Communities Under Threat: Safety, Belonging & the Water Sector's Response

This event opens BHM 2026 by confronting the harder conversation head-on. Against a backdrop of rising racial tensions, EDI backlash, and political pressure (Reform, rebranding of EDI programmes), this session asks: what does it mean to show up to work when your community is under threat? And what responsibility does the water sector have to respond?

Agenda | 11:00–12:30

11:00 – Welcome, Poll & Scene Setting
Fareita Pauli
Opening the forum and setting the scene for a conversation around race, equality, opportunity and fairness.

11:05 – What the Data Tells Us
Timothy John – GLA
Exploring recruitment, progression and leadership data, and why representation reduces towards senior leadership.

11:15 – The Community Story
Jeremy Crook, Action for Race Equality
Exploring safety, belonging and opportunity, and what the experiences of communities mean for employers and the future workforce.

11:25 – The Workplace Experience
Micky Nicholas, Northumbrian Water
Psychological safety, visible leadership and how employers can meaningfully support people during challenging times.

11:35 – The Career Journey
Gabriel Njoku, Mott Macdonald
Breaking into careers, mentoring and sponsorship, hidden barriers and where people are being lost from the career pipeline.

11:45 – Creating Fair & Inclusive Organisations
Dana James-Edwards, Supply Chain Sustainability School
Moving from good intentions to practical action and measurable cultural change.

11:55 – Youth Panel & Audience Q&A
Lead Youth Voice: Rommel Wallace (SAY)
Panel: Jeremy Crook, Timothy John, Micky Nicholas, Gabriel Njoku, Dana James-Edwards & Rommel Wallace
Bringing together perspectives on community, workplace, careers and solutions, with youth voice at the centre of the discussion.

12:25 – Closing Reflections
Phil Barnaby
Key reflections, priorities and actions to carry forward into Forum 2.

Register your free place and join us via Teams for an engaging Webinar.