Join us for the 7th Annual Inclusivity Conference 2026 showcasing belonging in action

The 7th Annual Inclusivity Conference returns on Thursday, 11 June 2026, reinforcing our commitment to building a university where everyone feels recognised, respected and able to thrive. The conference is open to all staff and students to join for free. 

Date: Thursday 11 June 2026

Time: 9am to 4.30pm

Venue: Millennium City Building, City Campus and online

Book here

This year’s theme, “Belonging in Action: Valuing Every Voice, Every Journey,” shifts the conversation from aspiration to practice. The conference brings staff and students together to explore what belonging looks like in action across our learning environments, workplaces and wider communities, and how inclusive values can be embedded into everyday behaviours, leadership approaches and decision‑making.

The conference programme offers a rich and engaging blend of strategic insight, lived experience and practical reflection. It includes senior leadership contributions setting out the University’s priorities for inclusivity and belonging, a Board‑level panel discussion examining governance, culture and accountability, nationally recognised keynote speakers, and interactive breakout workshops led by staff networks and students. Together, these sessions create space for thoughtful discussion, shared learning and meaningful action, encouraging participants to reflect on how they can help foster inclusive cultures within their own roles and communities.

Opening the conference, Angela Spence, Chair of the Board of Governors, will set the tone for the day, followed by reflections on belonging at the heart of Strategy 2035 from Vice‑Chancellor Professor Ebrahim Adia. Throughout the morning, senior leaders will explore themes including leading inclusivity through belonging, designing inclusive physical estates, and launching the University’s renewed Race Equality Charter (REC) Plan, demonstrating how strategic intent is being turned into practical action.

A central highlight of the programme is the Board‑level panel discussion, “Governing for Belonging,” bringing together members of the University’s Board of Governors to examine leadership responsibility, institutional culture and accountability at the highest level.

The conference will feature two keynote speakers whose work and personal journeys strongly reflect this year’s theme:

Professor Inez Brown
A trailblazing lawyer and governance leader with more than two decades of experience in corporate leadership, regulation and organisational change. Professor Brown is Chair of the Board of Trustees of Black Cultural Archives and an Aston University Vice‑Chancellor Professional Fellow, where she provides strategic leadership on equity, diversity and inclusion. Her keynote will explore leadership accountability, systemic change and what it means to embed belonging at an organisational level.

Stephen Seki
A dynamic motivational speaker and qualified pharmacist, Stephen Seki shares an inspiring life journey shaped by migration, resilience and achievement. His keynote will focus on unlocking potential, reframing challenges and recognising the value of every individual’s journey, offering powerful insights into how belonging can be nurtured through mindset, empathy and opportunity.

In the afternoon, the conference will spotlight Valuing Every Voice, Every Journey through a series of interactive breakout workshops led by University staff networks and students, showcasing good practice, collaboration and real‑world experience. The day concludes with the launch of the University’s new EDI Strategy for Impact, reinforcing the institution’s ongoing commitment to turning values into action.

The Inclusivity Conference is open to all staff and students, regardless of role, discipline or background. Whether you are new to conversations around inclusion or already actively engaged, the event offers valuable opportunities to listen, learn, contribute and connect. 

Find out more and book