Minister for Women and Equalities, and Trade Secretary, , has today (Sunday 4th
December) appointed two new Commissioners to the Equality and
Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Board.
Kunle Olulode MBE and Arif Ahmed MBE will provide the EHRC with a
diversity of skills and backgrounds to carry out its important
work promoting equality and human rights across the UK.
Minister for Women and Equalities and Trade Secretary, Rt Hon
, said:
“Under , the EHRC is performing a
vital national service as an impartial regulator enforcing
anti-discrimination legislation and defending human rights.
“These new appointments will provide the Commission with the
skills and expertise it needs to make a positive impact on lives
across Britain.”
The new appointments bring strong backgrounds to their new roles:
- Kunle Olulode MBE is Director of Voice4Change England, an
ethnic minority charity and infrastructure support body. As a
trade union activist he led the Camden Black Workers staff
group from 2002-2011. He represented more than 500 Black and
Asian staff members and founded its award-winning Camden Black
History Forum. He is also a trustee of the English Heritage Trust
and, in 2017, became one of its first black board members.
- Arif Ahmed MBE is a Professor of Philosophy at the University
of Cambridge. He writes mainly on decision theory, but also has
an interest in religion. He was awarded an MBE for services to
education in 2021.
Alasdair Henderson and Eryl Besse have also been appointed as
Deputy Chairs of the Board. Eryl Besse was previously appointed
as Wales Commissioner in April 2022 on a 4 year term. Alasdair
Henderson was first appointed as a commissioner in April 2018 and
will now serve as Deputy Chair until 2026.
The EHRC was reaccredited as an ‘A’ Status UN National Human
Rights Institution in October 2022. The “A” status denotes “full
compliance” with the Paris Principles.
Further Info:
The appointments follow a full public recruitment process that
was carried out in line with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code
on Public Appointments. The appointees will serve as a
Commissioner for a term of 4 years.
