Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice

Director: Dr Charikleia (Charoula) Tzanakou

Contact: cdprp@brookes.ac.uk

About us

Established in 2004, the Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice specialises in inter-disciplinary research and knowledge exchange on gender, diversity and inclusion in organisations, the economy and society. Its work spans gender and diversity issues in the workplace, diversity and organisational change, work-life balance, age discrimination and extending working lives, LGBT, religion or belief, social mobility and human rights.

The Centre’s research holds great relevance to both local and national communities. Through various national and European projects, the Centre helps practitioners and policymakers to take an evidence-based approach to develop policies and practices on equality and diversity. The Centre aims to create a virtuous circle between research, knowledge exchange and impact.

The Centre is also involved in consultancy work, informings and helps tochange of sectoral and organisational policies and practices beyond academia. These interventions influence the way policies are developed and enacted within the workplace to create inclusive and fulfilling workplaces. Through consultancy activities, the Centre’s researchers act as independent partners, providing insight and advice based on research-based experience and knowledge to help organisations to develop their gender and diversity strategies and mitigate relevant potential risks

two female scientists working in a lab

Related courses

Research impact

people in a meeting around a desk

The Centre brings together academic and management expertise from the University's Faculty of Business, School of Law and Social Sciences, and the Directorate of Human Resources. Its main activities include:

  • interdisciplinary research linking legal and management perspectives to inform equality policies and practices in the workplace and around
  • events to facilitate debate and discussion on equality and diversity issues between academics, policy-makers, trade unions, senior managers and equality specialists
  • consultancy and knowledge exchange to assist organisations in developing and implementing equality programmes.

The impact of the Centre's research helps practitioners and policy-makers to take an evidence-based approach to develop policies and practices on equality and diversity. The Centre aims to create a virtuous circle between research, knowledge exchange and impact.

Leadership

Sola Adesola

Dr Sola Adesola

Senior Lecturer in Business and Management

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Beldina Owalla

Dr Beldina Owalla

Senior Lecturer in Business and Management

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Charikleia Charoula Tzanakou

Dr Charikleia (Charoula) Tzanakou

Director of CDPRP and Reader in Human Resource Management

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Membership

Staff

Name Role Email
Dr Sola Adesola Senior Lecturer in Business and Management sadesola@brookes.ac.uk
Dr Sylwia Ciuk Reader in Organisation Studies sciuk@brookes.ac.uk
Dr Maria Daskalaki Professor in Organisation Studies mdaskalaki@brookes.ac.uk
Dr Birgit den Outer Senior Lecturer in Organization Studies b.den-outer@brookes.ac.uk
Dr Catherine Dilnot Senior Lecturer cdilnot@brookes.ac.uk
Dr Karen Handley Reader in Work & Organisation khandley@brookes.ac.uk
Dr Audrey Harroche Lecturer in Leadership and HRM aharroche@brookes.ac.uk
Dr Cal Horton Research Fellow chorton@brookes.ac.uk
Dr Beldina Owalla Senior Lecturer in Business and Management bowalla@brookes.ac.uk
Mr Ozdemir Ozerem Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering oozerem@brookes.ac.uk
Professor Nick Rumens Professor in Business and Management nrumens@brookes.ac.uk
Professor Lucy Vickers Director of Research lrvickers@brookes.ac.uk

Students

Name Thesis Title Supervisors Completed
Hannah Isabelle Tornow Which contextual and individual factors shape gender inclusive innovation in the knowledge economy of Oxfordshire? Dr Charikleia (Charoula) Tzanakou

Active

Collaborators

Name Role Organisation
Dr Kate Clayton-Hathway Research Fellow Independent researcher and evaluator, specialising in intersectional gender, equality and diversity

Projects

Active projects

Project title and description Investigator(s) Funder(s) Dates

UniSAFE

UniSAFE will provide up-to-date, robust and reliable quantitative and qualitative data on gender-based violence, including newly emerging forms of violence, in universities and research performing organisations. These results will be translated into policy recommendations and a toolbox for universities and research organisations.

From: February 2021
Until: January 2024

Cross-Cultural Exploration Of Parenthood Perceptions And Practices In Higher Education

This project is an exciting collaborative research study between UK and Brazil that aims to understand better how parenthood is conceptualised and practised in higher education across these two different contexts. It will map existing policies and practices in UK and Brazilian HEIs and will lead to an open database of promising initiatives on parenthood that can serve as inspiration for other HEIs beyond UK and Brazil.
Dr Charikleia (Charoula) Tzanakou British Council From: January 2024
Until: December 2024

BLA-HAJ (Culturally competent outcome measurement in trans youth healthcare)

BLA-HAJ: Building Lived Experience Accountability into Culturally Competent Health and Well-being Assessment for Trans Youth Social Justice

This project focuses on understanding culturally competent approaches to outcome measurement of trans youth health and well-being. It examines the healthcare outcomes and indicators in use in a range of healthcare and well-being related services in and beyond the UK, and works with trans youth to improve alignment with service user priorities and perspectives.
Dr Cal Horton ESRC From: April 2024
Until: March 2028

Catalyst for Change: Transformative and Inclusive Strategies in Social Science Commercialisation

Innovation Caucus

ASPIRE (Trans inclusion in STEM careers)

ASPIRE: Addressing Systemic Precarity: Trans Inclusion and Retention in STEM. ASPIRE aims to address the current exclusion and drain of trans talent from STEM workforces, strengthening creativity, innovation and impact within a field that welcomes all. The research involves surveys of the experiences of trans professionals from the UK and US, qualitative interviews, and a review of existing literature. ASPIRE seeks to build a policy ­oriented body of statistical evidence and lived­ experience insight to inform sector, discipline and institutional approaches to trans inclusion in STEM.
The Royal Society From: September 2023
Until: December 2024

Completed projects

Project title and description Investigator(s) Funder(s) Dates

Exploring women participation in Nigerian Universities

Dr Sola Adesola British Academy From: April 2020
Until: September 2022

COMBAT Human Trafficking

European Commission From: September 2014
Until: October 2016

UK-Brazil Gender Equality Partnerships

Dr Charikleia (Charoula) Tzanakou British Council From: October 2021
Until: October 2022

CASPER

Horizon 2020 From: January 2020
Until: March 2022

GEARING-Roles

Horizon 2020 From: January 2019
Until: December 2022

Gender and Nursing as a Profession

RCN From: January 2019
Until: December 2019

Violence Regimes

Swedish Research Council From: March 2018
Until: June 2020

Gender Diversity Impact

Horizon 2020 From: March 2018
Until: September 2018

Women’s Representation and Diversity in the Horseracing Industry

Dr Kate Clayton-Hathway The Racing Foundation, Kindred From: May 2016
Until: April 2021

Virtually the same thing as in-person internships?

Dr Charikleia (Charoula) Tzanakou ESRC From: September 2021
Until: August 2023

RESISTIRE

Dr Charikleia (Charoula) Tzanakou European Commission From: April 2021
Until: September 2023

Digital Social Economy: Platform Cooperatives & Inclusive Work Futures

The project responds to the call for more research on the transformative role of (digital) social economy and how it can contribute to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at EU and global level. It aims to explore the transformative potential of platform cooperatives, with a particular focus on their role in instituting inclusive, sustainable, and responsible modes of organising and democratic work futures. The study also aims to initiate a network of platform cooperatives which are operating in the UK and explore the challenges and the opportunities they encounter in co-producing alternatives to the gig economy and platform capitalism. Funder: Oxford Brookes University,  Research Excellence Awards 2022-23 (Total: £10,000).

OBU Research Excellence Award From: November 2022
Until: December 2023

Consultancy

Our research informs and helps to change policy and practice and shape debates in key areas including gender, diversity, work-life balance and age discrimination. Our interventions influence the way senior managers develop policies to manage their workforce, and shape legal thinking.

We provide consultancy services where we can act as independent partners, providing insight and advice based on our broad research-based experience and knowledge to help organisations to develop their gender and diversity strategies and manage potential risks related to gender and diversity issues.

woman smiling at a whiteboard