The Equity Edge Podcast Out Now!
The Equity Edge is all about shaping tomorrow’s foundation industries, with a focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and how it can help us achieve a sustainable and fairer future.
We welcome expert guests across the foundation industries. These are the industries that make 75% of the materials we see around us, and are fundamental to modern society. They are: cement, metals, ceramics, glass, paper and chemicals.
Join us for discussion topics vital not only for our future workforce, but for the future of the foundation industries.
We bring together themes ranging from gender, race and ethnicity, LGBTQ+, disability, intersectionality and more… to environmental sustainability, decarbonisation and circularity… and on to leadership, early careers and organisational cultures.
Meet the hosts
Professor Sue Black OBE
An award winning Computer Scientist, Technology Evangelist and Digital Skills Expert, Professor Sue Black was awarded an OBE for “services to technology” in the 2016 Queen’s New Year’s Honours list. She is Professor of Computer Science and Technology Evangelist in the Department of Computer Science at Durham University, a UK government advisor, thought leader, Trustee at Comic Relief, social entrepreneur, writer and public speaker. Sue set up the UK’s first online network for women in tech BCSWomen in 1998 and led the campaign to save Bletchley Park. Sue’s first book Saving Bletchley Park details the social media campaign she led to save Bletchley Park from 2008-2011, it has been an Amazon UK bestseller.
Jo Stansfield
Jo is TransFIRe’s Senior Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Project Manager, and Founder of Inclusioneering Limited, a social enterprise supporting engineering and tech organisations with data-led culture transformation for diversity, equity and inclusion.
Jo began her career as an engineer, developing enterprise software for global industry. Having pivoted her focus from the technical to human dimensions of engineering, Jo now works as a Business Psychologist. Jo has held leadership roles in industry, and shared evidence with government about inclusion in tech and engineering fields. She is a Trustee for BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, and Board member of AI ethics and audit charity, ForHumanity.
Episode 1 – Perceptions, Practice and Progression
In this first episode of The Equity Edge, hosts Professor Sue Black OBE and Jo Stansfield are joined by three guests: Professor Mark Jolly, Dr. Shini Somara, and Dr. Rhys Morgan. They launch the series by explaining the concept of foundation industries and their importance.
Episode 2 – Changing workplace culture within the chemicals industry
In this episode Sue and Jo are joined by Kyra Sedransk Campbell, Lisa Nicholas, Mark McBride-Wright and Paula Furtado Kohn. This rich discussion spans from learning about everyday products produced by the chemicals industry, to the need for psychological safety to underpin greater equity and inclusion in the workplace.
Episode 3 – Sustainability and Inclusion: A concrete conclusion
In this episode, we are joined by Veronika Elfmarkova, Ollie Folayan, Masoud Ahmadinia, and Jack Daly. The conversation covers the link between equity, diversity and inclusion and sustainability, and how cohesion may be an answer to some environmental challenges.
Episode 4 – Engineering Everyday: Technology, Innovation, and Inclusion with Glass
In this episode, Sue and Jo talk to guests Roma Agrawal, Fiacre O’Donnell, Furkan Karayel, and Neelam Mughal. Discussion touches into how glass is made, and the design and engineering of The Shard in London, the tallest building in Western Europe. The guests share insights on the role of inclusion unleashing innovation in glass and the foundation industries as a whole.
Episode 5 – Routes-in and the Roadmap for Change within Ceramics
Hosts Professor Sue Black and Jo Stansfield are joined by guests Abigail Bell, Katy Moss, Colin Church, and Silvia Grimaldi. They discuss the process of manufacturing ceramics, while considering the environmental and social impact of manufacturing, and how culture can be shifted through co-design and integrated leadership approaches to create more inclusive environments.
Episode 6 –Diversity, Functionality and Versatility: Paper
Hosts Professor Sue Black and Jo Stansfield are joined by guests Graham Ormondroyd, Jude Allen, and Natanael Bolson. We learn about the manufacturing, functionality and versatility of paper and packaging, with a focus on sustainability, skills shortage, the circular economy, and attracting and developing people with suitable skills.
Episode 7 – Production, Protection and Provision: Metal
Host Jo Stansfield is joined by guests Pam Murrell, Katherine Evans, and Jon Bolton. We consider how inclusive is metals manufacturing for workers of today and in the future, and examine the need to widen the workforce through policies that make the industry accessible for all. Discussion focuses on PPE, facilities, mental health and wellbeing issues, and recognition that “one size fits no one”.
Episode 8 – Fit for purpose: Fit for the Future
In this episode of #TheEquityEdge we wrap up the series by focusing on the future. Hosts Professor Sue Black OBE and Jo Stansfield are joined by guests Bruce Adderley, Nana Campbell, Laura Baker, Aston Fuller. Our industry experts explore what lies ahead. They discuss environmental issues such as transitioning to green steel, and future challenges such as ways to replenish the recruitment pipeline and building collaborations across industries.
Bonus Episode – Celebrating Women in Engineering
In this bonus episode of The Equity Edge, recorded live at the TransFIRe final event, we mark International Women in Engineering Day, to raise the profile of women in engineering, celebrate their achievements, highlight the amazing engineering career opportunities available to women and girls, and explore the important role of allies. Hosts Professor Sue Black OBE and Jo Stansfield are joined by Sarah Connolly, Lorraine Ferris, and Lucy Smith.
Bonus Episode – Disability and Neurodiversity in Engineering
In this second and final bonus episode of The Equity Edge we focus on disability and neurodiversity in Engineering. Hosts Professor Sue Black OBE and Jo Stansfield are joined by Martin Griffin. Martin recommends support for employers to adopt to ensure they become disability and neurodivergent inclusive, and how to adopt a more inclusive culture at work.