Margaret Casely - Hayford, CBE.

Diversity Activism: to do or not to do?

Some say that activist movements like BLM and the Women’s Equality movements are counter-productive. Are they?

Margaret Casely-Hayford, CBE, is a British lawyer, business woman and public figure who is active in the public sector. She was appointed to the Chair of Shakespeare's Globe and Chancellor of Coventry University in 2018. Casely-Hayford has had a distinguished career in law as a Director of Legal Services and Company Secretary for John Lewis Partnership following on from 20 years with a City law firm.

Her portfolio includes advising young entrepreneurs, and supporting and advising organisations on governance and advising those, in particular women and BAME or LGTBQ+ people, who wish to embark upon board careers. She is passionate about establishing diversity on boards and is an ambassador of Board Apprentice.

She champions better governance and democratic processes, and this year, was appointed to the Institute of Directors’ Governance Advisory Board, and made a Fellow of the Institute of Public Impact.

The University of Oxford's Equality and Diversity Unit and the BME Staff Network are honoured to welcome back it's celebrated alumna to give this year's Black History Month lecture.