Buckinghamshire New University launches new Equity Board
Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) is pleased to announce the formation of a new Equity Board, which will become operational in autumn 2025. This initiative reflects the University’s ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment for all staff and students.
The Equity Board will bring together internal colleagues and external experts to provide strategic insight and constructive challenge on equity-related matters. Meeting twice a year, the Board will serve as a sounding board for key issues and contribute to the development of BNU’s future Equity Action Plan.
The Board will replace the University’s existing EDI Committee and will be supported by internal networks and ad hoc “Thinking Groups” that will engage staff and students in addressing specific equity topics.
Professor Damien Page, Vice-Chancellor, said: “At BNU, we want to do things differently. Not for the sake of it, but because we believe in doing what’s right. We’ve made real progress in creating a more inclusive and equitable university, from our inclusive recruitment practices to our award-winning student support. But we know we’re not there yet – and we’re not pretending to be. Our Equity Board will be diverse in thinking. It will be a space where diverse voices – from within and beyond BNU – can come together to challenge us, support us, and help us grow.”
Rachael Cornwall, Chief People Officer, said: “We have much to be proud of: our inclusive recruitment approach resulting in improved diversity; our nil disability pay gap; diverse representation across our professoriate, to name but a few. However, we have a long way to go, and we accept that true inherent and instinctive inclusivity is unlikely to be commonplace in our lifetimes. At BNU, we are continually reviewing how we can improve and how we can be better, not in the form of tick boxes and initiatives but in things that really make a difference to our people and ways that make us feel uncomfortable, challenged. Our new Equity Board is a continuation of this work to challenge our thinking and drive our equity journey.”
Membership will include senior leaders such as the Vice Chancellor, Chief People Officer, and Owen Francis, Director of Alumni Global, alongside a rotating Chair and a mix of internal and external members from diverse backgrounds. The Board will operate transparently, with meeting notes shared internally and progress regularly reviewed.
Expressions of interest are currently being invited from anyone who wishes to contribute to the Board’s work, with four positions available for external people. Interested individuals should contact vice.chancellor.office@bnu.ac.uk by 30 June 2025.
This development is part of BNU’s broader strategy to embed equity into its culture and decision-making processes.