Who we are
Founder-Directors
Razia Aziz
In a life-long pursuit of learning and professional excellence, Razia’s career and qualifications defies the usual boundaries and definitions. Seeking to get to the heart of what really helps people learn and be all they can be, her work and study span the fields of counselling, coaching, voice and bodywork, performing arts and ministry. Following a range of positions in the academic, voluntary and public sectors, Razia successfully established and ran her own training consultancy business for fourteen years before forming Equality Academy with Jonathan Heath. Her style is incisive and insightful, balancing the quest for truth with the power of compassion.
Jonathan Heath
Jonathan has been the learning & development manager and then internal consultant to senior managers at one of this country’s largest employers. Specialising now for over twenty years in equality and diversity he has also developed and facilitated management development programmes and established a thriving coaching practice. His thoughtful style uses interactive and experiential processes to explain deep and complex issues in a clear and easy to understand way.
Specialist Consultants
Jozimba Panthera
Jozimba is a highly experienced consultant and trainer working on delivering effective ‘Teaching and Learning’ in a range of areas that impact upon diversity and equality; leadership development, senior management coaching and corporate consultancy. His highly engaging and personable, yet challenging, style enable him to get to the heart of “hot” issues quickly and with a sense of humour.
Sue Sanders
Sue is a dynamic facilitator at the forefront of equalities issues in the UK for over two decades as a trainer, writer, broadcaster and conference presenter. Sue is Co-Chair of Schools OUT! and instigator and anchor person of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) History Month. Sue regularly appears in TV and radio programmes dealing with equality and LGBT issues. She is an expert trainer, key note speaker and workshop leader with experience of innumerable conferences dealing with diversity and LGBT issues. Her up-beat, passionate, style enables her to address controversial issues head-on, and to facilitate open dialogue and debate with both warmth and clarity.
Bella Mehta
Bella is an organisational consultant with solid experience in programme management and change management gained with Deloitte Consulting and BBC News. She works with organisations to address employee engagement, flexible working and diversity issues. She has developed practical programmes for managers and leaders to develop self‐awareness and inclusive behaviour in an upbeat and engaging way, with a clear eye on the organisation’s business case for change. She has specialist knowledge of the flexible working arena, particularly in the private sector, and has run workshops, debates and research programmes to advance thinking and action in these areas. Her publications include “Make It Your Business” a handbook for businesswomen, voted “Best of Its Kind” by Management Today.
Claire Debenham
Claire Debenham has led on equality and inclusion in the public and voluntary sector since 1991 as a manager and an independent consultant. She is known for building organisational and personal confidence through a supportive, engaging style and determination. Her overall goal is to ensure excellent and inclusive, ethical results through participation. She believes that real transformation takes place when people design solutions together- addressing inclusion in the round.