A highly respected diversity, inclusion and human rights consultant will host a talk during a Black History Month conference being hosted by St Andrew's Healthcare. 

Professor Carol Baxter CBE has made a substantial impact on equality, diversity and human rights policy and practice across a number of organisations both nationally and internationally.

The conference, hosted by performance artist and poet Richard Grant (AKA Dreadlock Alien), will mark the start of Black History Month taking place on Friday, October 1.

A key team from St Andrew’s featuring Executive Medical Director Sanjith Kamath, CEO Katie Fisher and Lead Chaplain Kartar Singh Bring have also been lined up to present, with Wendy Irwin, Head of Equality and Diversity at the Royal College of Nursing, also taking to the floor. 

Cheryl Nyabezi, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at St Andrew’s, said: “We’re hugely honoured that Professor Baxter has agreed to take part in our Black History Month conference. She has more than four decades of experience working across the health and social care, private, voluntary and academic sector at a local national and international level.

“I urge as many St Andrew’s staff as possible to join the event as we gather together to celebrate black history and reflect at how far we’ve come as a society. I am also looking forward to discussing the best way forward in ensuring everyone at St Andrew’s and beyond feels supported.”

Professor Baxter is also well known for her academic research into the discrimination and harassment encountered by black and minority ethnic and overseas nurses. Her work helped bring the issue to a national platform providing the subject with some much needed attention.

Professor Baxter, who is currently Principal Research Fellow in the Department of Primary Care and Public Health at Imperial College London and a Trustee at the Employer’s Network for Equality and Inclusion, said: “The theme for the conference is ‘We’re all in this together’ and I want to instil this message so each and every participant is reminded of just that.

“We all know how disruptive the pandemic has been so it’s important we all come together and remember that no one needs to fight the cause alone.

“I’ve had a long and varied career and I plan to talk about what I call my ‘Life Hacks’ which will involve me sharing my journey and skills that I’ve picked up along the way.”

The conference is hosted via Microsoft Teams and starts at 930am, finishing at 3pm: Click here to join the meeting