Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Services
About
King’s College London is a civic university in the heart of London. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the best international players, connected to local, national and global networks. We have a proud heritage and a clear vision for the future: We aspire to the very highest standards of education, research and service.
Our intention is to embed equality, diversity and inclusion in to everything we do. We want our policies, practices and processes to empower individuals to be able to contribute fully. We want King’s to reflect the diversity of London, and for our doors to be open to anyone with the capabilities to succeed.
Why Equality, Diversity & Inclusion matter
As an employer and educator, King’s recognises its legal duties as well as the moral imperative to promote diversity and inclusion within the campus community and to provide a safe and healthy environment for work and study where staff, students and other members of the King’s community are treated with dignity, courtesy and respect.
The work of EDI not only ensures that King’s meets and upholds its legal obligations in regard to equality and anti-discrimination law, but also makes positive interventions to embed the ethos diversity and inclusion into policy, processes and everyday practice, working to eliminate barriers to participation and success.
If you are a King's student or member of staff, you can check out the diversity of King's using our EDI Dashboards which present you with visuals of the data that we use to inform our projects and interventions.
The EDI Operating Model
In the spirit of Functional Alignment and improved professional service in terms of coordination, end to end service delivery and resource efficiency, we are creating a sustainable university wide EDI operating model aligned with the HR transformation that sets direction and provides appropriate resources to each faculty.
As a result, we have developed a model with two teams: We take the approach that EDI needs to be embedded, and we support the university to do this through our expertise and skills.
Consultants
The primary function of the Consultancy Team is to design, develop and deliver university wide projects and to raise standards across King’s. Consultants have twin responsibilities around leading a major university portfolio and providing consultancy on key university priorities. The Consultancy Team work across King’s to add value through technical knowledge and specialist skills – providing expert perspectives, methods and approaches.
Projects & Partnerships Team
The primary function of the Projects & Partnerships team delivers services and projects on behalf of the D&I subfunction and our partners in faculties. The Projects & Partnerships team works across the university to add value through our expertise and specialist skills – providing expert perspectives, methods and approaches.
Members of the Partnerships & Projects team work a proportion of their time embedded in seven of nine faculties, the remainder of their time is spent delivering university-wide projects and services.
Governance
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion is a key enabler of King's Vision 2029 and our EDI governance structure has been designed to embed EDI throughout all structural levels of the College. Accountability for EDI within King's sits with the College's Council, who delegate to the President and Principal who works with the Senior Management Team (SMT) and Academic Board to deliver actions.
The Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee (EDIC), is currently chaired by the Dean of King's (historically chaired by the President and Principal), and has been created as a sub-committee of the SMT to oversee and monitor the implementation of King's Equality, Diversity & Inclusion strategic goals. The EDIC meets termly during the academic year and membership comprises of senior representatives from across the College.
Working alongside the EDIC is the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Forum (EDIF). The EDIF is a body for staff and student voices and it comprises of diverse members who represent the breadth of perspectives of the King's community. It provides the EDIC with insight into staff and student community experiences. Members are representative of their respective areas and are expected to communicate key issues and updates, acting as a key link between local community and King's governance and decision-making structure.
The Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Cap (Combined Action Plans) is accountable for the delivery of the university wide EDI programme action plans, and for the integration of actions and initiatives into business planning. The group seeks to realise the opportunities of bringing multiple action plans, action owners, staff and student voices together for a holistic and intersectional approach to tackling shared challenges.
If you have any questions about EDI governance at King's please email diversity@kcl.ac.uk.
Contact Us
We welcome enquiries from staff and students on any matter related to equality, diversity and inclusion.
For general enquiries, please email diversity@kcl.ac.uk
If you have a query that relates to your Faculty or School, please refer below for information on your relevant EDI practitioner:
Lorraine Kelly – Director for Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Lorraine’s leadership spans a range of staff strategies including positive workplace culture activities, mental health and wellbeing initiatives, leadership and management programmes. Her expertise and commitment is central to King’s focus on driving a culture where our staff and students can thrive, feel they belong and have every opportunity to contribute effectively.
Helena Mattingley (she/her) – Head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
I am the Head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion for King’s College London. I manage several large pieces of work as well as the operational side of the team. I lead on the institutional gender equality work through the Athena SWAN framework, as well as managing legal compliance, EDI data and incoming EDI FOIs.
Helena is currently on secondment and is expected to return to the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team in May 2024.
Jennifer Hastings – Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Manager
I am the EDI Projects & Partnerships Manager at KCL. I manage the EDI Project Officer team, who provide EDI support within seven faculties, and work on the implementation of our Race Equality Action Plan.
I come from a Students’ Union background, having begun my career in student advice. My most recent role was Head of Student Voice at LSESU, where I developed the organisation’s first EDI strategy. I love to work collaboratively and believe it’s important to allow different perspectives to influence our work.
I have a particular interest in mental health, intersectional feminism, and how socio-economic factors shape our experiences. I’m also a big fan of bakeries.
Adam Perry (he/they) – Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Consultant
Hello. I am Adam, one of the consultants within the EDI team. I lead on Equality Analysis; LGBTQ+ Inclusion and Stonewall Project Management and policy development and revision. I also support work on the Mutual Mentoring and More than Mentoring programmes and Dignity at King’s/Safeguarding.
My academic background is in criminology and my voluntary background spans the NHS, public health and the student movement. Prior to joining KCL, I worked within a Students’ Union focusing on Liberation and Policy. My passion and commitment for EDI work is fostered through navigating society as a BAME, disabled, LGBTQ+ person. In my spare time I can often be found in a coffee shop or bakery.
Jemma Adams (she/her) – Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Consultant
I am Jemma, one of the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion consultants in the team. I lead on our disability inclusion and accessibility work which aims to improve the experience of disabled staff and students at King’s. My responsibilities also include developing our strategic approach to EDI training for King’s staff and supporting our EDI communities and networks.
Before becoming an EDI Consultant I worked in the team for two years as an EDI Project Officer. I have also previously worked in the education sector, where I worked with schools and school leaders on a range of EDI and other projects.
My interest in matters of equality, diversity and inclusion started through engagement with feminist theology and theologies of sexuality and gender. This background and my personal journey to identifying as a post-Christian, spiritual, queer woman influences both my EDI work and how I navigate life more generally.
Jake Orros (he/him) – Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Project Officer
Hello! I’m Jake and I am an Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Project Officer. I spend part of my week embedded in the Faculty of Dental, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences. I also support Race Equality Charter work across the university.
I first came to King’s as an undergrad student in 2014. I have previously worked for Pride in London and King’s Widening Participation team. In my spare time I volunteer with a youth charity, providing support and guidance on inclusion projects.
Sophie Rust (she/her) – Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Project Officer
I am an Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion Project Officer, working part time in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities. Before this I was a Project Officer for the King’s Experience Awards in King’s Careers & Employability. Previously, I worked in a human rights charity for four years.
I identify as an intersectional feminist and have a strong interest in human rights and anti-racism. During my time at King’s I have been involved in King’s Careers Race Equality Group and The Careers Group Widening Participation community of interest. I am also a member of UNISON.
Safyan Rahman – Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Project Officer
Hello! My name is Safyan and I am one of the EDI Project Officers in the Projects & Partnerships Team. I work with The Dickson Poon of School of Law and King’s Business School on their EDI objectives, while supporting the central team on wider university-wide projects.
Before working at King’s, I overlooked the policy process at Leeds University Union and supported other democratic and widening participation initiatives within the Union. I also have a background in campaigning and volunteering which kickstarted my passion for EDI and liberation for marginalised groups more broadly.
Jessica Cole – Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Project Administrator
Hello. I’m Jessica and I am the Equality Diversity & Inclusion Project Administrator for Social Sciences & Public Policy. I have a background in Law and my most previous role was at London Metropolitan University where I worked as a Student Casework Officer dealing with academic misconduct, student complaints, student appeals and conduct. This experience developed my interest in the various EDI issues that affect both students and staff in higher education.
I also have a particular interest in women of colour and their treatment within the healthcare system.
My hobbies include martial arts, drawing and watching movies.
Hannah Sauer – Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Project Officer
Hello! My name is Hannah and I work as an EDI Project Officers in the Projects & Partnerships Team. I work with the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, and provide support on Disability Inclusion work and with running our flagship training, Diversity Matters.
Before working at King’s, I worked in state Secondary Education for 11 years, both as an English & Film teacher and as an Equalities Coordinator. I passionately believe that education has the power to create a more just future for everyone. It is both an experience that should be diverse, equitable and inclusive and a tool to create empathy, collaboration and deeper understanding.
When I’m not at work, I love knitting, learning languages and eating cake!
Laura Gill – Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Project Officer
Laura works with the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care.