The future of black British leadership

• A talk and reception with Funmi Iyanda
• University of Cumbria, 58 East India Dock Rd, Poplar, London, E14 6JE
• Friday 30 January 2015, 6pm to 8pm

Funmi Iyanda with Prof Jem Bendell,
director of the University of Cumbria's
Institute for Leadership and Sustainability 

London is diversity. By census, over 40 per cent of its inhabitants identify themselves as other than white. 

The University of Cumbria’s London Campus is in Tower Hamlets, on the edge of Docklands, in one of the most ethnically diverse parts of London. Originally it was founded to provide higher education to promote the advancement of local ethnic minorities. 

Today, almost 14 per cent of London’s population identify themselves as black. This diversity presents a major opportunity and responsibility for London to act as a crossroads for global understanding and cooperation. How is London accepting its role? What more could be done to encourage London’s ethnically diverse community to lead for the benefit of London, Britain and the world?

Funmi Iyanda will describe how Black British leadership can create a more sustainable, diverse and inclusive Great Britain and enable better relations with Africa and beyond. 

As a leading Nigerian journalist and entrepreneur, Funmi moves regularly between London and Lagos in her efforts to bring innovation to her media and humanitarian work. Funmi produced and hosted Nigeria’s most popular and authoritative talk show ‘New Dawn with Funmi’. She has been recognised by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader and was recently named one of Forbes 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa.

The new Black British Business Awards reflects the growing awareness and action on the importance of inspirational black role models – ambassadors who represent the very best talent in organisations across various sectors in the British economy. 

The Institute for Leadership and Sustainability (IFLAS) is pleased to engage this issue by working with Funmi. Funmi will be hosted by Professor Jem Bendell and a leading figure from the Tower Hamlets community. 

Participants will include emerging leaders in the Black British community and Tower Hamlets community leaders, as well as finance professionals from Docklands – a great mix for conversation in the drinks reception that follows the talk.

Her last talk with IFLAS was on media ethics, to the predominantly African class on the MBA in Leadership and Sustainability, and she explains her experience in the Premium Times. 

Having enjoyed the hiking in the Lake District, Funmi will also be keynoting at the University’s Leading Wellbeing conference in July 2015 on the shores of Windermere.

The London event on January 30 is free but requires registration and numbers are limited. Email: iflas@cumbria.ac.uk

Other talks organised by the Institute can be viewed at: www.cumbria.ac.uk/iflasevents

“I am championing a new initiative [Black British Business Awards] that will put future black leaders at the top table of our biggest companies. Working with Trevor Phillips, this campaign will get the balance in the boardroom right and encourage businesses to put ethnic diversity at the top of their agenda.”
UK Government’s Business Secretary, Vince Cable