Speakers

Professor Emmanuel Adukwu

Deputy Head of Department, HAS - Applied Sciences, University of West of England

Professor Emmanuel Adukwu is an academic and Deputy Head of the School of Applied Sciences at UWE Bristol. With a profound commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in science, he serves as a key member of the 'Black in Biomedical Research' Advisory Group (BBRAG). The BBRAG was established to address the underrepresentation of Black heritage researchers in the UK biomedical sector, in collaboration with the Medical Research Council (MRC).

Professor Adukwu's extensive experience in academia and his dedication to equality make him a pivotal figure in shaping initiatives that aim to support marginalised groups within the life sciences. Through his work, he actively advocates for the inclusion and representation of Black and other marginalised researchers, striving to influence policies that reflect the needs and experiences of these communities.

As a speaker at the Minoritised Life Scientists Future Forum, Professor Adukwu will bring invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by underrepresented groups in life science research. His leadership and advocacy play a crucial role in driving transformative changes in the scientific community.

Professor Kevin Fenton

Regional Director, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (London)

Professor Fenton is a senior public health expert and infectious disease epidemiologist, who has worked in a variety of public health executive leadership roles across government and academia in the UK and internationally. He led in London’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and oversaw the national review of disparities in risks and outcomes, leading to recommendations which shaped a more equitable COVID-19 pandemic response, both nationally and locally. As a result, the ground-breaking ‘Beyond the Data’ report was published.

Professor Fenton is the Regional Director for London in the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities within the Department of Health and Social Care, and the statutory Public Health Advisor to the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority and the Regional Director of Public Health for NHS London. He provides leadership across London for health and wellbeing, prevention of ill health, health protection and reduction of health inequalities.

Professor Fenton is also the President of the UK Faculty of Public Health and the government’s Chief Advisor on HIV and Chair of the HIV Action Plan Implementation Steering Group to oversee the delivery of the new HIV strategy for England. He was named by Powerlist as the second most influential black person in Britain in November 2020 for his work leading the fight against coronavirus and his public health leadership in tackling inequalities, and was awarded a CBE in the 2022 New Year honours list for services to public health.

: @@ProfKevinFenton

Irene Hulede

Education Director, American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

Irene Hulede serves as ASM’s Education Director, a senior staff member for the American Society for Microbiology (ASM).  In this capacity, Hulede oversees the development and implementation of trainee and faculty programs and services in the microbiological and biological sciences and leads educational activities, various external grants and cooperative agreements in this role. Irene Hulede joined ASM’s Education Department in 1994. She is responsible for the delivery of signature ASM programs, including ABRCMS, ASM MOSAIC Program, ASM Conference for Undergraduate Educators (ASMCUE), career and workforce development programs, including online learning and ASM fellowship programs for undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral scientists.

Currently, Hulede is the project director and co-principal investigator for ABRCMS and principal investigator for ASM MOSAIC Program and ASMCUE. In her work, she adheres to best management practices to leverage ASM’s resources and maximize investments. She is responsible for developing strategic goals to advance education and professional and career development in the microbial sciences; executing policies and practices to achieve program goals; overseeing the development and implementation of ASM education initiatives and meetings; and leading ASM efforts that promote a culture of inclusion to achieve diversity in science; and providing smooth and efficient services that meet the expectations of members, target audiences, partners, volunteers, and consultants. Her position plays a leading role in recruiting and developing volunteers, staff, and subject-matter experts and forming and sustaining partnerships and collaborations with various disciplinary societies, organizations, and educational institutions.

Throughout Hulede’s 30-year tenure at ASM, she has mentored trainees at different levels of their career trajectory and worked closely with faculty to facilitate a mentoring program to ensure the success of the future generation of scientists. She is responsible for over $15M of external funding, including partnerships with the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Burroughs Wellcome Fund and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. In the past, she managed the ASM Fellowship Fund, an endowment fund that supports undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral fellowship and a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more than 20 years.  

Under her leadership, the ASM education program has been recognized with several honors, including the Presidential Award for Mentoring Underrepresented Minorities in Science, Math, Engineering, and Technology and the 2019 AIMBE Excellence in STEM Education Award, awarded for contributing to the advancement of underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; diversifying the biomedical sciences and biomedical engineering workforce; and providing students from groups underrepresented in science with early exposure to the profession. She serves on national advisory committees of several organizations, including the National Summer Undergraduate Research Project (NSURP), Understanding Inventions, the Leadership Alliance IPERT program, and ACCESS+ STEM program. 

Professor Louise Owusu-Kwarteng

Professor in Applied Sociology, and Associate Dean for Student Success, University of Greenwich

My name is Professor Louise Owusu-Kwarteng, and I am a proud British-Ghanaian Londoner, who hails from Nottingham.

I am a Professor in Applied Sociology, and Associate Dean for Student Success in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences (FLAS) at the University of Greenwich, where I have worked since 2005. My research challenges negative narratives around Black academic attainment. Other research interests include around ethnicity and identity, and sociological auto/biography. Currently, I am collaborating with staff and students from our BA Hons Animation programme on an animated auto/biographical exploration of my journey to professorship, entitled ‘Our Kid from the North of the South of the River’ which will be shown at this event. I was also our institution’s inaugural Undergraduate Research director which was housed in FLAS between 2018-2022. In this role I oversaw 25 Staff-Student collaborative projects and shared best practice internationally, including at the Council of Undergraduate Research in the US. Prior to this I successfully led the BA and Combined Honours Sociology programmes. Everything I do informs my teaching, support of students and work as an Associate Dean.

As I always say, there is more to me than my job. My brothers will tell you that I am a terribly bad bass player, with a ‘diverse’ music taste (some may say ‘eclectic’ less kind people have called it a mess). In my Spotify and YouTube playlist, you will find anything from from late 60s African highlife, 90s rave and hip hop to 2010s bass house and anything in between. I have been a Nottingham Forest Supporter since I was 4. Naturally I am very pleased about our progress, and we are coming for Arsenal. Finally, I possess an impressive range of trainers (largely sparkly), and bling jewellery. Basically, you’ll see me coming!

Professor Leanne Williams

Professor, University of Warwick, and Academic Lead, LearnSci

Prior to working in HE Leanne gained extensive experience in technical and research supporting roles, working on both the C.elegans and Human genome project at the Sanger institute, shortly followed by a senior research assistant position in University of Cambridge Biochemistry department. Leanne then taught for many years FE, before completing a PhD at the University of Nottingham.

In 2012 she joined the University of Warwick as a Teaching Fellow. Her experience in FE, and a focus on identifying and minimising transitional barriers, provided a framework for institutional recognition winning the Warwick award for teaching excellence. As Senior Tutor and Director of student wellbeing Leanne affected cultural change in placing student wellbeing and representation at the front and centre of curriculum development, provision and support. The impact was again recognised with the Warwick award for Personal Tutor Excellence. Leanne continues to lecture at Warwick, whilst also full-time Academic lead for LearnSci, drawn to their progressive and innovative support of technical and analytical skills, and the vast potential for edtech to add value and equity of opportunity for both learners and practitioners.

Leanne is participating at the Future Forum to showcase her career journey; the challenges and barriers she has faced and how she has used these as learning opportunities to work towards her goals. You will hear how recognising and embracing yours and others’ positionality and expertise can help us build a more equitable and inclusive scientific community that values diverse perspectives, challenges systemic biases, and ensures everyone has opportunity to thrive.