Overview
In recent years, diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) have been recognised as essential to organisational success, innovation and societal progress. Yet today, we are witnessing a shift in tone — from political pushback to budget cuts — that risks rolling back hard-won gains. This Branch event will explore why DEI remains vital, not just as a moral imperative but as a driver of resilience, competitiveness, and trust in a volatile global environment.
Drawing on insights from an expert panel with diverse perspectives, we will examine what DEI means within the context of governance, how current tension points are forcing the role of DEI to evolve at board level, and explore the role that Company Secretaries / Governance Professionals can play in ensuring that momentum for DEI is sustained in their organisation.
Location: Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby Street, London
Time: Registration 5:30, event 6pm - 8pm
Cost: Free
Speakers
Damilare Ojo, Consultant, Law Debenture Corporation PLC
Damilare is a Nigerian-qualified lawyer and Company Secretarial Assistant with experience in professional services. Detail-oriented and proactive, he supports senior teams in ensuring compliance with UK corporate law, governance standards, and regulatory obligations. Skilled in managing filings, statutory records, and corporate transactions, he brings strong communication, organisational, and multitasking abilities to fast-paced environments, maintaining high standards of accuracy and confidentiality.
Simon Fanshawe OBE
is a diversity consultant, broadcaster and author. He is the co-founder of the leading consultancy Diversity by Design. He and his colleague Rachel Cashman have the top ten business podcast “Fearless Diversity”.
He is currently on the Board of Powerful Women, is Chairman of Hexagon Housing Association and the current Rector of Edinburgh University.
He was previously Chairman of Sussex University, a non-exec director of Housing & Care 21, a Governor of the Museum of London and on the Board of Brighton Dome & Festival. He has grown and sold successfully two businesses. He was one of the six co-founders in 1989 of the lesbian and gay equality campaign Stonewall - a key influencer in the strategy to create legal equality for lesbians and gays, which was completed by the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act in 2014.
His latest book “The Power of Difference” was published in December 2021 by Kogan Page. It is the Chartered Institute Management’s Book of 2023. He was voted the second Most Influential Thinker in 2022 by HR Magazine and inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2023.
He has long been involved in campaigns for equality and positive social change and has served on the Board of companies and organisations in the private and charity sectors for over thirty-five years.
In 2024 he co-authored (with Matilda Gosling) the report “Flying Flags and Ticking Boxes. What Went Wrong With EDI. And How Leaders Can Fix It”.
He was awarded an OBE in 2013 for services to Higher Education and made an Honorary Doctor of the University of Sussex for services to diversity and human rights.
He lives in Brighton with his husband and they have neither children nor dogs. When not celebrating difference, he is cooking.
Justine Lutterodt
Justine serves on the Membership Committee. She is Founder and Managing Director of the Centre for Synchronous Leadership (CSL), a think tank, consultancy and membership organisation. Recognised as an authority on leadership, ethics and systemic change, she is author of the 2021 and 2022 Mindful Exclusion governance reports and Chair of the global Agents of Change initiative. As a C-suite and board-level coach, she has helped to sync up the interests of individual leaders with their teams, organisations and the greater needs of society for over a decade. Outside CSL, Justine serves on the Nominations Committee for the Chartered Institute of Taxation and is Patron of Bright Stars, a charity supporting young people with autism.
Adeife Onwuzulike
Adeife is the Global Director of Culture, Engagement, and Inclusion at Euromonitor International working across APAC, EMEAI, and the Americas to shape culture, embed inclusion, and foster meaningful employee engagement. With over 15 years of experience in People, Culture, and Organisational Development, Adeife is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, holds an MSc in Human Resource Management and Organisational Analysis, and is a certified ILM Level 5 Coach and Mentor.
She is a respected global speaker on topics including people strategy, leadership, culture, and change. Adeife also serves as a Governor and Non-Executive Director for the Aspire Learning Federation (UK) and as a board member for Elim Bridge Autism and Neurodevelopmental Foundation in Nigeria. In addition, she sits on several advisory boards and steering groups, including Make A Difference (MAD) among others.
Outside of her professional work, Adeife is the founder of two purpose-driven communities: Mum and Me, which helps mothers build a community and feel empowered to advance their careers while prioritising wellbeing. She also runs a network for Culture, Talent, and Inclusion professionals. This network is designed for practitioners who are focused on shaping their organisations to be more inclusive to drive change through the levers of engagement, culture, and talent across multiple markets and sectors.
Adeife is a proud mother of two boys, a wife, and a passionate mentor and coach committed to helping people thrive in all seasons of life.
For any related enquiries please contact us at events@cgi.org.uk, or call us at +44 207 612 7012