the Black Lives Matter movement in the context of both the UK and the US.

Included are resources of various media because let's face it,  not everyone likes to read ;-)

Help keep this resource list growing and your contributions are welcome.

Black Lives Matter Resource List (Login)

Students at work

Our Research

Staff Focus Groups Report
December 2020

Commissioned by Imperial As One, this report explores our members' experiences of racism as part of the Imperial community.

We also share suggestions for change put forward by members of staff at Imperial College London.

Download the report (pdf)

#BlackLivesMatter Statement

Racism is not a game it’s real, pervasive and takes away people’s lives. It’s everyone’s responsibility to examine their practice, check their behaviour and learn that there’s more that unites us than divides. No, it's not a chip on our shoulders, it's your knee on our necks. I can’t breathe."

Co-Chairs of Imperial As One

Yani King, Dr Sarah Essilfie-Quaye, Des Samuel and Dr Wayne Mitchell

Racism is real. In America, in the UK and around the world.
I can’t breathe.
To be witness to the televised murder of another person because of the colour of his skin.
To see the video spread out across the internet is heartbreakingly sad. It’s terrifying, brutal and dehumanising. This is not a film! This is one of life’s inequitable realities.
For years people of colour have spoken out against systemic racism that we live and breathe daily. We're told so often that we're just making it up. We're playing the race card.
Racism is not a game it’s real, pervasive and takes away people’s lives. It’s everyone’s responsibility to examine their practice, check their behaviour and learn that there’s more that unites us than divides.
No, it's not a chip on our shoulders, it's your knee on our necks.
I can’t breathe.
#BlackLivesMatter

Our full statement was also quoted in the article Imperial shows solidarity with protesters against racial injustice.

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Centre team have created a resource page on How to be a White Ally

The suggestions help to explain what it means to be a white ally and give examples of positive actions that can be taken to combat racism; in its explicit or subtle forms. They are drawn from many different sources. Although they focus on ways to support Black colleagues and students, equally they can help to support all people of colour within the Imperial community.