Rachel Burn

As Director of College Operations for the University of Exeter Medical School, Rachel Burn has overall leadership responsibility for operational and administrative support in the College. Rachel was one of the University’s inaugural Speak Out Guardians and is currently a Stonewall Ally and sits on the University's Disability Equality Group and Race Equality Charter Mark Group; she has a strong belief that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

Rachel Burn, Director of College Operations and EDI Group Co-Chair

Sarah Downing

I was delighted when the College was awarded the Athena SWAN Silver departmental award, as it reflects how committed we are within the College to ensuring equality and inclusivity across the board.  My role is to help the EDI Group ensure that we meet all the targets set out in our Athena SWAN Silver action plan, as well as helping them to develop other EDI activities that will take us further in the future.

Sarah Downing, Executive Officer and EDI Group Secretariat

Richard Smith

Equality, diversity and inclusivity sits at the core of what a University represents – the pursuit and translation of knowledge to better all of society without prejudice, and to reflect this in our own working practices by enabling and encouraging all to contribute regardless of their personal circumstances.  I have been a long-time supporter of equality, diversity and inclusivity across previous institutions and am pleased to be able to continue this at Exeter.

Professor Richard Smith, Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor and Professor of Health Economics

Ian Fussell

Ian has worked in Cornwall as a doctor since 1990 and for the Medical School ever since it first opened in the South West.  He is interested in the use of IT in Medical Education, Medical Education, Global Health, and Event Medicine. He organises teams of medical students to help provide first aid care at Glastonbury Festival and supervises students visiting a medical School in Ethiopia where he helped establish a link. He is a trustee of a charity helping bringing freash water to the region in conjunction with the Red Cross.

Ian Fussell, Associate Dean Education

Sallie Lamb

Sallie Lamb is an internationally recognised scholar in ageing, disability and rehabilitation. She is also an experienced methodologist in the area of clinical trials and high quality evaluation of health care practice. 

Sallie has a strong commitment to improving the lives of older people through excellent research that answers difficult questions and can inform policy making and commissioning. She works to ensure research is translated into practice and to drive up the quality of methods and reporting used in medical research. Sallie has mentored and supervised many early career scientists, and is a strong advocate for team working and gender equality in the work place.

Professor Sallie Lamb, Associate Dean for Research & Mireille Gillings Professor of Health Innovation

Vrinda Nayak

It is a great pleasure to be part of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team of the college. My work is mainly focused on implementing the Success for All theme of the University’s Education Strategy which aims to widen the participation, eliminate degree awarding gaps and support diverse and inclusive learning environment. I lead on Success and Inclusive Education Working Group implementing educational projects that support and enhance student education, experience, staff development, culture change and scholarship activities across the University. At the Medical School, I developed effective system for supporting students who belong to ethnic minority groups.

Dr Vrinda Nayak, Associate Academic Dean for Students (Racial Equality and Inclusion) and Senior Lecturer (E&S)

Musarrat Maisha Reza

I am so pleased to be on the EDI working group as the Race Equality Resource Officer for the college. In my academic leadership journey, I have garnered well-rounded expertise leading BAME networks, advising strategies on boards and writing policies for new academic programmes aligned with equality, diversity and inclusion in order to facilitate BAME student retention, progression and sense of belonging. I look forward to doing my part to empower BAME students and staff by bringing our voices to the table and working together to bring positive action for our college.

Dr Musarrat Maisha Reza, Race Equality Resource Officer & Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences, Education and Scholarship

Ben Wheeler

I am a health geographer, researching the interconnections between environment, society and health. Much of my work has involved investigating the damaging impacts of social and environmental inequalities on people’s health and wellbeing, largely at national and international scales. I am keen to support Athena SWAN activities in the Medical School and more widely to try to help us move towards a more equitable and inclusive research and educational culture for all staff and students. 

Dr Ben Wheeler, Senior Lecturer, European Centre for Environment & Human Health

Sarah Bell

Tristan Snowsill

I joined the EDI group as a representative for early career researchers, as I am a founder and co-chair of an early career researcher network in the college. I am also a Dignity and Respect advisor. I think it is important that EDI groups are fully representative, because otherwise they risk being seen as outlets for minority grievances and putting the burden for improvement on already disadvantaged people.

Dr Tristan Snowsill, Senior Research Fellow

Pia Leete

Anna Murray

I am an Associate Professor in Human Genetics and have raised my daughter as a single mum. Both roles are challenging, but at the same time extremely rewarding. I have benefitted from some inspirational mentors and role models during my career and I would like to use these positive experiences in my role as a representative for IBCS on the CMH Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Group.

Dr Anna Murray, Associate Professor in Human Genetics

Caspian Robson

I act as co-ordinator and facilitator for outreach work undertaken in line with the University of Exeter's commitment to widening participation in the College of Medicine and Health.

Caspian Robson, Widening Participation Coordinator

Tudor Chinnah

I am one of the foundation core academic staff of the former Universities of Exeter and Plymouth Peninsula Medical School. I was an international postgraduate student at the University of Sheffield. My interest in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Group stems from a lived experience here in the UK, as a former student and now staff. I initiated and set up a bespoke academic support scheme for the international medical students and am involved in equality, diversity and inclusion focus groups within the University. I am very keen on supporting the University’s work on ensuring equality, diversity and inclusive working and learning environment.

Dr Tudor Chinnah, Associate Professor in Human Anatomy & Medical Education (E&S) and Senior Academic Tutor for International Students

Sam Pollard

I am a first generation graduate and have long worked and been an advocate for widening participation in a number of institutes. I lead a mature student strategy group that aims to make the University of Exeter an attractive place for mature students to study and to create a supportive environment when they are here. I am passionate about supporting and developing students and creating an environment that is inclusive.

Dr Samuel Pollard, Senior Lecturer in Medical Science and Senior Academic Tutor for Mature Students 

Aimee Murray

Aimee is a Lecturer in Microbiology, having previously been a NERC Industrial Innovation Fellow.

As a first-gen graduate, post-graduate and woman in STEMM I am passionate about widening participation and attaining equality for all. I am also a member of the Cornwall EDI group and one of the early career reps for the European Centre for Environment and Human Health.

Dr Aimee Murray, Lecturer

Jenny Lloyd

Dr Jenny Lloyd, Senior Lecturer in Public Health Research

Claire Breading

Having begun my career in recruitment I naturally transitioned into a HR role, taking more of an interest in supporting individuals in the workplace and improving their working environment.

Claire Breading, HR Business Partner