Four College Management Board members have taken on the role of Executive Sponsors for Imperial's equality and diversity networks

Executive Sponsors

Ensuring the College continues to make progress and fully meet our equality objectives, management board members – John Neilson, Dot Griffiths, Edward Astle, and Muir Sanderson - have enthusiastically taken on the role of Executive Sponsors.   This is a meaningful demonstration of top level sponsorship which gives more direct strategic input to our well established diversity networks. 

 The sponsorship roles cover disabilities, gender, race, sexual orientation and gender identity equality, with members of the respective networks greatly valuing the visible and proactive engagement of their sponsors.  The roles give network members a direct route to the highest management levels, increasing opportunities for influencing, and gaining significant intellectual capital and benefits from the take-up of these executive roles.    

Edward Astle, Pro Rector (Enterprise), Chair of the Rector's Equality & Diversity Committee, and Executive Sponsor of Imperial As One (IAO):

"I am delighted and privileged to have been asked to be the exec sponsor of IAO. I have seen in my corporate life the power of networks like this to influence and change, and IAO is already established here as a vibrant and supportive community which reaches out across the whole of College. It's also now providing a role model for other London universities."

John Neilson, College Secretary and Registrar, Chair and Executive Sponsor of the Disability Action Committee:

“I was very happy to be asked to be the member of the Management Board sponsoring the College’s work on disability, and pleased that I could chair the Disability Action Committee during my first week at Imperial. Having previously had a board colleague with a hearing disability, and taken over my last job from someone in a wheelchair, I know for myself how important it is for all to be enabled to play a full part in working life. It’s good that recently progress has been made at Imperial both in improving the level of staffing available to assist those with disabilities and in providing extra technological assistance. However there is still much to be done, not least in increasing willingness to declare and acknowledge the full range of disabilities, and I should be delighted to hear directly from anyone with ideas on how we can improve our provision at the College.”  

Muir Sanderson, Chief Financial Officer, and Executive Sponsor of Imperial 600:

“I am delighted to be the Executive Sponsor for Imperial 600. I believe passionately that our diversity is the key to Imperial’s success and that we all have the right to be judged purely on our merits. The College has made great progress in the past and I am sure has more to do in the future. I look forward to playing my part.”

Dot Griffiths, Acting Principal, Imperial College Business School, Chair and Executive Sponsor of the Academic Opportunity Committee:

“I have spent a great deal of my life challenging those who thought my gender might make me unsuitable or unlikely for particular roles.  I cannot see why gender, ethnicity, sexuality or differences in physical capacities affect what an individual can achieve. I am angry and disappointed with those who do think it makes a difference. This means that I am particularly pleased to have been invited to become a sponsor. I want every member of the College to be able to achieve their full potential."