Courtesy of Kelechi Dibie (NU-REN Executive Committee Member), Naomi Oosman-Watts (Vice Chair, NU-REN Executive Committee).
NU-REN (formerly, BAME Staff & PGR Network) was conceived when three academic colleagues and PGR (Dr Audrey Verma (GPS), Prof. Elaine Campbell (GPS) and Vidya Sarangapani (ECLS) came to with the idea to apply to the University’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Fund (EDIF). The initial idea was to use the fund for social activities that will bring together BAME colleagues in HaSS. However, following a meeting with the HaSS EDI Director and Officer, Dr Verma and team were advised to consider applying for funding to set up a staff network for all BAME staff across the three faculties at the University.
Following the meeting, Kelechi Dibie (HaSS EDI Officer) expressed interest in supporting Dr. Verma and her group with the application process, as she has prior experience of setting up and co-ordinating staff networks in a previous public sector role. Dr. Samiksha Sehrawat (HCA) was later co-opted to support the application process, as she was equally interested in the idea of a staff network. Successful funding applications to the EDI Funds for the 2017/18 academic year resulted in an award to the above HaSS colleagues to establish the first ever Network for University staff of all grades and PGRs, who identify as Black, Asian or from any other minority ethnic backgrounds.
A key rationale for the proposed Network was to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and co-development of engagement, consultations and interventions for BAME employees across board, and the proposed BAME Network was expected to have a link into the University’s Central Self-Assessment Teams (SATs).
Outreach and membership
Following the award, the group began to explore ways of making itself known across the University. At this point two PGR colleagues: Olutayo Korede (NUBS) and Yang Li (PGR) were co-opted to form part of the initial team who applied for the funding. With collaboration amongst members of the group, Olutayo Korede and Kelechi Dibie worked on a flyer which announced the emergence of a Network, to be used as the initially publicity material. A sample of the poster is shown in Figure 1.
2017/18: Changes in Leadership and Advisory Group Membership
In late November 2017 one of the founding members, Vidya Sarangapani (PGR) took a break to take up an internship opportunity in India. Changes in circumstances, Research Leave and completion of programme, meant that some of the founding members were unable to give the same level of commitment to leading the Network, which at this time still had no formal leadership structure nor an Advisory Committee. Subsequently, as a need to arose to take up a career opportunity elsewhere, Dr. Verma handed over the reins of the Network leadership to Dr. Mohammed Shoaib who led the Network from summer of 2018.
2018/19 – 2020/21: Network leadership under Dr. Mohammed Shoaib
Dr. Shoaibu led the Network with the support of the following Advisory Board Members. Dr. Shoaib’s tenure as the Chair of BAME Network came to an end in February of 2021, when he left Newcastle University. Prior to his departure from the University, Dr. Trevor James agreed to take on the role as acting Chair of the BAME network until a new chair can be elected later in the year.
Feb 2021 to date: Leadership Under Acting Chair -Dr. Trevor James
As at this date, the Advisory Group noted a few changes in its membership with colleagues either due to changes in their personal circumstances, leaving the University or completing their programmes have ceased to be Advisory Board Members. A few more members have equally joined the Advisory Group with a keen determination to be proactive in activities to build NU-REN. Current members of the Advisory Group include: Vi Parker; Lishan Sung; Naomi Oosman-Watts; Simon Kometa; Anjam Khan; Anne Oyewole; Edward Okello; Ekaete Efretuei; Fatima Ulhuq; Gaurav Kaushik; Kelechi Dibie; Malasree Home; Meenakshi Swamy; Nana-jane Chipampe (PGR), Sathya Gunasekaran; Umbereen Moir; Vidya Sarangapani (PGR); Vivek Nityananda; and Wanja Kimani.
Appointment of New UG Intern: Avneet Sandhu (UG) became a new intern appointed to support the Network with essential administrative work, which until recently have been undertaken by one or two members in addition to their substantive role.
Change of name to NU-REN
One of the initial actions undertaken by Dr. Trevor James following a comprehensive review and deliberation over the Network’s current name was to organise a vote. The Network conducted a voting exercise based on number of suggestions put forward by members of the advisory group. At the end the voting period, Newcastle University Race Equality Network (NU-REN) emerged the preferred new name by an overwhelming majority. The Network officially became known by this name effective from May 2021.