Eleven higher education professionals from universities and research institutes from across the UK have completed a development programme run for staff from underrepresented groups who are interested in joining a board.
Wellcome funded the ‘Success on the Board‘ pilot programme for two years and last month (September 2023) committed to fund a further three cohorts of the annual programme.
At the event attendees heard from Wellcome board member Dame Cilla Snowball, as well as from Harriett Howlett, senior consultant at board recruitment specialists Perrett Laver, about the importance of Board diversity.
Analysis of the diversity of UK university and research institute governing body membership, as well as data on governance from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, indicates that there is an underrepresentation of certain minoritised groups on Boards, compared with the sector and society at large.
Kim Ansell from Advance HE, who also leads the Advance HE ‘Supporting Inclusive Boards’ initiative, said: “This celebration of success is just the beginning and the impact of this programme will continue to help in our mission to improve Board diversity in Higher Education”