Venue: Millenium Theatre, Technological University of the Shannon, Moylish Park, Limerick, V94EC5T
There is a strong commitment across the Higher Education sector in Ireland to support, embed and drive best practice in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Following on from the inaugural Equitas conference which took place last year in SETU, this year’s conference in TUS aims to provide an opportunity to reflect on work to date in the Higher Education sector, share best practice and provide a platform for new and emerging research and action on key aspects of equality, diversity and inclusion.
The conference will be held in TUS Moylish Campus, Limerick on the 23rd and 24th of May 2024. This conference is open to academics across disciplines, researchers, graduate students, managers, EDI practitioners, administrators, and all who are interested in EDI in Higher Education.
Keynote Address: How Wellness Works (with Lisa Cuthbert)
Millennium Theatre
14:50 – 15:40
Parallel Sessions 3
15:40 – 16:00
Comfort break
16:00 – 16:45
EDI Landscape in Higher Education, Book Launch & Panel Discussion
Millennium Theatre
16:45 – 17:00
Summary
Gala Dinner begins with a wine reception at 6.30pm in The Strand Hotel, Top Floor. Followed by a Gala Dinner at 7.00pm with guests and music.
Day 2 – Friday 24th May
Time
Session
Room
9:00 – 9:30
Registration, Networking & Refreshments
Millennium Theatre
9:30 – 10:20
Keynote Addressfrom Advance HE: Nicola Rollock
Millennium Theatre
10:30 – 11:20
Parallel Sessions
11:20 – 11:40
Comfort break
11:40 – 12:45
Certain Individual Women – A Play by Julie Morrissey, concluding with a fireside chat
Millennium Theatre
12:45 – 13:00
Concluding Session
Millennium Theatre
Keynotes
Professor Nicola Rollock
Professor Rollock is a consultant and author who stands out for her ability to cut through the noise of current debates around racism with academic rigour, forensic analysis and precision. She is Professor of Social Policy & Race at King’s College London and Distinguished Fellow, Faculty of Education at the University of Cambridge. She works cross-sector with policymakers and organisations as a strategic advisor, cultural consultant and public speaker. Professor Rollock helps people think critically about how they understand racial justice and, as a result, implement better strategies for change.
Nicola Rollock will deliver a keynote address on Friday 24th May at this year’s Equitas EDI in Practice in Higher Education Conference in TUS Moylish.
Roxanne Hobbs
CPCC PCC DWF CDTLF, Diploma of Applied NLP: Autism Coaching
Roxanne is a certified co-active coach who is also trained in the work of Brené Brown. She is passionate about the diversity and inclusivity agenda believing that we need to remove the barriers to success in the workplace and create cultures where people can show up as themselves and be valued for it. Her background is in the media and creative industries and she strongly believes that the skills needed there – including creativity and innovation – are rooted in diversity, authenticity and vulnerability.
Roxanne was a managing partner at a top media agency and so understands the pressures at a senior level in this industry. She coaches extensively in media agencies, creative agencies, media owners and FMCG marketing departments. She founded The Hobbs Consultancy initially to effect change for women in the advertising industry. Since then, she has come to realise that it isn’t the women that need fixing and that it is not just women who face barriers in the workplace. She is also the founder of the Masculinity in the Workplace conference – designed to bring men along to the gender conversation, and explore how both men and women are held back by gender stereotypes. Roxanne is an experienced coach, facilitator and public speaker.
Roxanne Hobbs will deliver a keynote address on Thursday 23rd May entitled Courageous Leadership at this year’s Equitas EDI in Practice in Higher Education Conference in TUS Moylish.
Dr Lisa Cuthbert
Dr Lisa Cuthbert is the new Mental Health Ireland CEO
Lisa comes into the organisation with a wealth of experience as a CEO and leader in the not-for-profit charity sector. She has extensive experience of working with people who have experienced substantial challenges in their lives including homelessness, addiction, offending and mental health challenges.
As an experienced leader, Lisa has developed a range of person-centred, strengths-based services designed to support people in dealing with a wide range of challenging experiences. Lisa has also worked to bring people together in various networks to address sectoral issues and to ensure that people are getting access to the services they need. Lisa is an experienced Board member, policy maker, researcher and public speaker and has guest lectured on a variety of third level courses. In addition to her role as Mental Health Ireland CEO, Lisa is a current member of the Parole Board.
Dr Lisa Cuthbert will deliver a keynote address on Thursday 23rd May at this year’s Equitas EDI in Practice in Higher Education Conference in TUS Moylish.
Certain Individual Women
Artist Julie Morrissy developed her poetry-play ‘Certain Individual Women’ as a response to inherent gender equality in Irish law and society. Actors from Fishamble Theatre Company will perform excerpts from the play, followed by a fireside chat with the artist.
Intersecting Identities
An exhibition showcasing works surrounding equality, race, class and gender
Students of LSAD in TUS – Fiona Nolan, Aoibhinn Harding, Sam Comerford and Jeremiah Thomas Segero – are organising an exhibition of works in the Millennium Theatre foyer as part of this year’s Equitas conference. This project is part of a work placement for these four students. The students put out an open call which closed in March and have gathered together works from artists in a variety of mediums on themes of equality, race, class and gender.
Pictured below (from L – R): Fiona Nolan, Aoibhinn Harding, Sam Comerford, Jeremiah Thomas Segero
Themes
We are pleased to reveal the themes for this year’s Equitas conference. The conference will explore 4 overarching themes on equality, diversity and inclusion, as outlined below.
Intersectionality in practice
The term Intersectionality, coined by Kimberle Crenshaw, helps explain how each individual has multiple identities and is subject to various forms of intersecting oppressions. It was initially used to explain the intersecting oppression of race and gender, as experienced by Black women. When we try to address grounds of discrimination in silos, we fail to gain a true understanding of power and oppression, and could further exacerbate existing inequalities.
This theme aims to explore how we can move beyond a theoretical understanding of intersectionality in its broadest sense and share practical examples of how an intersectional approach has been taken in EDI work in Higher Education.
Embedding EDI in Higher Education: Supporting Culture Change by Moving Beyond the Echo Chamber
There is a strong movement to embed EDI principles and practice within Higher Education, however this is not without its challenges. While there may often be strong support for EDI-related work, it may sometimes feel like conversations and initiatives are happening with the same group of engaged people. How do we support broader culture change in EDI within our organisations?
EDI in a Data-driven World
This theme aims to explore the challenges regarding EDI and Data. This thematic area might explore successful strategies for collecting EDI related quantitative data with the following subthemes in mind; Explorations on the tensions between a push for collecting more expansive equality related data within higher education and data privacy issues related to this; Reflections on collating data on sensitive topics under our commitments to Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment Framework; research and practice using qualitative EDI related data and supporting culture change through the power of personal stories; research and practice on navigating EDI conversations through social media; research and practice on navigating Artificial Intelligence through an EDI lens.
Supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workforce from an EDI perspective
There are many synergies between workplace health and wellbeing and equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This theme aims to examine aspects of these synergies and look at best practice in this space. This thematic area focuses on well-being in the workforce initiatives that have applied an EDI lens; or EDI related initiatives or research that has directly impacted workplace health and wellbeing.
Book your Place
No VAT applies to conference prices.
2-day rate: 23-24 May w/ refreshments on arrival, lunch & evening dinner on 23rd – €230
2-day rate: 23-24 May w/ refreshments on arrival, lunch – no evening dinner on 23rd – €190
1-day rate: either day w/ refreshments on arrival & lunch – €130
TUS has a special rate for rooms with The Strand Hotel. This is where the Gala Dinner will be with music and guests on the evening of the 23rd of May. To avail of these room rates, please contact reservations@strandlimerick.ie quoting TUS Equitas at time of your booking. You must reserve rooms before March 22nd.
In addition to the foundational support and sponsorship provided by Advance HE, the following companies and businesses have kindly sponsored Equitas 2024 – Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in Higher Education Conference:
The Apple Farm
We value diversity and inclusion at work, because we live in a diverse society, which makes society better, and the workplace can be a space within which people get to interact with other people that they might not naturally meet in the course of daily social interaction, thus increasing understanding of difference among people, as well as showing that we all have much in common with each-other, regardless of background. (Cornelius Traas – The Apple Farm)
