The Race Equality Network for Staff and Postgraduate Students
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
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/Mau_-Ada-3X42.jpg)
Ada Mau
Des Samuel
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/181009_samuel_des3X4.jpg)
Des Samuel
Judith Cherni
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/Cherni_-Judith4X3-2.jpg)
Judith Cherni
Kellianne Bartley
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/administration-and-support-services/K-Bartley--tojpeg_1527671816213_x4.jpg)
Kellianne Bartley
Lou Lee
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/Lou-Lee4X3-2.jpg)
Lou Lee
Manjula Silva
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/manjjula.jpg)
Manjula Silva
Margaret Lawrence
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/margaret.jpg)
Margaret Lawrence
Rebecca Smith
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/Smith_-Rebecca-_4X3.jpg)
Rebecca Smith
Ruth Ntumba
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/Ruth-Ntumba-4X3.jpg)
Ruth Ntumba
Sarah Essilfie-Quaye
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/sarah-essilfie-quaye.jpg)
Sarah Essilfie-Quaye
Sharon Datt
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/sdatt3X4-2.jpg)
Sharon Datt
Wayne Mitchell
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/dr-wayne-mitchell.jpg)
Wayne Mitchell
Cynthia So
/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/data-science-institute/placeholder--tojpeg_1501078347247_x4.jpg)
Cynthia So
EDIC Liaison
Kalpna Mistry
Kalpna Mistry
EDIC Liaison
Executive Sponsor
Professor Mary Ryan
/prod01/channel_3/media/images/people-list/ryan-imperial-bw_1599168263937_x1.jpg)
Professor Mary Ryan
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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)
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.
