IDN Webinar: Beyond Black History Month – Now What?

Now that Black History Month 2025 has drawn to a close, the question remains: how do we sustain the momentum and move from symbolic celebration to meaningful, structural change?

Join us for a thought-provoking webinar:
Tuesday, 09 December 2025
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (GMT)
Online via Microsoft Teams

Our expert panel will explore what real progress looks like in dismantling systemic barriers, embedding equity in organisational culture, and ensuring Black history and voices remain visible all year round.

Panelists:

• Frank Douglas, CEO & Founder, Caerus Executive
• Ayo Barley, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist | Managing Director, Bakare Barley
• Marcia Ore, DEI Consultant & Coach and Co-Founder, Women In The Shade

Together, they’ll reflect on leadership accountability, inclusive culture, and the practical steps needed to create lasting impact beyond October.

Don’t miss this important conversation, register now and be part of shaping what comes next.

Panelist Biographies

Ayo (pronounced “eye-oh”) 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 over 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 - Born in Mississippi and raised in the South Bronx (New York City), one of the most underprivileged areas in the U.S., Dr. Frank Douglas has built a remarkable career, marked by leadership, innovation, and advocacy for diversity and inclusion. While much of his professional and personal life was spent in New York City, for the past 20+ years he has lived and worked internationally, with over 17 years in the UK. He is currently the CEO of Caerus Executive; a firm he founded to drive organisational transformation through effective leadership and HR programmes.

Before founding Caerus Executive, Frank held senior HR leadership roles, including Executive Vice President and Group HR Director for Misys (now Finastra), where he played a critical role in the company’s turnaround. He has also served as Group HR Director for Scottish & Newcastle, Transport for London (TfL), and as Head of HR for British Telecom’s New Wave Solutions. Earlier in his career, Frank held various commercial and consulting roles with companies like Towers Perrin and International Paper in the U.S. Frank has served on the Board of the CIPD and has been inducted into HR Magazine's “HR Hall of Fame.”

Frank was the first—and remains the only—Black male to serve as Group HR Director for a FTSE 100 company and sit on its main board.

Marcia – 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."  Marcia has recently been invited to join the Board of Trustees of Safe Arbour.