Event Essentials
Wind down after a packed day at the Future Forum with our buffet-style Networking Dinner – a relaxed and welcoming evening for all delegates. The evening kicks off with a short welcome and sponsor appreciation segment, followed by a powerful spoken word performance by Roger Griffith MBE. Then, we’ll clear the floor and let DJ Charley Valentine bring the vibes for two hours of music, dancing, and celebration.
Dress smart, casual, or whatever makes you feel your best. Everyone’s welcome, just as they are.
We are delighted to have Merisha Stevenson guiding our conference. As a celebrated presenter from BBC Radio WM and an experienced broadcaster, Merisha has a profound knack for engaging audiences and steering conversations that touch on pivotal issues. Her extensive background in financial strategy and risk management, coupled with her passionate advocacy for empowering underrepresented voices, makes her the perfect host for our event.
Merisha is sure to leave a lasting impact on our conference, inspiring us all to embrace change and drive forward the cause of inclusivity in the scientific community, and ensure that every participant's voice is heard and valued.
Roger Griffith MBE is a writer, social commentator, and long-standing champion for equity and inclusion. With a career grounded in community engagement, creativity and lifelong learning, Roger brings a powerful voice to every space he enters – whether in lecture halls, on stage, or in front of a microphone.
Now an Associate Lecturer at UWE Bristol in the College of Arts, Technology and the Environment, Roger also leads on Diversity and Community Projects, drawing on decades of experience at the intersection of education, activism, and the arts. His journey includes serving as Executive Chair of the award-winning Ujima Radio CIC, where he helped develop real-life work experiences for young people, from St Pauls Carnival to the Black & Green project in partnership with the University of Bristol’s Cabot Institute.
A passionate educator, Roger delivers guest lectures across disciplines – from Creative Writing to Sport and Environmental Studies – always weaving in themes of identity, migration, social justice and race equality. His specialist area centres around the Windrush generation and its legacy, brought to life through his book My American Odyssey: From The Windrush to the White House.
Roger is also the founder and CEO of Creative Connex CIC, a consultancy and social enterprise rooted in cultural storytelling and equity. His contributions have been widely recognised: in addition to his MBE, he has received the Bristol Lord Mayor’s Medal for services to race equality and an Honorary Doctorate of Arts in 2022.
Whether through his writing, radio work, or dynamic public speaking, Roger continues to inspire others by amplifying unheard voices and creating space for new narratives to thrive.
Birmingham rising star Charley Valentine is a 25-year-old DJ known for creating vibrant and unforgettable sets. Blending hip-hop, R&B, dancehall, afrobeats and more, Charley has a natural ability to curate sounds that resonate with diverse audiences and keep the energy flowing all night long.
With more than 10 years of experience and a strong musical background, Charley thrives on bringing people together through music. Known for blending crowd favourites with unexpected gems, their sets stand out by delivering tracks you don’t hear every day, setting them apart from the rest.
With a career stretching from local venues in Birmingham to stages across the UK and internationally, Charley has built a reputation for versatility and crowd connection. Each performance reflects not just skill but a deep passion for music and storytelling through sound.
