How to Identify Anti-Racist Staff and Leverage Their Power – A Guide for Black Academics and Students

1.15pm – 2.15pm BST, 1 April 2025 ‐ 1 hour

Room: Hall 11b

Workshop

This workshop will provide Black academics and students with practical strategies for identifying and working with genuinely anti-racist staff to navigate higher education and challenge systemic inequalities. Professor Winston Morgan will explore how institutional power structures operate and how minoritised individuals can leverage supportive allies to create meaningful change. The session will also examine the importance of mentorship, advocacy, and community-building in higher education, offering attendees a toolkit to recognise and engage with those who actively promote equity and justice.

Speakers

Professor Winston Morgan

Professor of Toxicology, Equity and Inclusive Practice, University of East London

Find out more

Dr Donald Palmer

MLSFF Steering Committee Member, Royal Veterinary College

Find out more

Professor Winston Morgan

Professor of Toxicology, Equity and Inclusive Practice, University of East London

I am Professor of Toxicology, Equity and Inclusive Practice working as a bioscientist primarily in Toxicologist, in clinical chemistry as a champion of Equality Diversity and Inclusion. My other important roles are as EDI leader for the school, a safeguarding officer, PGR course leader for HSB and REF Impact champion. I have also supervised over 20 PGR students to completion. In addition to Bioscience research, I am also involved in research and scholarly activity into factors particularly race and ethnicity which determine societal outcomes in higher education (awarding gap), health (inequalities) and medicine and have published widely in this area primarily in the media and opinion pieces. Media contributions include the Guardian, The Times, Times Higher, The Conversation, NPR in the USA, Channel 4, and on numerous occasions on BBC TV and radio news national and local. Many of my articles focus on the intersection of race, education, ethnicity, genetics, medicine, medical racism in societal outcomes.

Dr Donald Palmer

MLSFF Steering Committee Member, Royal Veterinary College

Donald has a BSc in Medical Sciences from Bradford University, MSc in Immunology at King's College London (KCL) and a PhD from MRC, Clinical Sciences Centre. As a post-doc, Donald worked in laboratories at Cancer Research UK and Imperial College London; in the latter he successfully obtained an MRC Career Development Award. He joined the Royal veterinary College (RVC), University of London in 2002 and is currently an Associate Professor in Immunology. Donald is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Immunology at Imperial College London, Visiting Lecturer at Cambridge University and University of East London and a Visiting Fellow for Reuben College, University of Oxford (one of the College’s inaugural Visiting Fellows).

His main research interest is focused on understanding the effect of age on the immune system and he teaches on several undergraduate and postgraduate courses, and also supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research projects. He is on the Editorial Board of various scientific journals and is currently a member of the British Society for Immunology (BSI) and the British Society for Research on Ageing. Donald was previously the Education and Careers Secretary for the BSI, a post he held for four years until June 2024.

Donald is deeply committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within academia and beyond, being actively involved in initiatives at his university along with being a member of both the MRC Black in Biomedical Research Advisory Group which among its aim is to advise MRC on equality and diversity-related, and Health Data Research UK Black Intern Programme Advisory Group, which aims to provide employment opportunity for Black people within the health data science sector.

Donald is passionate about increasing scientific awareness amongst the general public and fellow scientist, and also to encourage young people to consider a career in science by regularly contributing to public engagement activities, speaking at schools, colleges, community events and scientific festivals. He also actively participates in the university’s widening participation events. Donald is also Co-Founder/Co-Director of Reach Society, an award-winning social enterprise which aims to inspire young people to fulfil their potential. Donald is a Professional Mentor for Amos Bursary and the Chair of Governors at a school in North-West London.