Last month, we brought together trustees, sector leaders and EDI practitioners for our annual in-person event at PwC, exploring racial diversity, inclusion and power in charity governance.
We were delighted to welcome people from across the sector for an evening of thoughtful discussion, challenge and reflection on what it takes to build boards that are not only more diverse, but genuinely inclusive.
A huge thank you to Daniel Chan and the PwC team for hosting us and helping make the event possible, and to Becky Whitehead for all her support in planning and coordinating the event.
Beyond Representation: Building Inclusive Leadership and Governance was an opportunity to reflect on the progress that has been made, but also on how much further the sector has to go. Only 8% of charity trustees are from ethnic minority backgrounds, compared with 17% of the wider UK population – and representation alone does not guarantee inclusion.
Opening the event, our CEO Yeme Onoabhagbe spoke about the pressures currently facing charities and the risk that inclusion becomes deprioritised when time and resources are stretched.
“When systems are under the strain that they are in, inclusion is often the first thing to be deprioritised,” she said.
We then heard from a brilliant panel facilitated by Srabani Sen OBE, founder of Full Colour, alongside Aqsa Suleman, Talycia Nayee and Kishma Smithurst. The discussion explored how power operates within boards and how this affects who is heard, whose knowledge is valued and who is able to influence decisions.
Aqsa encouraged boards to ask some simple but important questions: who speaks the most? Whose voice tends to sway decisions? Who benefits from our decisions, and who bears the consequences?
The panel also highlighted that recruiting trustees from underrepresented backgrounds is only part of the work. Talycia reflected that she has yet to see a “100% inclusive board”, while Kishma spoke about the resilience it can take to challenge decisions when an environment does not feel psychologically safe.
One message came through particularly strongly: the difference between diversity and tokenism is inclusion. Bringing new people into existing structures without examining culture, behaviour and power will not create lasting change.
Malcolm John, Founder of Action for Trustee Racial Diversity UK – the predecessor to Board Racial Diversity UK – closed the event by reflecting on how the work began and thanking the partners and supporters who have helped us reach this point.
There is a role for all of us in creating more representative and inclusive boards.
Here are three ways to take action today:
- Work with us.
We support organisations through training, consultancy and practical advice to strengthen racial diversity and inclusion in governance.
Explore our brochure to find out how we can support your board. Get in touch with us to discuss your needs. - Become a trustee.
Our trustee vacancies database connects Black and Asian aspiring trustees in the Board Racial Diversity UK network with organisations committed to more inclusive governance. Join the Board Connects network to receive updates, including our weekly trustee vacancy emails. - Support others.
If you are a Black or Asian trustee with experience to share, consider supporting aspiring and newer trustees through mentoring initiatives such as Action Not Words (new cohort starting in October).