Co-op Panel Discussion: Has anything really changed?

Join a progressive panel as they reflect on the realities of workplace equality and inclusivity for Black professionals in the post "Black Lives Matter" era.

Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives, owned by millions of members. So we’re not owned by a wealthy few, we’re owned by you.

As well as having clear financial and operational objectives and employing over 50,000 people, we’re a recognised leader for our social goals and community-led programmes. We exist to meet members' needs and stand up for the things they believe in. Put simply, we’re here to do right by you.

ABOUT THE SESSION

Reflecting on Change: How Much Has Changed in the Workplace Since The Black Lives matter Movement?

The global 'Black Lives Matter' protests of 2020 ignited a wave of corporate pledges to foster diversity, equality, and inclusion in the workplace. These commitments promised to reshape the corporate landscape, making it more inclusive for Black professionals. Yet, as we navigate the complexities of 2024, marked by geopolitical tensions and culture wars, it's easy to feel that the world remains as divided as ever.

In honour of Black History Month 2024, our panel discussion will delve into this pressing issue. We’ll explore the progress made since the 'Black Lives Matter' movement and critically assess whether these corporate promises have truly translated into meaningful change for Black professionals. This conversation, guided by this year's theme, will provide an honest reflection on the current state of workplace diversity and the challenges that persist.

Join us as we bring together thought leaders, industry experts, and change-makers to engage in a candid dialogue about the realities Black people face in today’s workplace. We'll address the question on everyone’s mind: How much has really changed for Black people in the workplace in the post-'Black Lives Matter' era?

This discussion is not just about looking back—it's about driving the conversation forward, identifying gaps, celebrating successes, and setting the stage for the future of workplace inclusivity. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a conversation that matters.

MEET THE PANELISTS

Lee Noble – Store Manager

Lee has been with Co-op for over 7 years as a Store Manager. Lee has been a diversity and inclusion pioneer and area lead within Co-op, supporting colleagues with awareness around inclusion, facilitating conversation and debate about topics whilst sharing his own personal experiences in a meaningful way. He is currently reviewing how he can impact inclusion within the National Members council of which he is a part of.

Alicia McDonnell – Inclusive Partnerships Lead

Alicia has been with Co-op for 11 years and is a passionate senior inclusion leader, who thrives on making change happen. Pushing boundaries inside and outside of the organisation, Alicia embeds and matures innovative programmes, to enhance DEI standards, operations, and behaviours, across Co-op and the industry. As passionate about people, as they are about performance, Alicia’s purpose is to fuse both social and organisation value, into everything they do.

Cheryl Burden – Member Engagement Activator

Cheryl has been with Co-op for 5 years within a membership and community focused role in East London, after retiring from being a Superintendent in the Metropolitan Police. Cheryl is a diversity and inclusion pioneer and is passionate about breaking down barriers and making sure we’re representative of our member-owners and their communities.

Sally Ngbeken – Solicitor

Sally has been with Co-op for over 5 years – starting her career as a Commercial Paralegal before becoming a Solicitor within our in-house legal team which involves working with our diverse businesses and support functions to provide them with expert legal advice. Sally is passionate about self-improvement and always striving for more.

Paul Gerrard – Director of Campaigning & Public Affairs

In a twenty year career in the Civil Service, Paul worked in senior roles which included responsibility for the operational delivery of the £40bn tax credits and Child Benefit system and the strategy to tackle multi-billion organized criminal attacks on the UK’s indirect tax and excise duty systems.

Paul joined the Co-op Group in 2016 and as Director of Campaigning & Public Affairs, he leads the Co-op’s engagement with Government on a range of public policy issues and has overseen their multi-award winning campaigns on slavery, loneliness, shop worker violence and retail crime, climate justice and social mobility. He regularly gives evidence to Parliamentary Committees and appears on national media on these campaigns.

Kenyatte Nelson – Chief Customer & Membership Officer

As Co-op Chief Membership & Customer Officer, Kenyatte is responsible for driving the growth agenda, pan Co-op, via the creation and communication of compelling member and customer propositions that deliver profitable membership growth.

Somto Uba - BYP Chapter Lead, Manchester

Somto is a business advisory consultant with almost a decade advising start-ups to listed businesses across financial services, energy, technology, real estate and the public sector. He has worked with two of the big four accounting firms and is currently an MBA candidate of one of the best business schools in the world.

Somto is passionate about the growth of the careers and businesses of black professionals with he has sought to do as the BYP Manchester lead. He has hosted numerous events with the organisations within Manchester and has overseen the growth of BYP Manchester to over 500+ members.

PLEASE NOTE:

Your data (name and email addresses) are required for access to the venue. Without this, you will not have access to the venue. For this reason, that information will be shared with Co-op.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

1 Angel Square, 1 Angel Square, Manchester, United Kingdom