Spotlight on Kae Ohene-Yeboah, Head of Equality Diversity & Inclusion (Programmes and Charters)

How long have you been at UCL, and what does your job entail?

I have been at UCL since October 2019. I started as a programme administrator for PGCE programmes in the IOE. I then worked in research Impact and Communications at the Institute of Global Prosperity before joining the EDI team. My role as Head of EDI Programmes and Charters is to lead all our institutional EDI Commitments, specifically through our institutional charter marks (Race Equality Charter and Athena Swan) and our various Equality Implementation Group Action Plans. My team also develops and implements vital positive action intervention programmes such as B-MEntor, Accelerate to Leadership and Fair Recruitment Specialists.

Tell us about a project you are working on right now.

One exciting project I am working on is developing a single institution-wide process for Equality Impact Assessments. I am looking forward to creating an accessible tool that will support colleagues at all levels of the institution to explore the impact of their projects and activities on staff and students with marginalised identities and provide an evidence-based rationale for activities designed to advance equality at UCL.

Who/what inspired you to have the career you have today?

I struggle to pinpoint a specific reason why I work in the field of EDI. Being a first-generation immigrant, I've always been interested in the experiences of marginalised communities. If I didn't have the career I have today, I think I would still be working in an area committed to social justice and tackling inequity in some way.

The answer to what inspired me to become the Head of EDI Programmes and Charters at UCL is that I have been fortunate to have had a succession of incredible line managers who encouraged and invested in my personal and professional development as essential parts of their role. I know I wouldn't have the career I have today without them. They are a true testament to the power of effective leadership and people management.

What's your secret talent that no one knows about?

I'm not sure if this counts as a secret talent, but when I was in secondary school, I threw a discus for the first time in my life during our year nine sports day. I ended up beating our town record for discus throwing. I then proceeded never to touch a discus ever again. However, I firmly believe that there is an alternative universe in which I am an Olympic athlete.

What are you currently reading or listening to?

I have a chaotic reading style, so I currently have a few books on the go. One of them is Why Race Still Matters by Alana Lentin.  Even though I still need to finish all the books on my roster, I am excitedly awaiting the delivery of a new book, Dub: Finding Ceremony, by Alexis Pauline Gumbs. Dub is a poetic meditation of the work of Sylvia Wynter, one of the most challenging and inspiring scholars of Black Studies and Decoloniality, whose work has been transformative in my worldview and praxis.

I am currently listening to Flo Milli's new album and the podcast 'How Did This Get Made?'.

Describe what a perfect day outside of work looks like for you.

A perfect day outside of work for me starts with a lie-in, followed by an afternoon of shopping and exploring a few museums and galleries. Then, I would spend the rest of the day making and eating tacos with my friends and family.