Eighty city leaders champion race equality through transformative LJMU initiative
Eighty leaders from across public, private and voluntary sectors have taken part in the Liverpool City Region (LCR) Race Equality Hub’s Reciprocal Mentoring Programme.
Created and co-led by LJMU
Created and co-led by Liverpool John Moores University the programme is designed to strengthen race equality across the region through meaningful, two-way mentoring relationships.
An event held on LJMU campus marked the end of the programme which has paired 40 senior White leaders with 40 Black and ethnically diverse professionals from across the city region over the past year.
Reflecting on the programme
The Liverpool City Region Race Equality Hub is a partnership between the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the Race Equality Foundation.
Alison Navarro, Director of the LCR Race Equality Hub, said: “The Race Equality Hub has been delighted to work with Moni, Yeni, Ola and the LJMU team on this programme, taking 80 leaders on a real journey. We have seen Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority leaders across the region advance their opportunities, while White senior leaders have developed the insight and confidence to act as genuine allies. Even part way through the programme we saw fantastic outcomes—now, at its close, the momentum is even stronger.”
Co-led by LJMU’s Diversity and Inclusion Team and Liverpool Business School, the programme creates space for openness, lived experience, and shared accountability with many of the mentor pairings having already committed to carrying on their conversations, deepening relationships, and working together to drive race equality within their organisations.
LJMU’s Executive Director of Finance Rob Molloy took part in the programme and was paired with reciprocal mentor Sonia Bassey MBE.
He reflected: “Working with Sonia on the Reciprocal Mentoring Programme has been invaluable; her openness and generosity in sharing her experiences have given me a far deeper understanding of the challenges faced by Black and ethnic minority colleagues. The programme has reinforced the responsibility on leaders to continually champion equality and create genuinely equitable solutions.”
We have seen Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority leaders across the region advance their opportunities, while White senior leaders have developed the insight and confidence to act as genuine allies
Alison Navarro, Director of the LCR Race Equality Hub
Moni Akinsanya, Associate Director of Diversity and Inclusion at LJMU, said: “We are proud to have partnered with LCR’s Race Equality Hub on this initiative over the past 12 months and see real commitment to diversity and inclusion from leaders across the city region.
“The programme has always been about real change through real relationships. The energy and commitment we witnessed in the room as the formal programme concludes shows that this work is not ending—it’s evolving. It’s not just conversation; it’s action.”
About LJMU's Reciprocal Mentoring Programme
LJMU’s Reciprocal Mentoring Programme began as an initiative to transform the way LJMU understands and responds to the perspective of black students. This developed into a second phase where LJMU’s Executive Leadership team were paired with Black Liverpool city leaders to share their lived experiences, to inform policy and decision-making at the university and beyond.
Since then, the Reciprocal Mentoring Programme has been rolled out further, with the university consulting and co-leading on additional reciprocal mentoring programmes across the Northwest and beyond.
Find out more about Reciprocal Mentoring
Find out more about Reciprocal Mentoring Programmes within the university or contact the Diversity and Inclusion team for consultation on running a Reciprocal Mentoring Programme within your institution or organisation.
