Global Majority
Global Majority is an emerging term, introduced in 2003. It is a global descriptor for those who identify as Black, Indigenous or People of Colour. The SIG was proposed as a response to the challenges faced by research managers and administrators (RMA) in the UK who identify as part of the Global Majority. The challenges these individuals face in higher education include significant obstacles in career advancement, underrepresentation at higher salary grades, and a disproportionate responsibility for initiating and maintaining equality, diversity, and inclusion committees and groups within their organisations and the wider sector.
The Global Majority SIG aims to provide a forum for discussion and support for those who self-identify as Global Majority. It is open to all research managers and administrators (both members and non-members) in the UK who self-identify as Global Majority and have an interest in networking with others who identify likewise. It will be an informal, principled space for RMAs who identify as Global Majority to meet and discuss their unique interests, challenges and opportunities within UK research management and administration.
Champions:
Our Special Interest Group champions are responsible for the activity and resource base of the group.
Anpu Varghese, Research Development Executive at the University of Aberdeen
I have several years of experience project managing research grants and networking with collaborators around the world. I am originally from India, but I have been in Aberdeen for 20 years and now Scotland is home! My role at the University of Aberdeen is to support researchers with their funding applications, with the main focus being European Commission and other international funding opportunities. I am also the Race Equality Champion for the Professional Services department. I really like the term Global majority! I am passionate about equal opportunities for women and ethnic groups. I would like to see more mentorship in academia and research management professions, support for career progression and a forum to raise issues and ask for guidance regarding career prospects and working conditions, especially for new staff. I would like to engage in conversations about institutional racism and raise awareness of discrimination issues in the academic sector as well as research funding organisations. I have been in my current role for 10 years and as an ARMA member, I have attended ARMA courses and conferences and I am aware of the reach of the ARMA community and the differences we can make to non- academic professions, and through that, influence and create change in the research management landscape.
Mary Caspillo-Brewer, Due Diligence Manager, Imperial College London
Born and raised in Philippines, Mary has spent the last 14 years in the UK building up her career in research support. Mary has always been driven by a passion for supporting fellow Research Management and Administration (RMA) professionals in their career development. This passion was ignited by the individuals who have shaped her career and inspired her to pursue research management roles in higher education institutions. As a member of Imperial As One, a Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) staff and student advisory group at Imperial College London, Mary has shared her personal journey in their Belonging interview series. She serves as a mentor in ARMA and Imperial, and also supports early-career BAME staff through the London Higher Global Majority Mentoring Programme. Mary envisions the ARMA Global Majority Special Interest Group (SIG) as a safe space where like-minded RMA colleagues can exchange ideas and engage in discussions on topics such as representation, belonging, and fostering connections.
Natalie Wall, Research Impact Lead (Social Sciences), King’s College London
Natalie is an expert in Research Impact with experience as a research support manager, trainer, speaker, consultant, REF2021 panel secretary, and award adjudicator.
Natalie is currently the Research Impact Lead (Social Sciences) at King’s College London, providing impact support for the faculties of Social Science & Public Policy, King’s Business School, and Dickson Poon School of Law. At King’s, Natalie is co-chair of the Research Management & Innovation Directorate’s EDI Committee, as well as co-chair for the Research Managers Network EDI Working Group. Within ARMA, Natalie is a member of the Training & Development Working Group, a qualifications assessor, and a facilitator for the Induction and Embedding Impact into Bids workshops.
Additionally, Natalie is an interdisciplinary anti-racist researcher with a PhD in Caribbean Canadian women’s performance and publications in EDI, dub theatre, and Caribbean Carnival. Her new book Black Expression and White Generosity: A Theoretical Framework of Race blends her experiences as a research manager in the UK with her experiences as a researcher in Canada to chart an international understanding of race in global Higher Education. Natalie is also a member of the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Peer Review College and the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement’s (NCCPE) Race Equality Advisory Group.
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