Biographies
London-based Su Rathgeber Knan is a social justice delegate of Liberal
Judaism working on LGBT issues, and a committee member of Cutting Edge
Consortium. Su has co-organised and presented at various conferences
including the 1st LGBT Human Rights Summit (Cardiff), CEC Faith
Homophobia Transphobia and Human Rights, Limmud, Imaan Annual
Conference and Stonewall Youth Day. Su achieved an M.A. degree in
Psychology, Journalism and Theatre, and has worked with numerous
international institutes and organisations including Sydney Western
University. Coming from a hybrid cultural background and having lived and
travelled around the globe, Su believes in a multi-disciplinary, holistic
approach. Being passionate about language, ‘entrepreneur’ Su recently
launched an online editing business, Textworks4u, and is in the process of republishing some overlooked gems of literature.
Phil Barnett is an independent consultant specializing in equality and diversity in the
learning and skills sector.
He has worked extensively with colleges across the UK and delivered research on
race equality and succession planning and sexual orientation equality for the Centre
for Excellence in Leadership. He has led the LSIS work in producing the sexual
orientation equality training DVD – “Visible and valued.”
Author of Managing the Interface: Sexual Orientation and Faith, A Guide for
Further Education and Higher Education. The research study explored the
management of the interface between sexual orientation equality and equality
on the grounds of religion or belief in the further and higher education sectors
in England. It found that where equality and diversity was deeply embedded in
the culture and ethos of learning providers, relations between these two
equality groups tended to be mutually respectful. In other circumstances there
was the potential for significant tension and difficulty. Informed, consistent
action by the learning provider to develop mutually respectful relationships
was vital. The research found examples of good practice across the sector
and a widespread demand for practical guidance in developing practice still
further
Hugh Pyper is Discipline Lead for Philosophical and Religious Studies for the
Higher Education Academy and also Professor of Biblical Interpretation at the
University of Sheffield. He has a continuing interest in the application of
Queer Theory to biblical interpretation and in the problematic use of the Bible
in discussions of family values and sexual relations.
Rev Chris Dowd is Free Church Chaplain at Aston University and is currently
working on a doctorate about the religious experiences of the transgendered
community.
NUS (National Union of Students) are a voluntary membership organisation
that exists to promote, defend and extend the rights of students and to
develop and champion strong students' unions. It is a confederation of more
than 95 per cent of all HE and FE unions in the UK, representing the interests
of more than seven million students.
Seth Atkin. Having worked for over 15 years in various roles within the post
school education sectors Seth is currently an equality support official at the
University and College Union (UCU). Amongst many projects engaged with as
Chair of ‘the Forum’ Seth was on the working group at all stages in the
production of ‘Managing the Interface: Sexual Orientation and Faith’.
Chris Edwards is a Client Manager for the Workplace team at Stonewall
where he helps organisations to create more inclusive workplaces for gay
people. He manages the North West region as well as organisations in the
construction and property sectors. Before joining Stonewall, Chris worked for
the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment where he helped
numerous clients to plan, manage and design better public spaces. He also
led the publication of many best practice guides, including pioneering
research into how gay people use public spaces. He holds a Masters
degree in International Urban Planning and has published a thesis on the
development of gated communities in Brazil.
Jane Barraclough. After spending too many years as a student (BA: Hons,
MA), She worked for twenty years as a teacher both abroad and in this
country. She then re-trained as a Unitarian minister (MSt) and first served for
3 years in the East End of London, and then served in the Manchester Cross
Street Chapel congregation for four years. Unitarian communities have a wide
diversity of beliefs and spiritual practices. They are completely inclusive
communities and have had an inclusive and out ministry since 1977, when a
General Assembly declared a policy of non-discrimination.
Cross St Chapel was recently awarded the first licence to conduct religious
civil partnerships in England and Wales.
Darren Knight has been with The Lesbian & Gay Foundation for over six
years, working across a range of programmes including capacity building,
community development and locality based projects.
Darren currently delivers the organisations Engagement work programme as
part of a dedicated team, working towards increasing the organisations impact
within community settings. A key area of this work is through developing the
evidence base of LGB&T communities, working with decision makers and
policy developers in order to improve the experiences of lesbian, gay and
bisexual individuals and working on projects and programmes that increase
awareness of the diverse issues and needs of LGB people in the wider
community.
Kevin Coutinho is an Equality and Diversity Consultant at the University of
Cambridge where he is responsible for developing policy and strategy in
relation to LGB&T, Disability, Religion/Belief and Race equality. He leads on
the University’s partnership working for Cambridge-wide LGB&T initiatives,
including LGB&T History Month, and the development and facilitation of the
University’s Diversity Networks, including its Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender (LGB&T) Staff Network., He also Chairs the Russell Group
LGB&T Council, which promotes awareness of good practice between
research intensive UK universities.
Kevin is also a licensed trainer for Navigator, a personal development
programme for men and currently sits on the University’s Board of Scrutiny.
Kevin has a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from Cardiff University and a Master’s
in International Studies and Diplomacy from SOAS. In 2004, he was awarded
an Instituto de Empresa (IE) Foundation scholarship to read an International
MBA in Madrid.
Clare Pavitt joined the Equality Challenge Unit in May 2012 as a Senior
Policy Adviser. She works on a range of projects advancing equality in the
higher education sector, with a particular focus on religion and belief and
sexual orientation.
With a career spanning central and local government, the voluntary sector,
broadcasting, the police service and higher education Clare has more than 25
years experience supporting organisations on their equality and diversity
journeys. Prior to joining the ECU she worked with York St John University to
consolidate their approach to equality, diversity and human rights issues,
including developing a new equality analysis process. As the Diversity
Director at Greater Manchester Police she introduced the Force’s first
Integrated Equality Scheme and was instrumental in developing the National
Equality Standard for the Police Service to enables forces to effectively
evaluate their progress on equality and diversity.
She has a particular interest in community relations and has worked
extensively on issues relating to hate crime and community engagement.