Spotlight on... Indie Beedie

What is your role and what does it involve? 

I am a Senior Student Success Officer in the Student Success Office. We are a new office that leads the development and implementation of UCL’s strategies to support academic success and close awarding and retention gaps across the university. We are gearing up to work with incoming students and putting in place some exciting interventions to improve the outcomes of the students we work with.  

How long have you been at UCL and what was your previous role? 

I started working at UCL in 2011, fresh out of university, as a Research Assistant – then moved into professional services a couple of years ago, where I ended up as an Executive Officer, then went on secondment as an EDI Projects Officer, and finally arrived where I am now.  

What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of? 

I am proud of my work at the Deafness Cognition and Language Research Centre centring communities who are typically excluded from traditional research participation with support from UCL Beacon Bursaries – to explore offensive signs in the deaf community, and support from UCL Grand Challenges – to explore the experiences of deaf migrants in London.  

Tell us about a project you are working on now which is top of your to-do list 

I have recently been elected Co-Chair of the Disability Equity Steering Group (DESG) and appointed UCL Envoy for Disability. At the top of my list of priorities is to set up a disability equity implementation group, and enact change for our disabled students and colleagues. The UCL Experience staff survey highlighted a significant difference in the wellbeing scores of our disabled community, with disabled staff scoring 22% below their peers on wellbeing. The experiences of disabled students at UCL have been documented by the UCL Disabled Student Network, and in the work of the faculties of Engineering and Brain Sciences. I am keen to see UCL become a leader when it comes to disability equity; a member of the DESG said something to me recently which has stuck: let’s move away from inclusion, and start thinking about belonging.  

What is your favourite album, film and novel? 

• Favourite album – I can’t remember the last album I listened to, so I am going to give you a taster of some of songs I am currently listening to. Freedom by George Michael, Kinna Sohna by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Bally Sagoo and Back to Life by Soul II Soul. Some of my musical tastes are stuck in the 90s, as that’s the last time I had time to look up the lyrics and concentrate on the music – which is very common for deaf people. 
• Film – Four Lions, a wonderful black comedy that I could watch on repeat.  
• Novel – The White Tiger – Aravind Adiga  

What is your favourite joke (pre-watershed)? 

I embarrass my children often with the only joke I know:

Why did the cow cross the road? Because they wanted to go to the moo-vies.  

Who would be your dream dinner guests? 

I am a borderline introvert/extrovert and am not very good at small talk, so I think it would have to be people I know. My mother, who passed away, would be the ideal guest – although that would mean cooking for her, which is no mean feat as she was a phenomenal cook. A takeaway it would have to be, then.  

What advice would you give your younger self? 

Run your own race and say yes to everything, till you need to start saying no.   

What would it surprise people to know about you? 

I can burp the alphabet. Sorry for bringing the tone down.  

What is your favourite place?   

London – I will never tire of this city, in particular my own stomping ground, where everything feels familiar. Beyond London, Kynance Cove in Cornwall – a long day at the beach, followed by fish and chips.