Description
Across the globe, politicians and political movements denounce and threaten the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). Backlash against gender inclusivity, racist stereotypes and policies undermine the efforts EDI practitioners and academics put forward.
In this panel discussion we bring together different perspectives on what to do now.
How can EDI evolve, considering the current political, economic and social uncertainties?
What strategies do we need to combat backlash and resistance in a constructive way?
What is needed for organisations to prioritize and advocate for EDI initiatives in this climate?
And what lessons can we learn?
Provider Information
Staged by the BAM Gender in Management and Human Resources Management Special Interest Groups
Who Should Attend?
The event speaks to A1-3, C1-3, and D1-3, as detailed in the BAM Framework
Speakers
Prof Inge Bleijenbergh
Inge Bleijenbergh is a full Professor of Action Research, in particular in the field of equality, diversity and inclusion. She received a PhD on European basic social rights at VU University in Amsterdam in 2004 and works at the section Research Methods of Nijmegen School of Management since 2006.
She uses participatory methods, like focus groups and group model building, to involve organizational members in analyzing and addressing complex problems. She published widely on subjects such as organizational change, gender inequality and diversity, work life balance, change agents and participatory action research.
She is a co-editor of the Oxford Handbook of Diversity in Organizations and wrote several textbooks on qualitative research methods.
Prof Nasima Carrim
Professor Nasima Carrim completed her undergraduate studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, and has been doing research at the University of Pretoria (UP) since 2008. Her field of research is important because it contributes to an understanding of the different types of employees encountered in the workplace. It highlights the challenges of marginalised individuals within the corporate sector, and how organisations and managers can become inclusive once an in-depth understanding of the experiences of these individuals has been acquired.
Prof Carrim, who is leading work on a project related to sexual harassment on campus, says she has developed interest in a new focus area: the concept of technology and how it impacts diverse employees.
Haffsa Rizwani
Haffsa Rizwani is a Henley Business School PhD student in the department of Leadership, Organisations, Behaviour and Reputation. Haffsa's research interests include gender diversity, inclusion, equality and equity in executive and leadership positions in medium and large size organisations, specifically in egalitarian societies.
Her specialisms also cover leadership and gender in a post-COVID world and the relationship between leadership, behaviour and power. She has successfully led and facilitated leadership training and coaching across the globe in her practitioner role and engaged in helping managers become transformational leaders for medium and large size organisations.
Haffsa also mentors young professionals in leadership subjects and she is the process of becoming an accredited coach with the International Board of Coaches and Practitioners.
Chaired by
Dr Jenny Rodriguez
Jenny Rodriguez is Senior Lecturer in Employment Studies and member of the Work & Equalities Institute at Alliance Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester.
Her research focuses on intersectional inequality in work and organisations, and the interplay between identity, work and regulation, and has explored the transnational experiences of skilled migrant women. She is the Chair of the Gender in Management Special Interest Group at BAM.
She is also involved in scholar activism as founding member of the Decolonizing Alliance, an international community committed to intellectual and practical collaboration, translation, active solidarity and resistance to tackle intersectional inequalities and neo-colonial power relations faced by people of colour in the Global South and the Global North. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/jenny.rodriguez.html
Dr Elisabeth Anna Guenther
Elisabeth Anna Guenther is a postdoctoral university assistant at the University of Vienna’s Computational Empowerment Lab.
Her work on intersectional interference in the social practice of teaching STEM received several awards. She combines her profound knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methodologies with social theories to unveil implicit inequality practices.
Her current research focusses on intersectional reflexivity in and through digital empowerment. https://www.elisabeth-anna-guenther.eu/
Benefits of attending
- Enhance understanding of the current challenges facing equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Support insightful thinking about how to develop interdisciplinary and transnational discussions about EDI that inform research, scholarship and praxis.
- Reflect on how HRM scholars can utilize insights from discussions about EDI backlash to advance HRM discussions.
- Engage in conversation that builds bridges between diverse knowledge projects.
Contact
Please contact the BAM Office at [email protected] with any queries.
Event Fee
BAM Members: Free
Non-Members: £60
If you are booking multiple paid events as a Non-Member, it may be cheaper for you to purchase a BAM Membership as nearly all BAM Events are free or at a discounted rate for Members.
For more information, please visit BAM Membership
Registration closes on 4th February 2026 at 23:59 GMT.
Payment and Cancellation Policy
Payment for the event must be received before the start date of the event concerned. Access will not be permitted to the event if full payment has not been received.
Cancellations
-
Cancellations received within 14 days of booking your place on the event will receive a full refund.
-
Cancellations received after the 14-day cancellation period and later than 14 days before the start date of the event will not be eligible for a refund.
-
Although we endeavour to run all events as advertised, BAM reserves the right to cancel any event if, for example, there are not enough people to justify running the event or if other significant unforeseen circumstances arise.
To cancel a booking a cancellation request must be submitted via your BAM Account, to do this:
- Go to your BAM Account
- Click 'My Events'
- Under 'Upcoming Events' will be the booking, please click Cancel Booking
- Follow the steps and complete the request