We start off the final week of Women’s History Month by spotlighting Jas Kaur, Associate Director of Equality, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI) and Organisational Development, who was nominated by Dr Harvey Tagger who said:

“Jas by her very role embodies equity, diversity and inclusion. I admire how in an Active Bystander training session reflecting on language and how even the small, every day phrases can have connotations to the past which were not inclusive of particular characteristics and being able to reflect on her own changes which helps others make changes. Jas has also been able to support the organisation with her work on the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework, including meeting with people individually to think about how we understand the framework.”

Jas was asked to share more about her role, what she is proud of and what EDI means to her. Jas said:

“Super humbled and privileged to be nominated-whoever you are, THANK YOU! I’m Jas, the Associate Director of Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Organisational Development, this really means looking after the experience of colleague and service users through the lens of our organisational values and health inequalities.

Me? Ohh… what am I proud of? My natural thoughts go to my children, Amret who is 21, Jaya who is 18 and Tamanna who is ten. Three amazingly inspirational young women who show resilience and constructive challenge every day, encouraging me to engage my privilege and knowledge in facilitating a world where they will thrive. I’m also very proud of my identity. A proud British Punjabi woman and all the joy, excitement and fun that brings. I’m Derby born and bred and a firm supporter of the Derby Rams, proud still-whatever position we achieve.

What does EDI mean to me, it means for me to be treated as me and all that brings, so that I have the opportunity to grow and flourish, whatever flourishing looks like for me, the ‘me’ would apply to everyone, everywhere. This is in my DNA. From a very young age I noticed people being treated differently, because of difference and suffering as a result. My dad had always been my foundation ally and he really supported me to believe, even from the age of ten that I could make a difference in the world, so here I am, trying to facilitate a different future where we can all be the best version of ourselves, whatever that looks like for each and every one of us on that particular day.”

Jas Kaur