What is the EDI Expert Advisory Group (EAG)?
The purpose of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Expert Advisory Group is to provide expert external advice and guidance to the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) on its approach to improving EDI in the bioscience research and innovation community.
This group was established in January 2022 and was approved for continuation by People and Talent Strategy Advisory Panel in January 2023.
The BBSRC EDI Advisory Group consists of 13 members.
Knowledge, expertise and skills represented by the group
An in-depth knowledge of UKRI-BBSRC systems, processes or strategic development (for example, through participation in a BBSRC panel or committee).
A demonstrable understanding and interest in EDI or research culture issues, including one or more of the following:
- knowledge of EDI challenges across the research and innovation community and how this relates to BBSRC’s role in improving EDI in the biosciences
- knowledge of EDI challenges within a particular region, sector (for example, academia, industry or other research institute), or research area (for example, one of BBSRC’s strategic research priority areas)
- knowledge of EDI challenges for a particular career stage (for example, postgraduate students, early career researchers or research leaders)
What does the EDI EAG do?
The EDI EAG provides external oversight of BBSRC’s EDI workplan in the context of the UKRI EDI strategy and BBSRC strategic delivery plan, including:
- acting as a ‘critical friend’ in challenging BBSRC’s work.
- acting as advocates for EDI in the biosciences and for BBSRC work in this area.
- ensuring that BBSRC activities align with UKRI and BBSRC priorities in this area and support a balanced portfolio of activities which have the greatest impact for the BBSRC community
- identifying and prioritising key EDI issues in the biosciences and provide advice on what BBSRC could do to help address these challenges in the short and longer term
In addition the group provides oversight on BBSRC’s EDI evidence base to identify areas for intervention or further investigation, for example advising on:
- ongoing or future evidence requirements
- the role of existing BBSRC investment mechanisms in improving EDI or gathering evidence, including fellowships, studentships, new researchers, strategic longer and larger grants, institute strategic programmes, and others
Examples of previous discussions include:
- updates on UKRI EDI strategy development and implementation
- updates on progress against the BBSRC EDI action plan
- discussion on BBSRC’s role in using EDI targets and benchmarks
- discussion on BBSRC’s role in facilitating the sharing of best EDI practice
- discussions on BBSRC’s role in addressing under-representation of specific groups such as people with a disability or Black British bioscientists
- identifying priorities ahead of the Spending Review and EDI Action Plan update
Our members
Our equality, diversity and inclusion external advisory group members include:
- Professor Candy Rowe, Newcastle University
- Professor Anastasia Callaghan, University of Portsmouth
- Dr Jenny Pople, Unilever
- Professor Karen Halliday, University of Edinburgh
- Dr QueeLim Ch’ng, King’s College London
- Professor Narender Ramnani, Royal Holloway, University of London
- Andrew Lin, The University of Sheffield
- Cailean Carter, Quadram Institute
- Jade Hall, Royal Society of Biology
- Lesley Iwanejko, University of Liverpool
- Paul Gemmill, Research on Research Institute
- Stephen Montgomery, University of Bristol
- Ying Chen, University of Southampton
Meetings
In 2022, the group conducted two panel meetings and two additional focused workshops which contributed to the publication of BBSRCs first EDI Action Plan in 2023.
In 2023, a short workshop was held to discuss BBSRC EDI data and attended an in-person meeting where the panel received updates from the EDI Caucus and discussed the potential for BBSRC EDI targets.
In 2024 the panel convened to discuss the upcoming Spending Review and determine subsequent EDI priorities for BBSRC over the coming years.
Following a membership refresh that resulted in the appointment of seven new members, in 2025, the panel has been focused on the EDI Action Plan review for BBSRC.
The group have focused on identifying priorities for the Action Plan and convened for focused workshops that will contribute to the publication of a new Action Plan for 2025 to 2028.
Contact us
Email: bbsrc_edi@bbsrc.ukri.org
Last updated: 3 December 2025