The Race Equality Charter Governance Committee provides assurance, expert advice and guidance to the Advance HE Board on matters relating to the development of the Race Equality Charter.
Find out more about the Race Equality Charter Governance Committee members below:
Pradeep Passi (co-Chair)
Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, University of Central Lancashire
Pradeep is responsible for leading Equality Diversity and Inclusion work at the University of Central Lancashire. He chairs the EDI Taskforce and directs the Global Race Centre for Equality, advancing transdisciplinary research on racial inequalities. He supports inclusive organisational change and researches awarding gaps, as a founding member of the North West Awards Gap Group. Works collaboratively to drive impact
Zainab Hussain
Senior Lecturer, University of Liverpool
Zainab leads equality diversity and inclusion within her institute and chairs the BAME Staff Network. With over twenty years in health sciences, she focuses on addressing inequalities in healthcare outcomes and education. Her work supports participation, retention and inclusive curricula. She contributes to the Race Equality Charter as a panellist and chair, promoting best practice and sector improvement
Patrick Johnson
Director of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, The University of Law
Patrick has worked in higher education for over twenty years, contributing extensively to equality diversity and inclusion initiatives. He supported early Race Equality Charter development and successful submissions, and brings insight from specialist institutions. He also serves as Disabled Students’ Commissioner and contributes to REF equality and diversity advisory work, helping drive meaningful change across the sector and wider impact
Nazira Karodia
Vice Principal for Learning and Teaching, Edinburgh Napier University
Nazira is a chemist whose experiences of growing up under Apartheid shape her commitment to advancing racial equality in higher education. She focuses on addressing systemic barriers affecting ethnic minority students and staff. Her work promotes deeper engagement with race and inequality, encouraging meaningful action, structural change and sustained effort to create a more just and inclusive educational environment
Joanna MacDonnell PFHEA
PVC Education, Kingston University
Jo provides strategic leadership for learning teaching and the educational experience, drawing on extensive sector expertise. She has contributed to national initiatives including TEF and TASO, and supports the Race Equality Charter as a panel chair and governance committee member. Her work reflects a strong commitment to equity, student success and transformative education across the sector.
Aranee Manoharan
Head of Careers & Employability, King’s College London
Aranee is a committed advocate for equity inclusion and social mobility, with experience across teaching student success and educational development. She specialises in inclusive curriculum design to improve graduate outcomes and advises sector bodies on addressing awarding gaps. She has contributed to the Race Equality Charter and supports its potential to drive meaningful structural and cultural change across higher education
Khadija Mohammed
Senior Lecturer in Education, University of the West of Scotland
Khadija is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy whose research explores the lived experiences of Black and Minority Ethnic educators. She focuses on recognising and valuing diverse identities and building capacity across the sector. She leads community initiatives and national projects addressing racial harassment and equity,
Kaushika Patel
Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
and Deputy Dean for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University
Kaushika leads equality diversity and inclusion initiatives and drives anti racist practice across her institution. She oversees major projects, supports staff networks and advances charter work. Her experience in social work and higher education informs her commitment to tackling race inequalities. She mentors and supports Black Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students, amplifying their voices and fostering lasting sector change
Narender Ramnani
Professor of Neuroscience
Royal Holloway, University of London
Narender is honoured to serve on the Race Equality Charter Governance Committee, contributing experience from research, teaching and mentoring. He focuses on barriers affecting Black and Global Majority progression and representation. He brings governance experience and institutional insight from charter work, supporting the Charter’s role in driving change while recognising its potential to evolve further
Jenny K Rodriguez
Senior Lecturer in Employment Studies, The University of Manchester
Jenny has a longstanding commitment to exploring how gender and racio ethnicity shape experiences of life and work. She engages in action focused dialogue to support the Race Equality Charter in addressing racial inequality. Her work brings diverse perspectives together to help shape meaningful change and advance a more equitable higher education sector.
Eli Todorova
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Coordinator, The University of Nottingham
Eli is committed to advancing race equality in higher education and ensuring institutions address structural inequalities. She has contributed to successful Race Equality Charter activity and supports its role as both a supportive and challenging framework. Drawing on experience tackling hate crime, she brings a strong focus on amplifying voices and driving meaningful, sector wide change
