Session Title – Understanding Unconscious Bias

This masterclass is designed to raise awareness and understanding of the fact that we are all susceptible to bias and prejudice. Becoming conscious of these biases allows us to address and overcome them so that we are enabled to promote and support diversity in our organisations. We will look at:

• The roots of unconscious bias

• The four categories of bias

• Strategies for reducing bias at both an individual and organisational level.

Facilitator – Jo Thomas

Jo has been working in education and business for over twenty years, firstly working with multicultural communities in South East London before relocating to Greece where she owned and ran private language schools. She currently holds the post of Academic Development Manager in Huddersfield Business School’s Learning Innovation and Development Centre. Jo is an interculturalist who has trained at the Intercultural Development Research Institute in Milan and the Japanese Intercultural Institute in Tokyo. In 2013 Jo established the School’s International Learning Development programme to support international students’ transition to UK HE. Jo is a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory and designs and delivers intercultural sensitivity and awareness training for students, staff, and external partners. Her PhD research focuses on intercultural sensitivity development for postgraduate Business students to increase their confidence to enter the globalised business world and work effectively in diverse teams. Jo is Diversity Champion for the Business School and leads on Community and Culture for the University’s Race Equality Charter working group. She is a member of the School and University’s international committees and works with UK students to encourage their outward mobility receiving external funding to support exchanges to Shanghai.