Post by EPOC Network

Last night we brought the EPOC Network community to Birmingham for the first time — and what an evening it was. A huge thank you to our long-standing Sponsor Deloitte and Juliet Halfhead for hosting us and helping make this milestone possible. In just five years, EPOC has grown from 12 founding members to more than 1,200 mid-to-senior executives of colour, creating a national community committed to strengthening representation at board level. Last night’s conversation reinforced several powerful truths: Talent is not the issue — access to pathways is. As Preet Kaur Gill reflected, people of colour remain underrepresented in leadership not because capability is lacking, but because traditional pipelines have not always been built to include everyone. Some key takeaways from the night: 💡 Representation changes what the next generation believes is possible. 💡When barriers fall and people see leaders who look like them, new possibilities open. 💡 Leadership is about authenticity and connection. Competence matters, but so does the ability to understand the real lives and experiences of the communities we serve. 💡 Resilience and networks matter. Many of our speakers spoke candidly about navigating glass ceilings, the importance of allies, and how mentors can remind you that you truly belong in the room. And perhaps most importantly: diversity of thinking leads to stronger governance and better outcomes. Thank you to our exceptional speakers for sharing their experiences and insights: 💠 Prof. Prof. Inez Brown (Hon. Causa), CEO and Founder, Mckenzie Brown Consultancy Ltd 💠 Paul Drechsler, Lead NED, UK Government Department for Business and Trade 💠 Shernett Ranson MBE, Head of Public Appointments Talent & Outreach, HM Government (Cabinet Office) 💠 Waheed Saleem BSc,FRSA,MGP, Head of Policy and Partnerships, Wilton Lodge Community Association It was inspiring to see so many mid-to-senior leaders from across the Midlands engaging in thoughtful conversations about their journeys into governance and how we continue building credible pathways for underrepresented talent. The work continues — but evenings like this remind us why it matters. If you'd like to learn more about EPOC Network and the work that we do: https://lnkd.in/escRsiSg #EPOCNetwork #Governance #BoardDiversity #NonExecutiveDirectors #PublicAppointments #DeloitteMids Moni Mannings OBE