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Current role
Fiona Bartels-Ellis is Head of Equal
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she worked with including the impact of structural inequalities . Around this time |
“ Being black also has its challenges and raises questions about your credibility |
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Opportunity & Diversity at the British |
equality legislation was undergoing |
to many . Some people think that black |
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Council . She has been in the role since |
significant change and development |
people can dance , sing , you know the usual |
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March 2000 . She is responsible for setting |
informing the work that Fiona was involved |
stuff but they struggle to be professional , |
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the strategic direction of the British Council ’ s |
in and she recognised its potential to make |
reliable , effective etc ,” she said . “ It can be |
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equality and diversity work and driving |
a difference . She later moved into social |
difficult at times especially working in an |
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implementation . She works with and briefs |
work education and anti- oppressive |
area that many don ’ t want to engage in |
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a range of people at all levels within and |
practice was a focus of this work . She was |
and are unsettled by , but I am resilient |
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outside the British Council helping them to |
responsible for the Masters Programme in |
and believe in what I do . The values that |
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understand what equality and diversity is , |
Advanced Social Work with the Advanced |
I have are very important to me and I find |
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its importance , the contribution it makes to |
Award in Social Work at the University of |
that the more senior you become the more |
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society and how it applies in the workplace . |
Westminster , London before joining the |
difficult it is not to compromise them . Also |
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In particular , she works with supportive |
British Council and has been consulting in |
I acknowledge the richness of my culture |
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colleagues in Human Resources and helps |
the area of equality and diversity for over |
and the valuable lessons and experiences |
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other countries understand the positive |
20 years . |
stemming from it . |
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aspects of equality and diversity and the UK and the British Council ’ s achievements in this area , whilst not denying the difficulties . |
Achievements
She has a range of qualifications including
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“ Balancing family and work life can be challenging and difficult at times but having good support is very important . I |
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Travelling is a part of her job because the |
an M . Phil in Social Policy from Cranfield |
have great colleagues around the world |
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British Council has offices in 110 countries |
University . In 2002 she was awarded a |
who work effectively with me making a |
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and in this context she has the opportunity |
prize for mainstreaming by the European |
difference in Pakistan , China , Romania |
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to meet and engage with a very wide range |
Federation of Black Women Business |
for example and particularly a special |
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of people and experience interesting places |
Owners ( EFBWBO ). This was followed |
colleague in Manchester ” |
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like Oman , Romania , Jordan , Pakistan and South Africa .
Early years
Fiona was born in Ghana to a black
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in June 2005 by an OBE in the Queen ’ s Birthday Honours list for her work in equality and diversity at the British Council which she defines as a “ commitment to helping ensure a more inclusive |
Community work
Fiona supports the education of several
children in Ghana , especially a young blind boy . She has been a member of
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Ghanian mother and a white English |
organisational culture and society , with |
Amnesty International for many years and |
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father . She came to England when she was |
a practical emphasis – not just words- |
supports the work of the Samaritans . |
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7 years old , returning for holidays wherever her parents were and lived in St . Lucia for approximately 3 years in her early 20 ’ s . She has however been settled in the UK |
recognising this is a process not an event ”.
Challenges
“ Equality issues have always been part of
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Family
Fiona is 51 years old and married to an Antiguan . They live in Palmers Green ,
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for sometime but travels fairly regularly to |
my work ,” says Fiona . “ But there often are |
North London , with their children , aged |
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Ghana where her mother lives . |
pre-conceptions from people that you are |
10 and 18 . She has an elder sister and a |
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Working as a Social Worker
In the mid 1970s Fiona trained and worked
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going to force them to understand and take on board equality and diversity . However , my main aim is to make people understand |
younger brother with family and friends all around the world . |
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as a social worker . Her route into equality |
equality , to work constructively with their |
The British Council ’ s purpose is to |
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and diversity stemmed from this as it was |
blocks and resistance , and try and get them to |
build mutually beneficial relationships |
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through her work and of course her own experiences that she became profoundly aware of discrimination issues . She also became sensitised to the wide range of difficulties experienced by the people |
understand what it [ equality and diversity ] is really about . However , there is a bottom line and I believe it is not acceptable for people to abdigate their responsibilities and deny the reality of discrimination and inequity . |
between people in the UK and other countries and to increase appreciation of the UK ’ s creative ideas and achievements . For further information visit www . britishcouncil . org |
Photo : LEON HARRIS |
ISSUE TWO 2006 engage |