Do you want the sector to change for good?

Join us at the Summit on

25 June 2026

Buckinghamshire New University

A one-of-a-kind gathering of people committed to changing the status quo in higher education. The 100 Black Women Professors NOW programme has been at the forefront of reshaping the academic landscape and this summit is where we reconnect, re-energise and reignite that work. Expect several major announcements designed to take systemic change to the next level.

The day will feature:
Powerful stories | Deep dives into systemic change | Big announcements

Are you ready to be inspired by powerful stories of change?

Hosted by The 100 Black Women Professors NOW National Steering Board members:

Professor Dawn Edge

Professor of Mental Health and Inclusivity, University of Manchester

Professor Marcia Wilson

Pro Vice-Chancellor Education, Birmingham City University

Dr Jummy Okoya

Dean of the Office of Institutional Equity, University of East London

Dr Ifeoma Dan-Ogosi

Senior Lecturer in Public Health, University of West of England

Book your ticket here

EARLYBIRD ends 10th June. For GROUP BOOKINGS with an additional 20% discount, email team@whenequality.org

2026 Annual Summit Early Bird Ticket

Ticket to attend the full day's annual summit including lunch and refreshments.

£95.00 GBP

The summit is for you if you're ready to:

Lead the charge in systemic change – Move beyond conversation and take action to reshape the academic landscape.
Celebrate progress and amplify impact – Reflect on the milestones of the 100 Black Women Professors NOW programme and harness its momentum for the future.
Strategise for long-term transformation – Engage in thought-provoking discussions about sustaining and scaling systemic change across the sector.
Strengthen your leadership and influence – Develop the mindset, skills and networks to drive meaningful progress in higher education.
Connect with a powerful network of changemakers – Reunite with peers, mentors and allies who are actively dismantling barriers and creating opportunities.
Share insights and lived experiences – Contribute to a rich exchange of ideas, challenges and solutions to accelerate change for Black women in academia.
Leave re-energised and equipped for action – Gain clarity, motivation and practical strategies to fuel your next steps in driving change.
Supercharge impact – As a past or current participant on the 100 Black Women Professors NOW programme, reflect, recharge and make the most of the time for you and your career. Leave inspired and fully uplifted.

What will happen on the day

Summit welcome

Professor Damien Page (Vice-Chancellor, Buckinghamshire New University), Dr Jummy Okoya (Co-Chair, 100 Black Women Professors NOW Steering Board) and Alice Chilver (CEO of WHEN) open the day. Together they set out why this work is genuinely different, why it matters now, and the questions each of us is here to answer.

The honest truth

A candid, evidence-led conversation on what truly representative leadership in UK higher education would look like and what the sector stands to gain by getting there. Expect honesty about the gaps, a clear-eyed business case, and a call for UK HE to lead globally on what change can look like.

The lives behind the numbers

Black women academics who achieved success through the 100 Black Women Professors NOW programme share their stories. Real lives, real change, and the shape of what becomes possible when the conditions are right with the clearest evidence yet of what this work makes possible across the academic pipeline.

The role of promotion

Chaired by Professor Dawn Edge (Manchester), a panel of institutional leaders takes on the specific moment where institutional intent becomes outcome: promotion. Honest perspectives from across academic and professional services routes from leading promotion processes, to influencing the culture around them, to going through them yourself.

Who's missing and what next

The biggest announcement moment of the day. New programmes. A bold new milestone for the sector. A major partnership. Some moments you have to be in the room for and this is one of them.

Networking

Connect with like-minded leaders at all levels who are passionate about driving change. Social capital and the power of networking is central to WHEN's approach, so there will be ample opportunities to build meaningful connections during the day.