Self-Assessment Team

Professor Fiona Beveridge, Chair

Professor Fiona Beveridge is Executive Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences. Fiona, a Professor of Law, specialises in international and EU law. She especially focuses on foreign investment law and gender equality law and policy. Fiona has expertise in gender mainstreaming and its implementation in international institutions, the EU, and individual states. Fiona is the Chair of the Race Equality Charter Self-Assessment Team at the University of Liverpool.

Dr Raheela Awais, Deputy Chair

Dr Raheela Awais Senior Fellow of Advance HE and the Director of the integrated masters of Biological Sciences program. Raheela has extensive experience in learning and teaching in multiple geographical locations and educational frameworks. This made her aware of the needs and interests of the ethnically diverse staff and student community. Raheela has received numerous fellowships and awards for her work in partnership with students and colleagues to embed equality, diversity, and inclusivity in the curriculum. She advocates the importance of exploring the intersection of minority-racialized identities to promote a truly inclusive culture.

Karishma Asher, Secretary

Karishma Asher is the University’s Race Equality Officer, and Secretary to the REC SAT. Her role seeks to embed race equality in the University’s policies and practices. Karishma identifies and promotes best practices in race equality through knowledge sharing. She develops and delivers training and online resources, and supports staff development activity. Karishma’s ongoing work includes the development of the University’s REC application and action plan. She supports the implementation of REC at institutional and local levels.

Professor Lilian Otaye-Ebede, Sub-Group Chair, Community Visibility & Staff Experience

Lilian Otaye-Ebede (PhD) is a Professor in Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour. Lilian's research focuses on diversity management (race/ethnicity, gender, neurodiversity), strategic HRM, work/life interface and employee wellbeing. She chairs the Race Equality Charter (REC) Community Visibility & Staff Experience sub-group and sits on the REC SAT committee. She is a Representative-at-large of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Division of the Academy of Management US. Lilian is on the Board of Directors for the Open Eye Gallery UK, advising on HR & race equality. Lilian regularly collaborates with external organisations to help put research into action. She helps develop solutions to real-world challenges of management, especially in the areas of race equity and inclusion.

Professor Gita Sedghi, Sub-Group Chair, Culture & Student Experience

Gita Sedghi is a Professor of Chemistry Education in the Department of Chemistry. She is the Director of Equality, Diversion and Inclusivity (EDI) in the School of Physical Sciences at the University of Liverpool. Gita has a National Teaching Fellowship and Principal Fellowship of the Advance HE. Her teaching innovations include internationalisation, EDI and peer-assisted learning. These innovations show her inclusive approach to and respect for various learning needs. Providing inclusive teaching for a diverse community of students is Gita's teaching philosophy. Her university role as the Chair of the Culture & Student Experience Subgroup (part of the SAT) exemplifies her commitment to EDI.

Phil Hopwood, Sub-Group Chair, Data

Phil Hopwood is the Interim Director of Strategic Planning. Phil provides effective processes for strategic and operational planning across the University. Phil's expertise in this area aids him in overseeing the datasets that underpin the REC self-assessment process.

Dr Zainab Hussain, REC member

Dr Zainab Hussain is Senior Lecturer at the School of Health Sciences. Zainab qualified as a diagnostic radiographer and later specialised in MRI imaging and research. She has been teaching radiography education for more than 25 years. Zainab has worked as School of Health Sciences Widening Participation Lead, and IPH Lead for Equality and Diversity. She has also been a Chair of Athena Swan for the Institute of Populating Health (IPH). Zainab is currently Chair of the BAME staff network and also a member of the Advance HE Race Equality Charter Governance Committee. She is also a Chair and panellist for Advance HE Race Equality charter applications. Zainab is working with colleagues across the University in the development of an inclusive curricula tool.

Vasiliki Samuels, REC member

Vasiliki Samuels is the current President of the Liverpool Guild of Students. Vasiliki studied Law as a student here at the University of Liverpool (joining in 2019). Vasiliki was elected President of the Guild of Students in March 2022. Vasiliki's main areas of interest are in education policy, particularly the University’s extenuating circumstances processes. The safety of students in the night time economy and the equality, diversity and inclusion work adopted by the Guild and the University. Vasiliki was the student contact for the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) submission in 2022/23. She is also a member of the REC Self-Assessment Team.

Sabina Frediani, REC member

Sabina Frediani is the University’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs. Sabina oversees internal communications, media relations and social media management, research communications, political and civic affairs and corporate events. She has worked as a communications professional for 25 years. Before joining the University in 2018, she held a number of roles including Head of Campaigns at the human rights advocacy group, Liberty. She is a Trustee of the peace and conflict resolution charity and the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation. Sabina has written and spoken on human rights and civil liberties issues including counter-terrorism laws, the Human Rights Act, young people’s rights and personal privacy.

Mary Moran, REC member

Mary is the Head of Organisational Development, Equality & Engagement and a member of the Academy and HR leadership teams. Mary provides strategic direction for the equality, engagement and OD portfolios. Mary and her team help faculties develop an inclusive culture and achieve their strategic goals. They support leaders and colleagues to exemplify the University’s values and achieve their potential. Mary is an HR professional with over 25 years of experience, including leading the team responsible for diversity and equality in a Local Authority. In her voluntary role as Chair of Governors for her local Secondary Academy, she has undertaken the role of Link EDI Governor.

Katherine Roscoe, REC member

Katherine (Katy) Roscoe is a Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology. Katy joined the REC SAT while she was still a Research Fellow and Co-Chair of the Research Staff Association. Katy wanted to represent Early Career Researchers to help identify EDI issues faced by academics early in their careers. Katy's research explores the over-representation of racially minoritised people undergoing punishment historically and as a post-colonial legacy. This background informs her understanding of Liverpool as a multicultural city resulting from its historic role in slavery, the multi-generational racial inequalities in the city region and the University’s role in tackling embedded racialised inequalities for its staff and students.

Holly Nicholls, REC member

Holly Nicholls is Head of Diversity and Equality. Based in The Academy, she leads the Diversity and Equality team and works closely to support the wider HR function. Holly’s primary role is to work with colleagues across the University to embed equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing in all that they do. Holly is currently leading the development of new Equality Objectives for the institution. She co-ordinates the University’s involvement in relevant charter marks, including the REC and Athena Swann.