Social Inclusion Staff Award Winner

The 2025 Social Inclusion Staff Award winners are...

June

As we celebrate Warwick’s 60th year, we presented Social Inclusion Staff Awards at our annual Inclusion Conference to recognise staff who embody our commitment to creating a fairer, more inclusive university.

Professor Beccy Freeman, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), announced our shortlist at the opening of the conference and throughout the day attendees had the chance to vote for a winner in each of the following areas: Innovation Through Diversity, Belonging Through Culture, and Recognition Through Leadership. At the close of the conference, Beccy and Kulbir Shergill, Director of Social Inclusion, announced our winners:

Innovation Through Diversity:

We Are Chemistry / Dr Tom Ritchie, Adam Alcock, and Dr Reece Goodall

This award recognises individuals and teams who have demonstrated how diverse backgrounds, identities, or perspectives, have led to innovation and positive change.

We Are Chemistry is an award-winning initiative that transforms the student experience through authentic partnership, inclusivity, and innovation grounded in lived experience. By recruiting students based on their perspectives rather than CVs, We Are Chemistry empowers underrepresented voices to co-create impactful resources, cultural activities, and systemic change within the Chemistry department and beyond. Its student-led projects have addressed mental health, representation, lab safety, curriculum reform, and inclusive recruitment, while fostering collaboration across departments and influencing national EDI policy. We are Chemistry exemplifies how valuing student diversity leads to measurable outcomes and a more inclusive, innovative university culture.

^{Photo: Dr Tom Ritchie (left) and Dr Reece Goodall (right) accepting the Innovation Through Diversity award from Professor Rebecca Freeman at the Inclusion Conference.}

Belonging Through Culture:

APPPGR / Oliver Turner, Sara Hattersley, Tina Finlay, Judith Taylor

This award is recognises individuals and teams who have built inclusive environments where people feel seen, respected, and can achieve their potential.

The Academic and Professional Pathway for Postgraduate Researchers who Teach programme (APPPGR) provides a uniquely inclusive, reflective, and empowering learning space for 50-60 postgraduate researchers each year, supporting their dual identities as students and educators. With a strong focus on social justice, belonging, and student voice, the course enables participants to explore systemic inequalities, draw on real university data, and connect across disciplines. From intentional group work and inclusive teaching practices to personalised support and active alumni involvement, APPPGR fosters a vibrant, responsive community where early career teachers are equipped with the confidence and tools to shape a more inclusive academic culture at Warwick and beyond.

^{Photo: Oliver Turner (far left), Tina Finlay (centre left) and Sara Hattersley (far right) accepting the Belonging Through Culture award from Kulbir Shergill at the Inclusion Conference.}

Recognition Through Leadership:

Dr Anil Awesti

This award recognises individuals and teams who have shown visible leadership that has driven meaningful change on inclusion at the University and beyond.

For the past seven years, Dr Anil Awesti has been a driving force behind Warwick’s anti-racism work. Through initiatives like the Tackling Racial Inequality at Warwick (TRIW) programme, the WIHEA Anti-Racist Pedagogy Learning Circle, and the Anti-Racist Pedagogy Conference, Anil has led transformative change in staff development, teaching practice, and institutional policy. His leadership has been central to embedding anti-racism into Warwick’s Inclusive Education Model, Race Equality Charter, and wider sector engagement, with over 700 staff trained and measurable progress in understanding, confidence, and action taken. Anil’s impact has been recognised both internally and externally, enhancing Warwick’s profile as a national leader in inclusive education.

^{Photo: Dr Anil Awesti (right) accepting the Recognition Through Leadership award from Professor Rebecca Freeman at the Inclusion Conference.}

To recognise the work of our senior leadership colleagues (members of Warwick Leaders Forum), we also presented an inclusive leadership award:

Inclusive Leadership:

Professor Rebecca Freeman

This award is for senior leaders who champion inclusion at a strategic level.

Beccy leads the Inclusive Education Model, our institution-wide initiative designed to ensure that all students benefit from a diverse, inclusive, and student-centred education through co-creation with students, embedding diversity in the curriculum, supporting inclusive behaviours among staff and students, and reducing disparities in academic outcomes.

Additionally, Becky demonstrates authentic, values-driven leadership and is a role model for female academics and professional services staff.

^{Photo: Professor Rebecca Freeman accepting the Inclusive Leadership award from Kulbir Shergill at the Inclusion Conference.}

We also invited back a former colleague to celebrate many years of transformational support for inclusion:

Lifetime Achievement:

Christine Ennew OBE

As Provost at Warwick from 2016 to 2023, Chris Ennew was Executive Sponsor for sexual orientation – she was a visible role model for LGBTQUIA+ staff at the University, proudly wearing the rainbow lanyard since the allies scheme was initiated, being a member of the LGBTQUIA+ Taskforce, and featuring in the LGBTQUIA+ ‘In Conversation With…’ series.

Chris also supported our application to the Disability Smart audit, working to ensure that accessibility and disability inclusion were firmly on the agenda for the University and visible for all. She was the Senior Disability Champion for Leadership and Learning and Development. Her support in the development of the updated adjustments process was invaluable, securing a quintupled central budget! In addition, Chris Chaired the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee (now Social Inclusion Committee) for a number of years, creating a clear governance link for inclusion issues directly into Council and Senate.

^{Photo: Dr Christine Ennew OBE (left) accepting the Lifetime Achievement award from Kulbir Shergill at the Inclusion Conference.}

Want to know more?

Thanks to everyone who made a nomination for the award or voted for our winner during the Inclusion Conference. And a big thank you to everyone engaged in social inclusion work at the University. Read more on our shortlist for the awards and previous award winners.