The potential of the language lens to advance the diversity and migration studies

With societies and organisations becoming increasingly linguistically diverse, not least due to migration, it is important more than ever to recognise, explore and mitigate the profound impact of language-based discrimination on social inclusion and justice. Yet, language is rarely researched as a core aspect of diversity. In hope to inspire new interdisciplinary research, we are inviting scholars and practitioners to join us in our webinar on the potential of the language lens to advance diversity and migration studies.

This webinar will host an interdisciplinary panel of experts: linguists, international business and organisation studies scholars.  Drawing on their respective research, the panellists will discuss how putting language centre stage can open new avenues for research and inspire novel theorising in the areas of diversity and migration studies.

Panellists’ bios:
Jo Angouri is a Professor in Sociolinguistics, the University-level Academic Director for Education and Internationalisation at the University of Warwick, a Visiting Distinguished Professor at Aalto University, School of Business, Finland, and Affiliate (Visiting Professor) at Monash University. She has published extensively on Leadership, Identity, Decision Making and Problem Solving as well as Research Methodology. Jo is the author of Culture, Discourse, and the Workplace (Routledge, 2018) and has co-edited The Routledge Handbook of Language, Gender, and Sexuality (Routledge, 2021) and Negotiating Boundaries at Work (EUP, 2017). She is Subject Chair for Linguistics, Language, Communication and Media on the Scopus board. Jo is a National Teaching Fellow (UK) and committed to pedagogic innovation and education for global citizenship.

Betina Szkudlarek is an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney Business School. Betina’s core research interests lie at the intersection of cross-cultural management, international HRM, and management of diversity. Her work has been published in top-tier international journals and featured in multiple international media outlets. Her current research projects focus on refugee workplace integration. She is the winner of the 2022 Research Impact on Practice Award, from the Network for Business Sustainability and the Organisations and the Natural Environment Divisions of the Academy of Management and the 2022 International HRM Scholarly Research Award from the HR division of the Academy of Management. Beyond her academic commitments, Betina holds the post of a Strategic Sustainability and Growth Consultant with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC).

Sarah Hopkyns is Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics at Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Her research interests include linguistic diversity and inclusion, language policy, translingual practice, linguistic landscapes, and English as a global language. She has published widely in journals such as Asian Englishes, Multilingua, Policy Futures in Education, and World Englishes, and has contributed numerous chapters to edited volumes. Sarah is the author of The Impact of Global English on Cultural Identities in the United Arab Emirates (Routledge, 2020) and the co-editor of Linguistic Identities in the Arab Gulf States: Waves of Change (Routledge, 2022).

Martyna Śliwa is Professor of Business Ethics and Organisation Studies at Durham University Business School, Durham University, UK. Her research spans across a range of topics within the fields of organisation studies and international management. She is particularly interested in diversity, inclusivity and intersectionality in organisations, and especially in the ways in which linguistic diversity influences people’s work experiences and careers, as well as organisational power relations and hierarchies. She also serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief of Management Learning and Vice-Chair of the British Academy of Management for Equality, Diversity, Inclusivity and Respect.