IDN BHM 2024 Webinar: Reclaiming Narratives - understanding the representation gap

October is Black History Month in the United Kingdom. The theme for 2024's Black History Month is "Reclaiming Narratives, marking a major shift towards recognising and correcting the narratives of Black history and culture.

Our webinar will explore and challenge some of the current narratives we see and hear around education, recruitment and career progression. 

Through reclaiming the narrative around Black peoples’ skills, ambitions, and opportunity access; this webinar will aim to dispel some of the myths / anecdotes we so often hear, about why Black people are not more represented in certain roles / industries.

This webinar is free of charge to attend. 

We are delighted that the following panellists will be sharing their insights and expertise:

• Ayo Barley, founder of Bakare Barley

• Frank Douglas, CEO at Caerus Executive

• Marcia Ore, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant, Coach, Mentor at Marcia Ore Consultancy

Panellist Bios

Ayo Barley

Ayo (pronounced “eye-oh”) Barley is founder of Bakare Barley Ltd, a Merseyside based Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Consultancy organisation. She is host of The Inclusion Exchange Podcast and is an Independent Advisor to Citizens Advice and is Chair of the Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in Postdoctoral Education (YCEDE) External Advisory Board.

She is an EDI Practitioner with 18 years of experience, and has an academic background in Social Policy. She has worked with people who are underrepresented in community and corporate settings including in science and engineering, health, the voluntary sector, higher education, and social care services.

Frank Douglas

Born in Mississippi, Frank spent the major part of his professional and personal life in New York City. However, for the last 20 years he has lived and worked outside the USA (over 17 years in the UK), most recently, as CEO of Caerus Executive.

Caerus Executive works with private equity firms, UK/international companies and professional service firms interested in maximizing the performance of their organizations through effective leadership, diversity, inclusion and transformational HR programmes. In five short years, Frank has grown Caerus to be one of the most respected consulting firms on diversity, inclusion, culture and leadership.

Caerus is the industry leader in providing ‘pure-play’ (they do not sell workshops, training, off-the-self solutions) strategic consulting services to more companies in more industry sectors than any other firm.

Marcia Ore

Marcia Ore is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant and Coach who delivers a range of services, mainly in the UK and North America. These include reviewing policies and practices, conducting cultural audits, acting as a grievance, investigations, and grievance appeal advisor, and coaching Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committees and employee resource groups.

She has developed her skills, knowledge, and experience by working and supporting individuals and organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors in the UK and internationally, demonstrating her adaptability and global perspective.

With over 30 years of DEI, coaching, mentoring, training, and facilitation experience, Marcia's journey began while serving as a Police Officer in the UK. 

After leaving policing in 2012, she has held several paid and voluntary roles across the public, private and voluntary sectors.

Marcia is  the co-founder of Women in the Shade (WITS), which held its inaugural conference in January 2024. WITS's vision is “Creating an environment where Black women’s talents, unique experiences, and perspectives are acknowledged, respected, and valued." She recently joined a mental health charity, Andover Mind, as their Community and Inclusion Lead.