What’s next for DEI: Insights from Thought Leaders
A special episode with four leading voices in HR and DEI
Episode #60: What’s next for DEI: Insights from Thought Leaders
Series 8, Episode 8, Wednesday 8 October 2025
In this special episode, Joy Burnford explores the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion with four leading voices in HR and DEI. Together, we’ll tackle the big questions: How are companies keeping inclusion on the agenda? What language and strategies are most effective? And how can we create workplaces where everyone belongs?
Our guests today
Joy is joined by:
Helena Curtis, Talent and DE&I Lead at Shawbrook Bank.
Cecilia Crossley, a purpose-driven entrepreneur, founder of Uplifting People and host of the How HR Leaders Change the World podcast.
Alpa Kapasi, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Balfour Beatty plc.
Sarah Churchman OBE, a Global DEI and workplace wellbeing leader, speaker and facilitator.
Key insights
Organisations aren’t backtracking, but they are taking a more thoughtful approach: “People are being more thoughtful. We were already moving towards a bit of a pivot of inclusion being embedded so it being a golden thread through everything. So almost the DEI label disappears, because inclusion is just expected to be part of it. And something I hear organisations talk about a lot is, when you're looking at what you want to do, it's that measure of which side of history do we want to be on? I keep hearing that, and it just gets you really to think about, we still want to do the right thing.” Helena Curtis, Talent and DE&I Lead at Shawbrook Bank.
Integrating DEI principles into business models: “The principle of equity and inclusion being integrated in a business model has always been talked about. And what's happening now in the current socio political trend of what's influencing decisions at the moment is forcing that which, let's see that as a silver lining, perhaps.” Cecilia Crossley, a purpose-driven entrepreneur, founder of Uplifting People and host of the How HR Leaders Change the World podcast.
Diversity of thought: “I’ve heard people use the language or the phrase, diversity of thought, in that we are more resilient, we manage risk and we innovate when we bring different perspectives together. The logic is one that everybody follows, and I've just found it's a way that people have tweaked how they talk about diversity to make it apolitical and bringing everybody together.” Cecilia Crossley, a purpose-driven entrepreneur, founder of Uplifting People and host of the How HR Leaders Change the World podcast.
The world of DEI is always evolving: “The world of DEI or diversity and inclusion, is always evolving. When you look back over the last few years, there's been legislative changes, there's been policy changes, government guidance, and the language is constantly changing. So, as diversity and inclusion leads, we have to be constantly reinventing ourselves so that we can adapt to those changes. Because essentially, what we're talking about is organisational change, which comes out of behaviour and culture change. In order to achieve that, you have to take people with you on that journey and to take them with you, you have to be able to resonate with them.” Alpa Kapasi, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Balfour Beatty plc.
Organisations need to take a more sophisticated approach: “It's got us to the point where organisations now need to be taking a much more sophisticated approach to this agenda. Yes, counting the diversity that exists within organisations, there's always the need to measure impact. But really focus on the things that matter to those diverse range of employees. And that's really focusing on setting a level playing field, being able to demonstrate that the playing field is level, an equal chance of accessing opportunities, an equal chance of promotion, all those sorts of things.” Sarah Churchman OBE, a Global DEI and workplace wellbeing leader, speaker and facilitator.
Keywords
Gender equality, diversity and inclusion, workplace culture, psychological safety, organisational change, intersectionality, inclusive leadership, employee engagement, belonging, equity and inclusion, commercial impact, representation, workplace wellbeing, HR strategies.
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