Author: Sara West

Jack Leyshon-Richards: Improving the recruitment journey

Jack Leyshon-Richards

“I’m excited to learn more about Imperial and help find the best candidates that meet the organisation’s needs.”  

What if finding your next brilliant colleague was easier and quicker? That’s the question Jack Leyshon-Richards, Imperial’s new Head of Recruitment, is working towards. Jack joined Imperial in January 2025 with almost 10 years’ experience in HR, most recently working with King’s College London as Head of Recruitment. 

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EDI volunteers: supporting an inclusive workplace

Harassment Support Contacts (HSCs), Neurodiversity Champions (ND Champions), and Staff Supporters are colleagues from across the organisation who volunteer their time to support an inclusive workplace culture.

They are available for informal, confidential conversations on a range of topics and are available to all employees, including line managers.

Each volunteer group has its own network which provides opportunities to get to know colleagues from across Imperial.

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Cate Goldwater Breheny: creating community for Queer students

Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month

“Seeing other Queer people in medicine inspires me to be my whole self within the practice – it’s so important to see other people like you in the same space.”

Cate is a fifth-year medical student who identifies as Queer and uses they/them pronouns. They are an advocate for the Queer community in medical education, a volunteer for a sex education charity and an active member of campus life.

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Owen Cheshire: Inclusivity in action

Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month

Owen Cheshire

“I think it’s important now more than ever to be present and do what you can to amplify and advocate for voices  who may not have the ability to talk about their communities.”

Owen is the Marketing Operations Officer for Enterprise, where he supports the communications and marketing managers to deliver on their specific portfolios.

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Nicole Salomons: Taking a human-centred approach to AI

Nicole Salomons

“A big part of my work involves understanding not just the robot, but the user. We want to build systems that provide highly personalised teaching or therapy. 

Dr Nicole Salomons is a Lecturer in the Department of Computing and I-X at Imperial College London. Her research explores the potential for AI and robots to benefit society through learning, teaching and therapy in domestic and public settings.  

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Ingrid Logan: Creating an exemplary technical environment

Ingrid Logan

“It’s an honour to be awarded the Imperial College Medal and it’s great to see this type of role and its contribution to the university being recognised.”

Ingrid Logan is the Technical Services and Safety Manager for the Dyson School of Design Engineering. Her career at Imperial began in 2008 as Apprentice Technician for the Innovation Design Engineering course, a joint programme with the Royal College of Art. Her years of contribution and service to the organisation were recognised with an Imperial College Medal, awarded at the Royal Albert Hall as part of Commemoration Day. The medal recognises meritorious or praiseworthy service to Imperial or for having otherwise enhanced its reputation, mission and objectives.

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Professor Samuel Agyei-Mensah: International collaboration and local impact

Celebrating Black History Month

Samuel Agyei-Mensah

“The experience of being a visiting professor has been incredibly beneficial. I’ve been able to strengthen existing networks, develop new partnerships and collaborations, and deliver lectures to student and public audiences.”

Professor Samuel Agyei-Mensah is a Professor of Geography at the University of Ghana and a Visiting Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London. His current role at Imperial follows on from his position as Provost’s Visiting Professor (2023-24), a scheme established to improve the diversity of the university by hosting leading Black and minority ethnic academics.

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Rachel Williams, Strategic Implementation Manager, Commercial Operations

Rachel Williams

“I am a lifelong learner. I look beyond my everyday world, seeking inspiration from diverse resources, other managers, and colleagues across Imperial. One day, I’d like to set up an organisation which helps people from diverse and less privileged backgrounds to reach their best potential within the hospitality, events, and tourism industry.”

I started my career in auditing before transitioning first to global banking, then into the hotel, venue and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) industries. I’m passionate about business strategy and really enjoyed the diverse experiences that working in hospitality provided – from building multimillion pound venue facilities from scratch, to creating and developing Corporate Social Responsibility programmes.

In my current role as Strategic Implementation Manager, I lead the development of the growth strategy and long-term plans for Commercial Operations. Our team transform the student accommodation and teaching spaces into a residential venue for the Easter and summer vacation periods to generate additional income for Imperial. We also deliver Imperial’s flagship Global Summer School (GSS) which feeds into the student recruitment journey – over 350 GSS students have become undergraduates and postgraduates at Imperial.

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Sandra Roscoe, Student Wellbeing Adviser, Department of Bioengineering

“The majority of my time is spent having one-to-one wellbeing meetings with Bioengineering students. I also liaise with colleagues and student representatives in the department and advocate for students if needed.”

I joined the Department of Bioengineering in September 2019 as their Student Wellbeing Adviser. Prior to that, I spent eighteen years working as an NHS doctor. Most of this time was spent in General Practice, with additional work in Palliative Medicine and Medical Education.

The student wellbeing adviser roles at Imperial were very new when I joined in 2019. It was both exciting and slightly daunting to be told I could lead on developing the role for the department. The majority of my time is spent having one-to-one wellbeing meetings with Bioengineering students. These cover a wide range of issues including mental health, personal relationships, family situations, academic, financial and accommodation issues. Depending on the needs of each student, I might continue to meet with them myself or signpost to other services. I also liaise with colleagues and student representatives in the department and advocate for students if needed. The lighter side of the role is arranging wellbeing events such as therapy dog visits and craft sessions.

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